Congratulations to Ian McClellan

The Weyland Scholarship is offered annually to a continuing undergraduate student in the Faculty of Arts, majoring in Political Science who has interest and ability in the area of constitutional studies. This Scholarship was established in memory of Chilton Mewburn Weyland, Maurice Chilton Weyland and Richard Walter Weyland, and was made possible by Mrs. Henrietta Weyland.

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself — where are you in your program and how did you come to study Political Science?

My name is Ian McClellan and I am about to finish my fifth and final year of a Combined Undergraduate Degree in Political Science and Communications and Media Studies. I have always had an interest in politics, current events, and power relations, so Political Science felt like a natural fit as my chosen area of study. As I progressed in my both my Political Science and Communications courses, I came to find the ways politics exists in nearly every aspects of our lives, and Political Science has helped me come to know this and navigate it.

What have your favourite courses or areas of study been so far?

UCalgary’s Political Science program has such a diverse course list! Politics and law has always been a favourite for me, and POLI 342 is a great course for students interested in exploring that. I became introduced to Indigenous politics in my third year and it also quickly became an area of study that I enjoy thanks to POLI 422. My favourite course though has to have been POLI 481 The Politics of Human Rights. In POLI 481 I got to tie together my interest for Indigenous politics to human rights by researching the ongoing Indigenous water crises in Canada.

What are you planning next?

Right now my eyes are set on my upcoming graduation in April 2022, which after five years feels a long time coming! In classic Political Science fashion I am looking into UCalgary’s JD program, but I am also considering pursing a Masters as well. In the meantime, I will be continuing to be volunteering with UCalgary’s Student Union on the Committee of 10,000, the University’s Tribunal Board, as well as a local Calgary Not-For-Profit, Inclusive Literature Initiative.

Congratulations to Ian McClellan on your 2020–21 Weyland Scholarship!

To find out more about our paper prizes and past prize winners, please visit the UCalgary Political Science website.