SPRING 2019
SWINGING TO SUCCESS Award-winning varsity badminton player, Grace Siu ‘94 has carried her drive for success from the court to her career. PAGE 18
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INTOUCH Publisher Mohawk College Alumni Association Editor Wendy Makey – Director, Alumni Relations Content Coordinator Meaghan Drury – Coordinator, Alumni Communications Design Maggie Makar – Graphic Designer, Marketing and Creative Services Photography Cheryl Post, Josh McGurk, Carmine DeLuca, Meaghan Drury Contributors Kat Clark, Mary Teresa Bitti, Meaghan Drury, Shanine Cook, Wendy Makey, Jay Hayward, Cheryl Stornelli, Ron McKerlie Editorial Advisory Board Martha Li – Copywriter; Lori Morgan – Chief Marketing Officer; Katherine McCurdy-Lapierre – Director, Marketing and Creative Services; Hillary Dawson – Associate Vice President, Public Affairs, Marketing and Strategic Initiatives InTouch is published semi-annually by the Alumni Relations Department at Mohawk College. This magazine is circulated to alumni and friends of Mohawk College. Ideas and opinions published or expressed in InTouch do not necessarily reflect those of Mohawk College, The Alumni Association, or the Editor. Publications Mail Agreement Number 400065780 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Alumni Relations – Mohawk College 135 Fennell Ave W Hamilton, ON L9C 0E5 To update your Alumni Record, contact: Phone: 905-575-2258 alumni@mohawkcollege.ca, the address above or visit mohawkcollege.ca/stayconnected. Prefer to receive the InTouch magazine to your inbox instead of your mailbox? Visit mohawkcollege.ca/alumnimagazine. Advertise with InTouch and reach an audience of over 70,000 graduates and friends. Learn more at mohawkcollege.ca/alumnimagazine.
CONTENTS SPRING 2019
18
IN EVERY ISSUE FEATURES & SPOTLIGHTS Welcoming Words
2-4 27 28 32 36
Alumni Events Awards & Honours Keeping in touch Upcoming Events
AROUND CAMPUS
22 25 26 30
Mohawk students take their skills across the globe Mohawk partners with Schlegel Villages
6
Maria de Castro Santos De Tina ’15 A desire to make a difference
8 12 14 16 18
Puangkaew “Kaew“ Luerueng ’14 From Thailand to Hamilton Abhishek Soni ’15 A man with a plan Ranjodh Singh ’16 Pushing past fears to realize a dream Rouxanne Irving ’12 Making an impact with international students Grace Siu ’94 Swinging to success
Fall Convocation Saying good-bye to women’s basketball trailblazer, Earl Begg
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Welcoming Words
A world of opportunities for Mohawk College students With immigration expected to account for nearly all future growth in Hamilton’s population and workforce, international education has become a strategic priority for Mohawk. International students now make up nearly a quarter of the student population at the college, with students coming from more than 80 different countries around the world. We all benefit from the global influences newcomers bring to our communities. We have seen this at Mohawk. International students bring a different perspective to the college. They enrich our lives by allowing us to experience other cultures, and in return they learn about Canada and all that makes this country great.
Ron J. McKerlie President, Mohawk College
“We all benefit from the global influences newcomers bring to our communities. We have seen this at Mohawk. International students bring a different perspective to the college. They enrich our lives by allowing us to experience other cultures, and in return they learn about Canada and all that makes this country great.“
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Our hope is that some of these students will choose to remain in Canada, and many do. You’re going to read about some of them in this issue. People like Grace Siu, a graduate of Mohawk’s Information Systems Technician, Class of 1994. Grace came to Canada from Hong Kong and now works for the company that runs the 407 ETR, a vital component of Southern Ontario’s transportation infrastructure. She’s also a former varsity athlete and Mountaineer Hall of Famer. There’s also a story on Kaew Luerueng. Trained as a nurse in Thailand, Kaew graduated from the college’s Bridging for Internationally Trained Nurses in 2014. After graduating, Kaew worked as a nurse in Northern Ontario, before returning to Hamilton to work as an OR nurse at the Hamilton General Hospital. A little closer home is the story about Abhishek Soni. Abhishek is a graduate of the International Business – Marketing program, Class of 2015. He’s also the co-owner of Mobélease Wireless, an on-campus phone repair and accessories sales service that got its start through SURGE, Mohawk’s incubator for student entrepreneurs. Grace, Kaew, Abhisbek and the other international grads featured in this issue shine a spotlight on the important role International students play in building a better future. It is important to recognize the potential these students bring to our community and to do all we can to welcome them and make them feel at home. It’s also important that internationalization works both ways. Recently Mohawk began offering Canadian students the opportunity to travel and gain valuable experience abroad through our Career Ready Global Experiences initiative. In 2018, the program sent students to volunteer at a refugee camp in Chalkida, Greece, and to do volunteer work at a primary school in Jamaica. You’ll read more about their experiences in this issue. Whether a student comes from afar to study at Mohawk, or travels to far off lands to gain new experiences, there is a world of opportunities available to Mohawk students.
