Lakeland Link: December 6, 2010

December 6, 2010

The

www.lakelandcollege.ca

A publication of Lakeland College

Vermilion • Lloydminster

Our MISSION To inspire our learners to realize their individual potential. Our VISION To achieve educational excellence in a people-centred environment. Our VALUES are Respect, Safety, Trust, Pride, Ethics, Quality and Accountability.

Upcoming Events Lloydminster campus Wednesday, December 8 • Student & Staff Christmas Party. Cafeteria.

5 pm. Crafts, pizza, treat bags, hot chocolate and a visit from the "Big Guy"

Thursday, December 9 • Senior Planning Team Christmas Social.

Meeting Room 1079. 2:30 to 4 pm

Friday, December 10 • SMARTSync Demonstration, 1 to 2 pm; SMARTBoard Training, 2 to 3 pm. BK 213

Vermilion campus Wednesday, December 8 • SMARTSync Demonstration. AL 111. 10 to 11 am, SMARTBoard Training. AL 206.

12:30 to 2 pm

Thursday, December 9 • "Using Clickers in Your Classes" training.

MB 129. 1 to 2:30 pm

Thursday, December 16 • Senior Planning Team Christmas Social.

AH 214. 2:30 to 4 pm

Lakeland Staff Christmas Party Friday, December 10 • Lloydminster campus. Cocktails, 6 pm; dinner to follow. Tickets available from Darina Therrien (Vermilion) and Lonnie Boothman (Lloydminster).

Holiday Closure Lakeland College will be closed for the Christmas Break from Dec. 24 to Jan. 3 inclusive. Classes resume January 4, 2011.

is published biweekly from September to May by the department of Advancement for staff and members of the college community. Submissions regarding college news and initiatives are welcome and published at the editor's discretion. The deadline for submission is Thursday at noon prior to the publication date. The Lakeland Link is available in Outlook's Public Folders and online at www.lakelandcollege.ca/link.

ETC instructor Dez Shubert demonstrates dressing techniques for Level A dangerous goods suits to trainees at the Egyptian plant.

ETC delivers training to new clients in Egypt It was an opportunity that came together rather quickly for ETC but after all the paperwork was in order, ETC representatives Denis Cunninghame and Dez Shubert were off on a plane to the land of the pyramids.

The pair traveled to Damietta Port, Egypt, Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, to teach NFPA 472 dangerous goods awareness level and operation level training to Egyptian Methanex Methanol Co. SAE. This is the first time ETC has delivered training in Egypt.

The ETC staff worked with 23 staff members of the Methanex plant. Cunninghame explains that the Methanex plant is not yet in production as they are presently going through commissioning and hand over from contractors. Once in production the plant will produce 3,500 metric tonnes of methanol per day.

Shubert was the lead instructor for the training while Cunninghame evaluated the practical skills on behalf of the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. Also part of Cunninghame’s role was meeting with plant executives to discuss further training opportunities. “Currently we are discussing training for 1002 pump operations, 1006 rescue awareness and confined space, fire training, dangerous goods incident command and dangerous goods technician.”

ETC staff will return to Egypt in 2011 to train another group of operators in dangerous goods awareness and operations.

Methanex’s head office is in Burnaby, B.C., and has methanol plants in Trinidad, Chile, New Zealand, Egypt as well as Medicine Hat, Alta.

After project work was completed, Cunninghame and Shubert took the opportunity to visit the pyramids and tour Cairo, a city that has approximately 16 million people within the metropolitan area.

Lakeland university transfer student Katie Musgrave leads St. Mary’s elementary students in a game of "animal locomotions" at the Lloydminster campus gymnasium.

“Big students” measure up future careers by playing Phys. Ed games with “little students” Crabwalk games, scooter races, mat tunnels, obstacle courses with hula hoops, limbo stations and balance beams, and more.

Who knew class could be so much fun? But such was the case for 37 “big students” from Lakeland College and 200 “little students” from Lloydminster’s St. Mary’s School as they took part in a unique project for the university transfer class PEDS 293 introduction to the movement activities of children aged 5 – 12.

During the two-phased project, Lakeland students visited St. Mary’s School on Oct. 28 to participate in and observe some elementary physical education classes. On Nov. 4, 200 St. Mary’s students in grades one, two, four and five travelled to the Lloydminster campus to take part in several physical education and gymnastics-related activities set up in the college gymnasium.

