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20 + WATERLOO CHRONICLE + Wednesday, April 25, 2007 as a student. But something was missing. The passion he thought he Instructor feels for students who won‘t experience fineâ€"arts program Continued from page 18 had for studying psychology never ignited, and it felt like he was simply going through the motions of earning a higher education. plus taxes & fees from 1 77 USs PP DBL OC 16 Days from ‘3‘,” "I fell absolutely in love with drawing â€" especially life drawing," said Ward, who admitted he never took much of an interest in art before attending uniâ€" versity. "I found drawing from live modâ€" els to be exciting, challenging and rewarding." That was until the day he signed up for Prof. Michal Manson‘s drawing class. His love for drawing grew so strong that he quickly changed his major to fine arts, and lapped up every opportuâ€" nity he had to immerse himself in the program. Waterloo, his name started to appear on exhibitions around Waterloo Region â€" and as far away as New York, England and Japan. He was also named the City of Kitchener‘s artist in residence one year. He didn‘t think things could get any better â€" until the day the telephone rang. The dean of the WLU fineâ€"arts program called Ward and informed him that his previous instructor and mentor, Michal Manson, had taken ill and wouldn‘t be able to teach her partâ€" time courses that fall semesâ€" ter. "He asked me if 1 could start teaching the course in the next three days," Ward said. Having substituted for Manson occasionally before, Ward had a general idea of how to lead a class or two. But taking over an entire course was another animal all together. It proved to be more than a possibility; teaching was Ward‘s new reality, as he continued to teach at the school partâ€"time for the next five years. "I never thought becomâ€" ing a teacher was even a possibility," he said. "I thought it time thing, but staying," he said "As a teacher, I always tried to be approachable and engaging. My goal was to make every class worthâ€" while, special and important for the students. "And it was equally rewarding for me. I felt like I inspired them, and helped them realize and produce work that they didn‘t know they were capable of was a oneâ€" I ended up That dedication wasn‘t lost on his students, espeâ€" cially those who nominated Ward for the coveted teachâ€" ing excellence award. achieving. "He lets us know up front that he is human, challenges himself, makes mistakes, works hard â€" and that he is there for us during the process of developing our mode of expression through art," wrote student Whitney Densmore. The effort his students put into Ward‘s nomination blew the teacher away. Now, having to close his Lodge Street studio for the last time, Ward is somber, knowing he‘s taught his last WLU class. "No excuse is good enough," he said, referring to the school‘s decision to cancel the fineâ€"arts proâ€" gram. "This makes no sense." Ward said his past stuâ€" dents are also having trouâ€" ble accepting the decision, and many are concerned for Ward, who is left unemâ€" ployed. "Many of them have asked me what I‘m going to do," he said. "I‘l be fine. I‘ll actually be teaching a couâ€" ple of continuing education courses through Conestoga College this fall. "But I do feel sorry for the students who never had the opportunity to experience this great program, and I‘m concerned for the future generations who are losing out on a great arts educa "I‘ve considered my time at WLU as a gift. I loved every moment; | never missed a class; and I wouldâ€" n‘t give back a second of it. tion