Welcoming Words
Message from the Chair The Mohawk Alumni Council has a clear vision and we hope that by sharing a bit about what we do, that you too will contemplate supporting the many great activities and initiatives offered by the Mohawk Alumni team, or even consider joining the council. Firstly, a special congratulation to Mohawk’s very own, Jad Saliba ’01, who won the Premier’s Award in the Technology category in 2018. This is a testament to Jad’s amazing work and the incredible difference he’s making in the community. If you know a Mohawk Alumni affecting positive change in the world around them, let us know.
Jay Hayward ’99 Business Administration
As an Advisory Council, we are advisors, decision makers and ambassadors. Our vast array of experience and education is utilized by the Mohawk Alumni team to help build the rich suite of programs, services and events offered. It’s a great experience, but you don’t have to be on the council to get involved. Over the last few months, there were many opportunities to participate. There were Backpack to Briefcase seminars, peer tutoring sessions, Dress for Success workshops and etiquette in dining events, all focusing on career development to support our students in being successful. Approximately 70 graduates returned to Mohawk to share their experiences and insights with students through Alumni Speaker programs, panels and Meet the Grad events. An Alumni@Work event took place at Dalhousie Place in Brantford. Graduates, including 2018 Mohawk Alumni of Distinction Award recipient Valya Roberts, attended and learned about the benefits of keeping in contact with Mohawk. On December 1, the annual Children’s Holiday Party for students, alumni and their families was hosted with much success. Watch for 2019’s date so you can mark your calendar. We encourage you to explore the many ways in which you can give your time and expertise. Additionally, there are opportunities to give a monetary donation that would make a marked difference in the lives of students who face financial barriers to their education. However you choose to engage with Mohawk as an alumni is entirely up to you. We invite you to contribute to student success—your participation is as impactful as it is rewarding. Visit mohawkcollege.ca/alumni or email alumni@mohawkcollege.ca for more information.
2019-2020 Mohawk College Alumni Advisory Council The Alumni Association thanks these individuals for their valued contributions to alumni activities, committees and meetings on behalf of the Alumni of Mohawk College.
Jay Hayward, Chair Business Administration, 1999 Kerry Langford, Vice-Chair Business Administration, 1982 Marcine Blake, Past Chair Recreation Leadership, 1987 Kat Clark, Member Broadcasting, Television and Communications Media, 2010 Kyle Datzkiw, Member Business Administration, 2016 Lisa DiCesare, Member Law and Security Administration, 1981 Joseph Futino, Member Computer Systems Technology, 1994 Julia Jarusauskas, Member Event Management, 2015 Yash Shastri, Member Motive Power Technician, 2017 Lorenzo Somma, Member Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 2013
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Welcoming Words
Make the difference. Pay it forward. them down a different path, we know that alumni use what they learned at Mohawk each and every day.
Wendy Makey ’93 Director, Alumni Relations In conversations, meetings, emails and on social media, we consistently hear from graduates that Mohawk provided them with a solid education that contributed to their career journey. Whether they are working in the field they graduated from, or their skills were transferable and led
Take a moment to reflect on your Mohawk experience. Is there someone who made an impact on you? Did you receive advice that inspired you to pursue your pathway? Did participating in a hands-on learning experience give you the confidence to embark on a rewarding career? For all of us there was someone or something that made a difference. Now it’s time for you to make the difference and pay it forward. Help Mohawk continue to be a leader in postsecondary education. Give back of your time or talent—leave a legacy by helping to shape our students into the leaders of tomorrow. There are a number of ways to make the difference at Mohawk. Support students
by visiting a classroom through our Alumni Speaker program and share your story of how your experiences helped you grow personally and professionally. Participate on a Grad Panel or in a Meet the Grad event with other alumni in your sector and impart knowledge on how to be successful in your field and progress in your career. Mentor a student and help them prepare to step into their first job. Become a member of a Program Advisory Committee and provide input on industry standards, and the skills and knowledge required by graduates to be successful in a given discipline. These are just a few of many ways you can become engaged with Mohawk. Reach out to us at alumni@mohawkcollege. ca and let us know how you would like to pay it forward and help our students become career ready.
