The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1984, Page 12

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THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
SUMMER, 1984
PEOPLE
A YOUNG LADY WHO VALUES
HER ICELANDIC HERITAGE
Bonnie-Jean Astros Martin
Born: May 4, 1962 in Winnipeg.
Parents: Astros and the late David
Martin.
Maternal Grandparents: Jakob and
Sigridur Gudjonsson of Hanausa (both
deceased).
Paternal Grandparents: Mr and Mrs.
W. A. Martin of Winnipeg (both de-
ceased).
Schooling: Elementary - Isaac Brock;
High School - Gordon Bell; University -
B.A., U of Wpg., Major in Geography.
In 1975 when my Afi’s 82 year old
cousin from Iceland visited us, an interest
in my Icelandic Heritage was awakened. In
1978 I travelled with my mother to Iceland
to visit relatives.
I studied Icelandic under Prof. Bessas-
son’s direction the year I was in Grade XII
and again in first year University.
On a number of occasions I have given
slide presentations on Iceland to Junior
High Social Studies classes.
It was indeed a great thrill for my cousin
Nielle and me to be chosen to attend auntie
Sveinbjorg last summer in her role as
Fjallkona.
* * *
A DISTINGUISHED CAREER
Dr. Norman V. Vigfusson, formerly of
Selkirk, Manitoba and son of Mrs. Gudrun
Vigfusson and the late Eric Vigfusson of
Selkirk, Manitoba, was recently awarded
the Trustees Medal by Eastern Washington
University. Dr. Vigfusson is a Professor of
Biology at the University. The Trustees’
Medal is Eastern Washington University’s
highest faculty award. It was established to
honor faculty members who demonstrate
outstanding qualities in teaching, research
and service. The medal is accompanied by
a stipend of $1,000, contributed by the
EWU Foundation, as a means of rewarding
excellence above which is expected of all
faculty members. Dr. Vigfusson is recog-
nized as a master teacher by his students
and his colleagues. In addition to teaching,
he has conducted noteworthy basic and
applied research in the fields of genetics.
Of special significance is his work in the
application of a technique for measuring
the potentials of a pesticide or herbicide to
causing genetic damage. This work is of
national importance when considering that
new synthetic organic compounds are
appearing at an estimated rate of 25,000
per year. At present in the United States
there are facilities to adequately test only
about 50 compounds a year for potential
negative effects to the environment or to
humans. The techniques utilized by Vig-
fusson have direct application because they
offer a way in which chemical companies
can screen new products quickly, con-
veniently and inexpensively.
In another avenue of research, Dr.