During that session, it was the Lakeland students who ran the activities. They also gained first-hand experience in class management as they had to get the busloads of young students in and out of the college building safely and organize a smooth system for switching from winter boots and coats to indoor shoes – not as simple as it sounds when dealing with that many excited youngsters.

Instructor Jackie Bender explains that the project helped course material come alive for the Lakeland students.

“Many of the students plan to have teaching careers and the project experience helps them get to know what it is really like working with students of this age,” says Bender.

“I believe it’s important to get them into a school and interacting with kids at this stage so that they can better appreciate the time, effort and money that they are investing towards a bachelor of education degree.”

What do the elementary teachers and students say about the experience?

“I’ve had so much positive feedback,” says Bender. “I’ve done similar projects to this in the past with different schools each year but the response this year has been overwhelming from the ‘big students, the ‘little students’ and the teachers and administration at St. Mary’s.”

Lakeland student Mindy Meger agrees. She says that the project experience helped her reaffirm her career choice.

“This experience was great for me and it made me think more about the profession I have chosen to go into,” says Meger. “Teaching is a demanding job met with lots of challenges involving children, parents and preparation. However, I believe now, more than ever, that teaching definitely is the right profession for me.”

Bender does similar projects in community schools every semester.

Students Christmas Gala Do you want gravy on your potatoes or on the side? Using a careful measure, Lakeland College President Glenn Charlesworth helped serve students dinner at the Vermilion campus Student Christmas Gala last Friday at the Vermilion Regional Centre. About 370 students and 50 staff attended the event.

You're invited to the Senior Planning Team

Christmas Social Thursday, Dec. 9 Lloydminster campus Meeting Room 1079 2:30 to 4 pm & Thursday, Dec. 16 Vermilion campus Meeting Room AH 214 2:30 to 4 pm

Everyone welcome!

Auditory software helps students with studies Students who are strong auditory learners will be interested to hear about this...

A new learning tool recently introduced to students in the CO 131 communications class taught by instructor Angela Minish’s class is helping to increase their potential to earn higher marks.

Read and Write 9, a computer software program available on computers in all computer labs at the Lloydminster and Vermilion campuses, enables students to select text appearing on their computer screens and reads it back to them.

Minish introduced the software program to her students in the business and event coordinator programs as a supplemental educational tool to help students do better on their research essay assignments.

“There are quite a few students who are auditory learners,” says Minish. “The Read and Write 9 program encourages self-improvement through sound.

Sometimes a student will have a certain perception of what the written words in their essay should say based on their perception of what they want it to say.

When they read it to themselves silently,

Students Justin Goudreau, Stef Sjoquist and Landon Kendall try the Read and Write 9 computer software program at the Lloydminster campus.

it makes sense, but when they hear their words aloud, sections that do not flow smoothly, have grammatical mistakes or are illogical suddenly stand out.”

She adds that the Read and Write 9 program gives students the opportunity to revise and improve their assignments, thus potentially improving their grades.

Minish learned about the program from Wanda Hodder in The Learning Centre (TLC) at the Lloydminster campus.

Students and instructors wanting to try the program are welcome to drop by either TLC at the Lloydminster or Vermilion campus.

Staff support SOS fund Student services’ Simone Odynski (left) accepted a cheque last month in the amount of $250 from Erika Dibden, a member of the college’s Hopelessly Optimistic Staff Enthusiasts (HOSE) social club, which will go to support the college's Save Our Students emergency fund. The funds were raised from chili sales during the Chili Cook-Off and ticket sales of a gift basket during the campus’s Halloween festivities.

College clothing way up for grabs Students from local community schools were treated to a free matinee of The Woman in Black at the Vic Juba Community Theatre Friday, Nov. 26 at the Lloydminster campus. To get the crowd warmed up for the show, Lakeland recruiters provided the opening act by throwing Lakeland College t-shirts into the audience.

A Lakeland minute Available in Outlook’s Public Folders are minutes from the Executive Team meeting held Nov. 16.

News from Agriculture & Environmental Sciences 2010 Western Canadian Grazing Conference: Surpassing previous conference attendance numbers, almost 300 ranchers, cow/calf operators and other producers from British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Alberta gathered at the Vermilion campus Dec. 1 and 2 for the Western Canadian Grazing Conference. Participants of the bi-annual event especially enjoyed the hands-on labs offered at the college classroom and farm.