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4 INTOUCH | Spring 2019
Join us on the fairways June 7 Alumni Nine & Dine Flamborough Hills Golf & Country Club | 4:30 pm shotgun start Individual
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Register today at mohawkcollege.ca/alumni mohawkcollege.ca/alumnimagazine
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SPOTLIGHT
TO CANADA, WITH LOVE— AND A DESIRE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Mohawk College first helped Maria de Castro Santos De Tina ’15 with her English skills, then helped her train for a second career. By Mary Teresa Bitti
M
aria de Castro Santos De Tina ’15 and her now husband, Paolo, have a modern day ’how we met’ love story. They were first introduced to one another by a mutual friend when Paolo, a Canadian living in Stoney Creek, visited
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Maria’s hometown of Fortaleza. “Our friend asked me to show Paolo around the city, but I didn’t speak English,“ says Maria. “So I ended up using Google Translate to communicate with him.“ The couple married in August 2010, one month after Maria received her master’s
degree in Science from Fundação Antônio Prudente/Escola Cearense de Oncologia, two hospitals located in São Paulo and Fortaleza. Although licensed to work as a physiotherapist in Brazil, Maria did not have the opportunity to practise in her home country as she moved to Stoney Creek in 2011. Prior to leaving Brazil, she had been working as an elementary and high school music teacher for 10 years and was looking for a change in her career. “I felt there was something missing,“ says Maria. “I wanted
Spotlight to find a field where I could contribute and help others in a way that would be different from teaching music.“ To improve her English skills, Maria enrolled in English as a Second Language courses at Mohawk. “Taking the ESL courses was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,“ she says. “It helped me decide to go to Mohawk to get the handson training for the career I wanted.“ Before classes began, Maria was nervous she would be the only student in her program who came from another country where English is not a native language. “I quickly discovered I was not the only student from abroad and that made me very comfortable,“ she says. “The diversity of people and cultures is amazing.“ In 2015, Maria graduated from Mohawk’s Occupational Therapist Assistant and Physiotherapist Assistant diploma
program; in 2017, she became a Canadian citizen; and in 2018, in recognition of her many volunteer efforts and growing career success, she was named a Mohawk Alumni of Distinction recipient. Maria currently works at Brantford General Hospital where she’s doing exactly what she had set out to do with her Mohawk education: making a difference in the lives of patients. Maria says she wants to keep spreading the word about her profession as there are many people who still don’t know what occupational therapist assistants and physiotherapist assistants do. “I carry out the treatment plans of occupational therapists and physiotherapists to help people improve their quality of life,“ she says. Maria’s advice to current students is to take advantage of everything Mohawk has to offer—get involved, volunteer and enjoy this special time in your life of being
“I quickly discovered I was not the only student from abroad and that made me very comfortable... the diversity of people and cultures is amazing.“ – Maria de Castro Santos De Tina ’15 a student. For those who are thinking about a second career but have their doubts? Maria says to go for it and bring all of your previous learning with you as you train for a new profession. “If you work hard for what you want and remain focused on achieving your goals, you will make a difference.“
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Since 2010, through the development of customized training, coaching and consulting and with the knowledge of our expert trainers, we continue to solve issues and improve the skillset of Mohawk alumni and others across Ontario. If you think you and your organization can benefit from customized, instructionally-designed training, reach out to our team for a consultation on how we can fulfill your training needs.
