Congratulations to Luke Roblesky, one of our two Madeline Korfman Memorial Scholarship recipients!
Roblesky has lived in the Okanagan area for most of his life — growing up in Summerland before moving to Kelowna a few years ago.
Living in the Syilx Okanagan region, Roblesky developed an appreciation and love for the outdoors. He spends his free time paddleboarding, mountain biking, and playing beach volleyball. He also enjoys experimenting with new technologies, and exploring how it can be integrated into teaching. He is passionate about community, and volunteers at Project Literacy as a digital tutor, where he teaches seniors how to safely use electronic devices, and avoid fraud and security concerns.
As noted by his nominator, Roblesky demonstrated a scholar-practitioner and pedagogical stance in all aspects of his candidacy. During his field experience, he built time into his lesson to get to know his students better and for them to learn more about each other through community building activities. His awareness and honoring of the voices of his students could be seen in his responsiveness to their ideas, suggestions and demonstrated needs.
“I am deeply grateful to the OSE for nominating me for this award, recognizing both my potential and my achievements,” he says. ”Receiving the Madeline Korfman Scholarship not only reassures me that my dedication to the teaching profession is valued but also reaffirms my belief that when you are on the right track, things will work out. Winning this scholarship is a significant milestone in my journey, motivating me to continue striving for excellence. I am eager to channel my enthusiasm for education into my teaching career, aspiring to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my students, just as my teachers did for me.”
Question and Answer with Roblesky
Why did you decide to enter the field of teaching?
I decided to enter the field of teaching because of my deep-seated passion for learning and my desire to inspire others. For me, a meaningful career is one where I can have a positive impact on others’ lives. From a young age, it became clear to me that I enjoy working alongside and inspiring others. Throughout my life, I have often taken on work and volunteer experiences that foster collaboration and education. These diverse opportunities, ranging from serving as a swim coach to engaging in international language exchange programs and tutoring positions, have been key in shaping my passion for teaching. The genuine fulfillment I experienced from witnessing the progress and growth of my students, along with the rewarding feeling of making a positive impact on their lives, solidified my passion for teaching and my ultimate decision to pursue it as a lifelong career.
What has been a favourite memory or experience so far in the program?
Over the past 10 months in the Bachelor of Education program at UBCO, I have experienced a wealth of diverse moments, making it challenging to highlight just one. What stands out most to me is the strong sense of community within the program. The instructors and field advisors are incredibly approachable, consistently offering guidance and support. From day one, we have been given numerous opportunities to connect with our classmates, building new friendships that I believe will last a lifetime.
One concept that really stuck with me from the Indigenous guest speakers was the emphasis on connecting with the land. We have had the opportunity to do this through activities such as the Water Ceremony and the KLO Ecological Restoration project. Furthermore, outside of the classroom, what initially started as just a few of us playing volleyball at lunchtime has grown into two full teams playing nearly every lunch break.
What advice do you have for prospective Bachelor of Education students?
Keep an open mind and an organized set of notes. As you progress through the program, you will collect many resources and activities from the learning blocks and advisory sessions. At first glance, some of these may not seem directly relevant to the specific subjects you are teaching, but you will be surprised by how many of them can be adapted into your lessons.
Get frequent, actionable feedback. If you ask, the students will give you honest insights about your classes, including lessons, activities, and teaching style. Give the students some control over the direction of the class by conducting exit tickets or other surveys and using the information to adapt your teaching.
Establish your personal boundaries early on. With teaching, there really is no limit to how much time and effort you can invest in your work, so it’s important to define limits that work for you personally.
Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and take the time to discover your unique teaching style. It can be intimidating to observe experienced educators deliver what seem like flawless lessons, especially when you’re just starting out and aware that your own lessons may not yet reach that level. Remember that everyone starts somewhere, and it’s through experimenting with different approaches—some of which will succeed brilliantly while others may not—that you’ll develop your own pedagogical stance. Embrace the learning process, knowing that each attempt, whether it shines or flops, brings you closer to becoming the impactful teacher you aspire to be.
About the Madeline Betty Korfman Scholarship
This scholarship has been endowed through a bequest by Madeline Betty Korfman to honour her love for teaching. Madeline Korfman taught school in southwestern Saskatchewan before relocating to the Okanagan in the mid-1900s. This scholarship is awarded to two teacher candidates who significantly demonstrate a “love for teaching” based on the recommendation of Okanagan School of Education faculty.