Green Certificate Testing: Green certificate testing took place on the college farm at the Vermilion campus from Nov. 22 to 26. There were 94 tests administered for 90 high school students and four adult trainees.

The test includes a hands-on component and an oral section so the college farm works well as a test site where students can demonstrate their skills. Students are tested in various areas to demonstrate their production skills and knowledge on a range of topics including field crops, irrigated field crops, cow/calf, feedlot, sheep, equine and dairy.

Students came from Mayerthorpe, Coronation, Smoky Lake, Provost, Edmonton and area, and many towns in between. Ten testers were also on campus to test students in the various areas of study.

Thank you to Crystal Jackson of the college’s recruitment office for giving campus tours to the interested students and their parents. On behalf of the green certificate office, thank you to the farm for the use of their locations and buildings for the testing.

Testing also took place at our Spruce Grove and Stony Plain test sites earlier in November which had 37 students and adults complete green certificate tests.

Energy Cabin: On Thursday, Nov. 24, over 50 people braved the cold weather to attend an information day on renewable energy and a tour of the Lakeland College energy cabin. The event was arranged by Alberta Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture (AESA) representatives and had support from many organizations, including the MD of Wainwright, Smoky Lake County, Lamont County, County of Minburn, Beaver County, Flagstaff County, County of Vermilion River, County of St. Paul, and the Lakeland College Centre for Sustainable Innovation.

Lakeland instructor Rob Baron presented on ‘Renewable Energy Opportunities – A Rural Prospective’, and Jason Price from Alberta Technology and Innovation Branch presented on ‘Growing Forward Funding for Energy Efficiency Projects.’

In the afternoon, Baron covered some of the data and lessons learned from the energy cabin (www.lakelandecabin.ca) indoors while the other half of the group alternated and had a tour of the e-cabin and facilities with Linden Lundback and Mel Mathison.

There was great interest from the participants in alternative energy sources and practices despite the frosty weather.

Lakeland at Agribition Brittany Prouse and Julie Mitchell, both student ambassadors for Lakeland College's agricultural sciences programs, joined Alicia Dyck at the 2010 Canadian Western Agribition in Regina, Sask., from Nov. 22 to 27. Lakeland farm manager Blake MacMillan also took a group of students from the college’s Student Managed Farm's beef unit. They showed five heifer calves and three bred heifers in the commercial futurity show.

Students in the Stockman's Club also entered two bred heifers in the Angus show. Lakeland has been an exhibitor at the farm show for 15 years. This year, Lakeland was recognized with an award from Agribition organizers.

A fond farewell

Linden Lundback (centre) discusses renewable energy alternatives as he tours visitors to the college's ecabin at the Vermilion campus Nov. 24.

There's no such thing as a teary farewell if Merle Klumph shows up at the party.

Pictured above, Merle goes over her top 10 list of the "real reasons" that contributed to recruitment officer Crystal Jackson's departure from the college.

Crystal is leaving the college to take on a new position at St. Jerome's School in Vermilion. Good luck, Crystal!

Winter cycling workshop co-hosted by Enviro Sciences Who says you can’t ride your bike all year round in Alberta?

Well, you can and you can do it safely as participants learned at a free winter cycling workshop hosted by Lakeland College’s Outdoor Recreation Club and the environmental sciences department last Wednesday at the Vermilion campus. Lakeland staff, students as well as members of the Vermilion community attended the event.

The workshop offered cyclists of all abilities and ages access to equipment and expertise for bike tune-ups and maintenance. Participants also learned about the benefits of year-round cycle commuting.

Cycle mechanics and enthusiasts were on hand to lead sessions on cycle repairs and maintenance, ice riding and dressing for winter commuting. Bike stands and tools were also available for participants to use for a session on tire studding for winter riding.

Tires, tubes and hardware were also available for participants to purchase at cost.

“People were able to bring their bikes to the workshop to learn about problem solving, tire studding and how winter cycling can offer a healthy and environmentally-friendly alternative to idling, scraping windshields and fighting traffic,” says Chris Olsen, an environmental sciences instructor at the college, and a cycling enthusiast.

Right: Always a tool, Merle Klumph, the college's institutional reporting officer, uses a screwdriver to the ear to transmit the sound of the bike's bearings as a diagnostic for wear or damage problems. Behind her is Luke Laurence, an instructor in the college's environmental sciences program at the Vermilion campus.

This project's for the birds The sounds of various wading and water birds filled the Alumni Hall at the Vermilion campus last week as second-year environmental sciences students displayed their bird poster/research projects.