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SPOTLIGHT
8 INTOUCH | Spring 2019
Spotlight
WORKING IN THE O.R.:
FROM THAILAND TO HAMILTON Previously trained as a nurse in her home country, Puangkaew “Kaew“ Luerueng ’14 upgraded her skills through Mohawk's Bridging for Internationally Educated Nurses program. By Kat Clark ’10
P
uangkaew “Kaew“ Luerueng ’14 grew up in a small village in Thailand as one of five children. Though they had very little, Kaew says her parents have always been incredibly supportive, wanting the best for their children. “They worked hard for us and, in turn, I wanted to make a good life for them.“ In 2005, Kaew became a nurse in Thailand and worked in a hospital operating room for three years. In a country where pension plans don’t exist for non-government workers, her parents’ future well-being increasingly became a concern for Kaew. Knowing that there was more opportunity and better paying jobs in North America, Kaew made a very big, very daunting decision and left Thailand behind for a brighter future in Canada. Without a license to work as a nurse in Canada, Kaew found a job as an in-home caregiver and personal support worker. She sent the money she earned back home to her parents while improving her English. My parents were so poor, when it rained, there would be buckets all over the house to catch the water that came through the ceiling,“ says Kaew. “I wanted to do a good thing for my parents and help them in any way I could.“ That ’good thing’ happened in 2010, when Kaew had earned enough money to build her parents a new home in Thailand, which they lived in until her father passed in 2016. Once her parents’ needs were taken care of and her application for permanent residency was approved, Kaew began researching programs that would allow her to return to her true passion and practise as a nurse in Canada. Many of the programs Kaew found required her to start at the very beginning, giving no credit to
her previous education or the three years she spent working in the hospital operating room in Thailand. While diseases such as diabetes and cancer may be endemic to countries around the world, Kaew says “it’s not the disease that’s different from country to country but the drugs to treat them and the brand names of the drugs differ.“ A fellow personal support worker told Kaew about Mohawk’s one-year bridging program for educated nurses. Kaew began her studies at Mohawk in 2013, graduated in September 2014 and passed the licensing exam in October 2014. Then the job hunt began. “I had no experience as a nurse in Canada and friends, who had been looking for nursing jobs for six months to two years, were telling me there’s no chance of finding work in the city.“ Kaew cast a wide net searching online for jobs in “General Hospitals in Ontario“ and discovered a website with nearly 400 results. “I emailed all of them,“ she says. “I decided whichever one hires me, I will accept the position because it was meant to be.“ Kaew’s positivity paid off—she got an email the next day from Manitouwadge General Hospital requesting a phone interview. Kaew was offered a job on the spot and so began her first job as a nurse in Canada, two months after graduating from the bridging program. While Kaew enjoyed her experience in Manitouwadge, her true dream was to be back in the operating room of a larger, busier hospital. Within a year, she secured a fulltime position at Hamilton General Hospital working as a cardiac-vascular nurse in the operating room. For students facing seemingly impossible obstacles, Kaew has this advice to offer—“Follow your dreams, keep going, keep doing, and one day you will reach your goal.“
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Further your studies in Edinburgh, Scotland with an MSc in Strategic Communications and Public Relations. Students who have successfully completed the Graduate Certificate in Public Relations at Mohawk College can progress directly onto this MSc at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh. Credits from the Graduate Certificate will be carried over. QMU’s postgraduate course provide the optimum balance of theoretical and practical learning, providing you with firm foundations for a successful career. The opportunity at QMU for Mohawk graduates will allow you to enter postgraduate study in a vibrant, progressive city which is a global financial, business and cultural centre.
www.qmu.ac.uk
MORE INFORMATION:
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On October 24, 2018 we celebrated and honoured the 2018 Alumni of Distinction Award recipients at LIUNA Station in Hamilton. Congratulations again to Jad Saliba ’01, Maria de Castro Santos De Tina ’15, Gabriela Covaci ’10, Janice Dusek ’75, Dr. Beverly Jacobs ’85, Wendy Rolfe ’86, Valya Roberts ’86, Maggie Fox ’93, and Paul Lloyd ’72
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Spotlight
Ready to
benefit.
A MAN WITH A PLAN Two-time graduate Abhishek Soni ’15 had dreams of creating a new business in a new country when he started at Mohawk in 2015. By Meaghan Drury ’12
W
hile growing up in India, business was a popular topic of discussion around the dinner table for Abhishek Soni ’15 and his family. So when he finished his university studies in his home country, Abhishek already had a plan for a business opportunity for something he saw all around him; cellphones. In India, having the latest cellphone technology as soon as it is available on the market is a dream and status symbol for young people and students. So instead of having to pay thousands of dollars every year when a new phone comes out, Abhishek came up with the idea of giving people the opportunity to lease their phone and upgrade more regularly for a reasonable cost.
From discounts on entertainment and activities to exclusive rates on home, auto and health insurance, plus much more, we're sure there's something for you. Check out your alumni benefits today! mohawkcollege.ca/alumnibenefits Some of our newest benefits:
He shared his plan with his family to take this idea to Canada, specifically Ontario, which has some of the highest priced cellphone plans in the world. He said, “Mom, give me a year, if it doesn’t work out, I promise I’ll come back.“ He applied to Mohawk’s International Business Management program and arrived in Hamilton in January of 2015 to begin the one-year program. It was in this program that Abhishek met Mohawk professor Melanie Sodka who had started the new SURGE program on campus, a hub to support entrepreneurs in launching their business ventures. Abhishek pitched his idea of leasing phones to a student market, and with some suggestions from Melanie to add phone repairs and selling phone accessories to his model, along with another year of study through Mohawk’s Small Business and Entrepreneurship program, he was set to launch his business with partner, Gurvir Bhinder. With the assistance of Mohawk’s Chief Business Development and Ancillary Services Officer, Troy Heath, Mobélease Wireless Inc.’s flagship location was opened at Mohawk’s Fennell Campus. Now in operation since 2016, Mobélease Wireless Inc. has expanded to two more locations, at McMaster University and Conestoga College, with five employees. Abhishek’s short-term goal is to ensure all three locations are steadily growing before he looks to expand further to more college campuses. Personally, he talks to his parents regularly and they find comfort in knowing he’s creating roots in Canada, as he says, “I’m doing well here. I’m living my dream.“
Spotlight
SPOTLIGHT
Introducing the newest Alumni Benefit, Mobélease Wireless Inc. Save on cellphone repairs and accessories. You can receive: • 25% off iPhone repairs
Visit any Mobélease Wireless Inc. location at Mohawk College, McMaster University or Conestoga College. Learn about more Alumni benefits available to you, by visiting mohawkcollege.ca/alumnibenefits.
• 10% off Android repairs • 30% off phone accessories • $50 store credit on any new phone on lease Plus, receive a free tempered glass screen protector (worth $20) with any phone repair.
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SPOTLIGHT
PUSHING PAST FEARS TO REALIZE A DREAM With big dreams of self-employment, Ranjodh Singh ’16 found his passion in Canada when he opened his own restaurant. By Mary Teresa Bitti
G
rowing up in a small town in South India, International Business Management graduate Ranjodh Singh ’16 had his reservations about moving to a big city. Armed with a master’s degree in biotechnology, he pushed past his nerves and followed his brother to Bangalor, a fast-paced IT hub. The move proved to be a good one—Ranjodh advanced to bigger and better jobs in marketing for healthcare and pharma solutions companies.
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Still, something was missing. He knew he wanted to be a business owner. “When you work for someone else, no matter how much effort you put in, your salary is your salary,“ says Ranjodh. “Working for yourself, success is however high you want to take it.“ He also knew he wanted to come to Canada, “a peaceful country where people are friendly and there are a lot of different cultures.“ With a cousin who was studying at Mohawk College at the time, Ranjodh decided to take himself out of his comfort zone once again.