A total of 25 posters were on display. After researching their bird subjects in their ornithology class, the students were able to speak with other bird enthusiasts which included college staff, faculty, students from other programs, industry professionals, as well as members of the community including people in the Vermilion Naturalist Society. Right: student Jesse Giggs, (wildlife and fisheries conservation major) and local conservation officer Gary Walsh discuss the Sora, a small chicken-like bird that inhabits freshwater and saltwater marshes and shorelines.

Enviro students at CPANS Students in Lakeland College’s student chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association, Canadian Prairie and Northern Section (CPANS) attended a luncheon Nov. 5 at the University of Alberta Faculty Club.

The presenter was Beverly Yee, Alberta Environment’s assistant deputy minister of environmental strategy, who spoke about the province’s approach for managing environmental impacts due to industrial development. In the intimate setting of the Faculty Club, Lakeland students also had the opportunity to network with people from industry, government and academia.

CPANS is an association of environmental industry professionals in Northern and Western Canada. Lakeland’s chapter was created to foster linkages between students, the college and environmental professionals.

Membership is open to all environmentallyminded students on campus. Students in the environmental monitoring and protection major have automatic membership.

Second year diploma students in the Environmental Monitoring and Protection major.

From left to right: Krista Maksymchuk, Michael Hazell, Stephanie Vehnon, Curtis Farrus, Beverly Yee (Assistant Deputy Minister, Alberta Environment), Brian Penner, Michael Delisle, and Avis Beeching.

Lakeland College's Child Development Centre reaccredited Lakeland College’s Child Development Centre has demonstrated once again that it is providing families with a high level of child care.

The Child Development Centre at the Vermilion campus was recently reaccredited by the Alberta Association for the Accreditation of Early Learning and Care Services (AAAELCS).

“Lakeland’s Child Development Centre was first accredited in 2007. To get reaccredited, we had to exhibit exemplary interactions with children and parents during a site visit, demonstrate the improvements we’ve made to the program in the past three years and develop a plan to enhance our program over the next three years,” says Alma Noel, supervisor of the Child Development Centre.

The Alberta Child Care Accreditation Program (ACCAP) is a voluntary process through which child care services can demonstrate that they exceed the basic regulatory requirements and meet the higher standards of accreditation. The ten ACCAP Quality Standards are divided into four categories of outcomes: for children, for families, for staff and for the community.

In the accreditation feedback report, the site visit coordinators noted that Lakeland’s staff members were responsive to children’s needs and wants and “sought out meaningful interactions with all children” and that “children’s competence and independence were actively encouraged and supported.” The report also indicated that the parents interviewed said they felt welcome in the program at any time and were pleased

Appearing with their accreditation plaque are Child Development Centre staff Jackie Surina, Tracy Wasylishen, Alma Noel and Vanessa Magas with some of their charges.

with the quality of care their children received.

Open Monday to Friday from 7:45 am – 5:30 pm, the Child Development Centre offers care for children ages 19 months to six years. The centre serves families throughout the area, not only families of college staff and students. Subsidies are available for families needing financial assistance. “Our philosophy is that children learn best through play.

We offer group activities, free play in our numerous learning centres, and gymnasium and outdoor play,” says Noel.

Children benefit from healthy snacks and meals, quiet rest periods, and care from qualified caregivers.

“All of our staff members have diplomas in early learning and child care,” says Noel, a member of Lakeland’s Class of

2008. She’s very proud of the people who work in the centre, noting that caregiver Tracy Wasylishen was a finalist for a 2010 Excellence in Child Care Award from Alberta Children’s Services.

The Child Development Centre also serves as a lab for students in the college’s early learning and child care certificate and diploma programs. “We’re continuously communicating with faculty members which helps us keep current with the best practices in the early learning and child care field. The practicum students are wonderful with the children and introduce new activities and play experiences for the children to enjoy,” says Noel.

For more information about the Lakeland College Child Development Centre at the Vermilion campus, phone 780 853 8531.

PN students give generously When practical nurse (PN) students were challenged by their instructor to help others less fortunate, the response was almost immediate.

“In class we talk about helper’s high,” says Dawn McKenzie-Weinhandl.

“When we help others, our body releases endorphins that make us feel good.

So when I saw an ad about helping to provide meals and essential services to hungry, homeless or hurting people this Christmas, it seemed to be a natural fit.”