Spotlight
“Patience, commitment and dreaming with your eyes open will lead you to success.“ – Ranjodh Singh ’16
His impressions of Canada quickly proved correct. “People smile, they acknowledge each other,“ says Ranjodh. “I used to tell my mom, ’I constantly hear ’thank you’ and ’sorry’.’“ He also learned about what he wants in life and what he’s passionate about. That passion is his restaurant, Wah Sardaarji, an Indian vegetarian restaurant in downtown Hamilton that he launched in 2017, two years after arriving in Canada. Ranjodh credits his classes and instructors at Mohawk with giving him the tools to become an entrepreneur. He’s still in touch with Professor Laura Cole, who taught him about goal setting. When he decided to fill a need
he had as a student—affordable, vegetarian Indian cuisine—he conducted a survey of Mohawk students using techniques he had learned in class to test out menu ideas and price points. Singh pushed himself again after graduating when he decided to stop applying for corporate jobs knowing if he landed one, he would not move forward with the restaurant. Ranjodh admits, “I was scared but I was confident.“ The positive responses he received from the survey led him, with the help of fellow students Shekher Singh, Chetan Nayyar and Amritpal Singh, to rent a kitchen space and begin selling boxed meals. Within six months, he had enough demand to open a location in downtown Hamilton. These days, Ranjodh is planning a second location in Hamilton and a third in Brampton. “I want my restaurant to be the top choice for students who want vegetarian Indian cuisine,“ he says. When Mohawk students come into the restaurant, Ranjodh is quick to point out he’s a Mohawk grad. He’s also happy to share his best advice to students looking to start their own business: “Patience, commitment and dreaming with your eyes open will lead you to success.“
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SPOTLIGHT
MAKING AN IMPACT WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS Since arriving to Mohawk in 2011, Rouxanne Irving ’12 found her place in the International Department working first in the on-campus employment program as a student and now as the Coordinator of Admissions. By Shanine Cook ’19
H
aving been an international student herself, Rouxanne Irving ’12 knows what it’s like to be in a new country while trying to succeed and further her education. She graduated from the Business – Accounting program in 2012 and is now the Coordinator of Admissions in the International Department at Mohawk. When Rouxanne first arrived in Canada from Jamaica, she had not intended to work in the International Department. “I came to Canada as an international student to pursue studies in business accounting,“ she says. “What started out as a part-time job opportunity in the International Department, ended up becoming my passion.“ Working in the accounting field may have been her initial goal, but Rouxanne found herself drawn to help international students. “It can be scary to move to a new country,“ she says. “I can relate to what new students are
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experiencing because I was once there myself,“ Rouxanne continues to grow and expand in her role by assisting new students to familiarize themselves with life in Canada and within the Mohawk community. In her spare time, Rouxanne volunteers in the community—she is the vice-chair of Global Hamilton Connect, an organization that helps international students and immigrants settle into Hamilton and assists them with getting to know the various supports and services the city has available for them. Her role is only one of many roles to support these students. The International Department provides services for students who are learning English. The Language and Culture Centre (LCC) organizes events such as Diwali, Lunar New Year, orientations and open houses. There is a coffee club that is open to all students and staff run by the International Services team.
Immigration workshops and info sessions are available as well with key people invited to campus to present information to students. The Admissions team manually vets, processes and issues offers, ensuring the correct documentation has been submitted. Mohawk also employs Market Specialists, international recruiters who work in specific regions and travel abroad to talk about the college and what it has to offer. “We are all different parts to the puzzle,“ says Rouxanne. At first, Rouxanne was heading down one path but, through her time at Mohawk and within the Hamilton community, she changed paths to make an impact in students’ lives. Rouxanne shares, “I’ve paid the fees. I’ve had to go find places to eat. I had to make new friends. I’ve lived the life of an international student. I had to make all those decisions and find out what made my life comfortable here. It feels good that I can now share that information with others.“
Around Campus
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS
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SPOTLIGHT COVER STORY
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Spotlight Cover Story
SWINGING TO SUCCESS During her varsity badminton days, Information Systems Technician graduate Grace Siu ’94 was an unstoppable force on the court. Today she brings that drive for success to her career in the information technology and telecommunications industry. By Cheryl Stornelli ’07
W
hen Grace Siu ’94 left Hong Kong in 1990 to study in Canada, she could not have imagined how drastically her life would change. The plan had always been to return to her family in Hong Kong after completing her studies. “I didn’t intend to stay in Hamilton, but the city became my home while I was attending Mohawk College,“ says Grace. “I felt such a sense of welcome and belongingness that I decided to stay.“ Outside of the classroom, Grace immersed herself in the Mohawk community by playing Varsity Badminton. Over her three years at Mohawk, she received numerous awards for her achievement in academics and athletics including multiple Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) provincial level gold medals and the All Academic Award, the
Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) national level bronze medal, and the All Canadian Academic Award in 1994, as well as a Silver Medal at her Convocation. For her incredible athletic and academic accomplishments, Grace was inducted into the Mountaineer Hall of Fame in 2003 and into the OCAA Hall of Fame in 2009. Grace fondly remembers the support she received from her coaches and faculty to succeed in her athletic and academic journey. One award in particular that stands out to her is the Dr. Sam Mitminger Award. The highest honour in Mohawk athletics, the award is presented to a graduating athlete who has achieved excellence in both academics and athletics. In 1994, upon graduation from the Information Systems Technician diploma program, Grace was announced as the award’s recipient.
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Spotlight Cover Story
“We all face different challenges every day, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Today you ask for help, tomorrow you can help others.“ – Grace Siu ’94
Management Professional) certification, she holds the position of Senior Project Manager. As part of Grace’s role, she has earned opportunities to travel abroad to the United States, Denmark, Switzerland and many more countries. She is proud to be the Senior Project Manager overseeing the most successful transponders and systems development and ETC projects in North America, such as the 407 ETR in Canada and the EZPass in the United States. She happily shares her Mohawk pride as she connects with current alumni employed at Kapsch TrafficCom NA.
Grace recalls participating in a national badminton tournament that was taking place immediately before Mohawk’s annual athletic banquet. She wanted to make it back to the College in time to attend the banquet and receive the award in person. Grace says she’s grateful for the Mohawk staff members who treated her so well and made it possible for her to compete in the tournament as well as attend the banquet.
Grace believes that the key to her success and happiness during her college days was a balanced lifestyle including school, work, social life and sports. Today she continues this work-life balance with fitness classes and staying involved in the community. She is a chief controller for Community Crime Awareness Day, an annual event run in Mississauga, and runs a non-profit club called Speedy Badminton. She is also a management consultant for Lee’s Badminton – a national level badminton club.
After graduating from Mohawk, Grace settled in Mississauga to be closer to her job and friends, while maintaining a strong affinity for Hamilton and the College. She credits much of her success to the education and invaluable support she received throughout her time at Mohawk as an international student. To help alleviate financial stress, Grace worked on campus in the International Department. She also used resources such as peer tutoring and discussed her schoolwork and future career with program faculty and deans.
In 2018, Grace established an award with Mohawk College to create the “Grace Siu Excellence Scholarship“ that will be given to students excelling academically and who participate in the OCAA or CCAA’s with a preference for students who compete in Badminton. Grace believes that by giving back to Mohawk students through an award, she can help students achieve an education while sharing her Mohawk pride. She hopes to inspire students to work hard and never give up.
Upon graduation Grace received multiple job offers including one from Kapsch TrafficCom NA (formerly named Mark IV) a division in a global company that focuses on Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) in North America. Twenty-three years since beginning her career at the company, she has not looked back. Grace has worked her way up within Kapsch starting as a Software Technician, advancing to an Engineering Technician, later promoted as a Project Coordinator. Amidst her time at Kapsch, the company has sponsored Grace’s continued education including supporting her studies in Project Management at the University of Toronto. This secured her the position of Project Manager, and now with her PMP (Project
The best advice Grace can give to students is based on her own experience and are words she still lives by: “We all face different challenges every day, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Today you ask for help, tomorrow you can help others.“
Interested in supporting Mohawk students like Grace has? Please contact Gena Dureault - Senior Development Officer, Planned Giving & Awards, Mohawk College Foundation Phone: 905-575-2208 Email: gena.dureault@mohawkcollege.ca
Fun Fact Before Grace came to Mohawk College, she was an advanced badminton umpire certified by International Badminton Umpires Organization and an intermediate level coach certified by Hong Kong Badminton Association. Grace (right) with Amy Chan, former pion. Hong Kong Badminton Ladies Cham
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Spotlight Cover Story
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Around Campus
MOHAWK STUDENTS TAKE THEIR SKILLS ACROSS THE GLOBE T
hrough the Career Ready fund, a provincial government grant that supports the development of experiential learning opportunities for students, Mohawk College received funding to develop and enhance experiential learning opportunities both on and off campus. Part of the fund was dedicated to increasing global experiences for domestic students through international service learning trips to Jamaica and Greece in fall 2018. Mohawk’s ultimate goal is to provide experiential learning opportunities to each student, thereby enhancing their educational experience and allowing them to be career ready.