So far, the PN students have raised almost $80 which will help Edmonton’s HOPE mission feed 30 people.

“Even with their own financial limitations, the students are displaying their giving spirit. I am so impressed and inspired by their generosity,” says McKenzie-Weinhandl.

One-of-a-kind play program brings big smiles & live the learning opportunities When Christopher Bosgra comes to Lakeland College, his mom leads him by the hand to his classroom. Then she waits until he is engaged in his program activities so that when she leaves, he doesn’t experience any separation anxiety – which is quite possible considering that Christopher is two-and-a-half years old.

Christopher is one of 24 children including infants, toddlers and preschoolers who are taking part in the college’s play program. The play program is planned, organized and delivered by second-year students in the early learning and child care (ELCC) program at the Vermilion campus and serves as a four-week practicum.

“The play program gives Lakeland students the opportunity to operate their own program as part of their practical learning experience,” says Pat Wasylik, chair of human services programs at the college. “It’s a great opportunity for collaborative and cooperative learning as the ELCC students construct environments for children and apply the skills and knowledge learned in the last three semesters of child study.”

Lakeland’s ELCC program is the only one in Alberta that incorporates this type of hands-on, experiential learning project into its diploma program. It’s something that students find to be extremely valuable. In addition to helping them develop their skills for working with little clients, it also helps them determine where they want to direct their careers after graduation.

Reanne Tchorewski who came from Saskatoon, Sask. to attend Lakeland explains.

“I always saw myself working in a school setting. But now that I’ve had the chance to work more with infants and toddlers, I am now leaning towards wanting to work with that age group,” says Tchorewski. “That is definitely a new discovery for me.”

Wasylik says that in addition to developing skills required for working with children, the students are also developing their skills for communicating with parents.

Christopher Bosgra’s mom, Basia, says this is very important to her. She adds that she is very impressed with the skills that the ELCC students have already demonstrated.

“I can tell by the way the students interact with the children and the parents that they are there to make the play program a positive experience for everyone,” says Bosgra.

“This is the first time that Christopher has been in the program and already by the second day, he was happy and comfortable to stay with the students. I also appreciate when the students ask me about home routines for things such as toilet training. They try to be consistent. For me as a parent, that’s very important.”

The current play program session runs until Dec. 15. Another session will be offered in the spring during the program’s second semester. For more information, contact Pat Wasylik at 780 853 8509.

Mom Basia Bosgra and son Christopher

Operation Christmas Child

Drawing pictures and writing letters on mirrors together is lots of fun for Christopher Bosgra and ELCC student Charlene Keichinger at the ELCC play program.

The spirit of giving was alive and well at Lakeland last month as the Students' Association held their annual drive to collect boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Above students Daris Kieley and Laurel Siemens stand with some of the 115 boxes collected at the Vermilion campus. At the Lloydminster campus, approximately 75 boxes were collected.

EMS instructor earns PhD

What's up at the Emergency Training Centre

After seven years, Lakeland paramedic instructor Tim Essington recently completed a PhD in Education Policy Studies from the University of Alberta.

He also recently finished work with Dr. Tara Fenwick at Scotland’s Stirling University researching mental healthcare pathways that originate in prehospital settings with paramedics or police and proceed through to hospital admission.

While in Scotland, Essington also taught the college’s online EMS research course.

To Egypt: Denis Cunninghame and Dez Shubert went to Damietta Port, Egypt, Nov. 28 to Dec. 2, to deliver dangerous goods awareness level and operation level training to Egyptian Methanex Methanol Co. SAE. This is the first time ETC has delivered training in Egypt.

ETC trains NWT diamond mine staff: ETC instructor Bob Fisher travelled to Rio Tinto-Diavik diamond mine in Yellowknife, NWT, to teach a NFPA 1081 incipient and entry course Nov. 23 to 29. This is the second diamond mine that ETC has contracted with for emergency training.

When Fisher arrived at the mine, temperatures were in the -40 range. It later warmed to a balmy -20. During the training’s morning sessions, students listened to lectures in the warmth and comfort of the indoors but in the afternoon, Dr. Barogy checks the vital signs of a responder before dressing in a level A students and instructor were outside in the dangerous goods suit. cold and darkness training with live fire, extinguishers and waterlines.

Industry connections: The Alberta Industrial Fire Protection Agency (AIFPA) meeting was December 2 and 3 in Edmonton. ETC staff member Kerri Sinclair accepted the position of AIFPA secretary-treasurer. Congratulations, Kerri. John Fedoriuk and Clint McCullough also attended the meeting. John gave a presentation about changes to ETC’s NFPA 1081 training which allows the course to be tailored to specific customer needs.

The men of "Movember": During the month of November, a number of ETC staff put their razors away to take part in the world-wide Men’s Health fundraising initiative, Movember, to raise money for prostate cancer research. After the last facial hair was groomed, the crew raised $585 through online and in person donations. Thanks to organizer Clint McCullough and all Movember participants and donors.

Emergency services technology graduation: Students in the emergency services technology (EST) program had their graduation ceremony Nov. 27. The event included introductions, a march, a reviewing ceremony and diploma presentations in the Vermilion campus gymnasium. After the formalities, graduates, staff and guests gathered at the Vermilion Legion for steaks, a powerpoint presentation and a tribute to each student.

Instructor tests EMS pros with magazine quiz Ever wonder what to do in an emergency situation? Test your skills with an EMS Quiz in the Canadian Emergency news magazine. The regular feature is compiled for each issue by one of Lakeland’s paramedic instructors, Dale Bayliss.

Since 2001, Bayliss has written for the magazine to test subscribers with different emergency scenarios, each followed by 25 skill-testing questions. Scenarios for each column are based on an emergency and potentially life-threatening situation that Bayliss has personally encountered during his 20+ years of working in the field.

During his career, he has worked as an emergency room nurse, a trauma nurse, an air ambulance flight nurse, a northern nurse in the Northwest Territories, and an ambulance paramedic in Alberta and Saskatchewan. He began teaching in 1997 and is now an instructor in the college’s paramedic program at Camrose.

“The quizzes address trauma scenarios and medical scenarios,” says Bayliss.

“They’ve become valuable learning tools for field workers, particularly those in rural areas. They help workers stay on top of their skills and be current with protocols as they change every four years.”

The opportunity to be part of the magazine presented itself while Bayliss was attending an industry conference.

While Bayliss often uses the scenarios and quizzes as part of his own classes, other emergency service departments across Canada are also using his quizzes as part of their in-service training programs for staff.

“It was nice to hear these columns are being used to help emergency services workers and students evaluate skills,” says Bayliss. “If my experience can help others, then that makes the time and effort to write the columns worthwhile.”

The Canadian Emergency News magazine publishes six issues per year. Quizzes can be found online at www.emsnews.com.

The 2010 EST graduating class go through the paces of rehearsing for their graduating ceremony Nov. 27 at the Vermilion campus.

Interior design tile projects for auction

Laurel Siemens is a second-year interior design technology student at Lakeland College.

Student profile

Creative flair overrides siblings' mathematical minds Some siblings are just not cut from the same cloth. Some have a flair for the creative while others have a scientific mind.

Such is the case for Laurel Siemens and her siblings. A second year interior design student at Lakeland College, she throws herself into designing spaces, drawing elevations and choosing textiles and colour schemes while her brother studies astro physics at UBC, and her sister looks to study commerce.

“It seems really weird but that’s the way we’ve always been,” laughs Siemens, the middle child. “When we were little, my brother was always dreaming up experiments and I was designing houses with cut-outs from the Sears catalogue.”

But after graduating from high school, it took a few years for Siemens to find the right path to launch her design career. She first looked to fashion merchandizing and enroled in a one-year program at another college. She completed the program but found that jobs in that field didn’t fit her interests.

After working for a year and reflecting more on her earlier experiences in high school drafting and AUTOCAD classes, she began to think seriously about a career in interior design. She soon discovered Lakeland College’s interior design program and was impressed by the success of its students and graduates in industry competitions and in the field.

That was a couple years ago. Now, as a second-year student in Lakeland’s interior design program and with a few years of independence under her belt, she is thoroughly enjoying her college experience and is undeterred by the number of long hours and late nights required to complete the program’s in-depth and labour intensive projects.

“My favourite project so far has been designing a house for a park-like environment and incorporating elements of nature such as water, trees and rock into the design,” says Siemens. “We also just finished our kitchen and bath projects which we are submitting as entries to a National Kitchen & Bath Association design competition. These include floor plans, elevations, material boards, concept statements, as well as cabinetry, fixture and appliance selections.”

When Siemens is not engaged in classes and projects she takes the time to enjoy the friendships that she’s been able to make with other Lakeland students. As a smalltown girl originally from Rosetown, Sask., she enjoys the friendly atmosphere of the Vermilion campus and the surrounding community.

“Because we go through our program together, we become very good friends with each other but I also enjoy meeting students in the college’s other programs. It’s that diversity of students that makes the campus fun, interesting and comfortable. It also makes going downtown to the Legion’s Steak Night a lot of fun, too.”

Looking for a Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for person? You may find just what you’re looking for with unique, one-of-a-kind tile pieces designed and crafted by students in the interior design technology program.

Made with ceramic, slate, glass and other materials, the mosaic projects are now on display in the Vermilion campus library.

Funds raised from sales will be used to help cover costs for upcoming field trips.

Bids may be entered on the bid sheets accompanying the mosaic piece in the libary, or on bid sheets posted in Outlook’s Public Folders in the Classified/ Announcements folder. These sheets will be updated every day until the last day of the auction.

The closing date for the silent auction is Thursday, Dec. 17 at noon. Please drop by the library to view the projects.

Photographs and descriptions of each piece can also be found in Public Folders.

Here are a few of the pieces available:

End tables with mosaic tops.

A one-of-a-kind Roughrider masterpiece.

A mosaic portrait of Audrey Hepburn

Collette slams her way to Lakeland volleyball record It wasn’t a matter of if – it was a matter of when.

The “when” happened Friday, Nov. 26 against Red Deer College Queens as Brianne Collette slammed down kill number 400 to take over the top spot for kills in Lakeland College’s women’s volleyball record book. The record-breaking kill – and the two after it Friday and 12 more Saturday – helped pace Lakeland to a pair of victories over Red Deer.

This is Collette’s fourth season with the Rustlers and her last year of ACAC eligibility.

Her 400th kill moved her into top spot past Stephanie Kereluk, a Rustler from 19901994. While owning the kills record is nice, Collette is quick to point out that team wins trump any individual records. The Rustlers are tied for top spot in the ACAC and are also ranked ninth in the country.

Knocking off Red Deer was huge for the Rustlers. After all, many of the players weren’t even born the last time it happened. “This is the first time in 24 years that Lakeland has defeated Red Deer in women’s volleyball so it was a historic weekend for our team,” says Collette.

It’s her team-first attitude that has made Collette such an important player on the Rustlers, says coach Austin Dyer. Despite struggling with injuries this season, she always finds a way to contribute. “She’s a true leader … she’s our go-to player,” he says of his captain.

The six foot left-side player has been a thorn in the side of opposition teams for years.

She’s been named an ACAC all-star twice and also excelled academically which is why she received All-Canadian Academic honours the past two seasons. Collette earned a business diploma in 2009 and is in her final year of the bachelor of commerce program at the Lloydminster campus.

In addition to the kills record, Collette also owns the Lakeland record for digs and before the final match is played this season, may also own records for aces and sets played.

“It’s nice to know that when I’m done, I’ll leave behind a bit of a legacy at Lakeland. I’ve really loved playing here,” she says.

Brianne Collette

Nitrogen tire inflation machine donated to Lakeland's Auto/Diesel department Good connections with industry have landed Lakeland College’s auto/diesel department a Nitrogen tire inflation machine.

Uni-Select distributes automotive replacement parts, equipment, tools and accessories. The company asked Warehouse Services in Edmonton if they knew of a training institute that would benefit from the machine. Border City Auto – a branch of Warehouse Services – suggested Lakeland College receive the machine valued at $2,200.

Brent Doull, a sales representative for Border City Auto, presented the machine to Randy Hobbis, instructor/program head in Lakeland’s auto/diesel department on Friday, Dec. 3.

“We didn’t have a Nitrogen inflation machine and we needed one. It’s modern technology and we need to be able to show our students this type of equipment,” says Hobbis.

Nitrogen tire inflation has been used in race cars and airplanes for years and is now quite common in consumer vehicles. “Nitrogen molecules are larger than oxygen’s and don’t escape easily from tires which helps maintain tire pressure, especially in cold weather,” says Doull.

Lakeland College offers eight apprenticeship programs including automotive service technician, heavy equipment technician and parts technician and five pre-employment programs including automotive service/heavy equipment technician.

Brent Doull of Border City Auto presents a Nitrogen tire inflation machine to Randy Hobbis, instructor/program head in Lakeland’s auto/diesel department, and Dyson Heath, a third period parts technician apprenticeship student from Paradise Valley.