Jamaica Students from the computer, photography and building renovation programs participated in a trip to Bowden Hill, Jamaica in November 2018. Students along with faculty and staff, used their skills from their respective programs to enhance
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Bowden Hill Primary, a rural school in the mountains of Bowden Hill, Jamaica. Mohawk students from Computer Systems Technician - Network Systems, Computer Systems Technology - Network Engineering and Security Analyst, and Computer Systems Technician – Software
Support programs were paired with a partner and rotated through all of the classrooms, conducting sessions on computer basics with a focus on enhancing literacy. The Construction Engineering Technician - Building Renovation students met with the principal of Bowden Hill Primary to
Around Campus
“Working alongside these students, I was struck with the realization of everything I took for granted in my own schooling; being able to contribute towards their education was more rewarding than I could have hoped.“ – Alex Turner, Computer Systems Technician Network Systems student discuss initial storage and cabinetry needs for the school, and visited a local lumber yard to investigate availability of materials and determine initial costing for Phase 2 of Project Jamaica. The Photography - Still and Motion students spent time in each of the classrooms capturing the unforgettable experience, teaching the curious students how to focus a camera lens and also capturing the breathtaking scenery. The week was culminated with a community celebration, hosted by Bowden Hill Primary and Mohawk College, where approximately 300 parents and the broader Bowden Hill community attended to celebrate the collaboration of this project. Phase 2 will see eleven Construction Engineering Technician-Building Renovation students and two faculty members return to demolish and renovate the kitchen and build new cabinets. They will also build book shelves and book cases and make a space for students to sit down and read.
Greece In October 2018, 12 students participated in a Global Experience to Chalkida, Greece. Students from a wide range of programs alongside faculty and staff worked at the Ritsona Refugee Camp for approximately 30 hours. The team helped in various capacities including providing supplies to residents at the distribution centre, helping families with their clothing needs at the Ritsona “Shop,“ helping residents in the laundry facilities, and interacting with women and children. Formerly an air force base, the Ritsona Refugee Camp was funded by the United Arab Emirates and the Red Cross to address the influx of asylum seekers that began entering Greece in 2015. The team had the opportunity to learn about the refugee crisis in Greece and the toll it has taken on the country as well as the asylum seekers who are fleeing their homes. The trip was part of the Global Experience 3 credit General elective course and students prepared heavily in advance and completed post-trip assignments as part of the course. The goal of the course is to increase intercultural and global competencies of students.
“Travelling to Chalkida, Greece to volunteer at Ritsona Refugee Camp was a life changing experience that I will never forget. Being afforded the humbling and unique opportunity to see firsthand the impact of the refugee crisis has deepened my sense of empathy and understanding. These are two crucial factors that I am certain will benefit me in my career as a Child and Youth Care Practitioner. I am so thankful for this experience and the fundamental impact it has made on my life both personally and professionally.“ – Abby Pachai, Child and Youth Care student mohawkcollege.ca/alumnimagazine
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AROUND THE WORLD
AND BACK AGAIN
CONTEST Show or tell us about your favourite city in the world and you could win! Grand prize is a $500 VIA Rail Canada gift card. Contest closes July 30, 2019 Enter at mohawkcollege.ca/alumni-world Sponsored by Johnson Inc.
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Around Campus
NEW LIVING CLASSROOM FOR PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKER STUDENTS Mohawk College has partnered with Schlegel Villages at the Village of Wentworth Heights in Hamilton, to introduce a living classroom to the Personal Support Worker program. This new campus includes many amenities such as skill labs and a mock apartment where students will gain practical, hands-on experience preparing them for a career specializing in geriatric care.
“Our students learn by doing. This partnership with Schlegel Villages demonstrates how we’re delivering on our commitment to providing our students with exceptional learning experiences that put them on the path to success.“ – Lori Koziol, Dean of the School of Health at Mohawk College
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Around Campus
FALL CONVOCATION 2018 CONGRATULATIONS, CLASS OF 2018!
Fall Convocation Speakers
Laurie McLaughlin Physiotherapy, 1982
Jonathan Vize Journalism and Communications Media, 2005
Natalie Sexton Aesthetics, 2005
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ALUMNI EVENTS Super Saturday
Alumni Speaker Program
Backpack to Briefcase Career Exploration Night
International Women‘s Day Panel
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Awards & Honours
AWARDS & HONOURS Congratulations to our student athletes
2019
Mountaineer Hall of Fame
Nominations
NOW OPEN Send applications to: Mohawk College Athletics c/o Hall of Fame Selection Committee 135 Fennell Ave W Hamilton, ON L9C 0E5
Golf winners of the OCAA Division 2 Silver Medal. Left to right - Coach Deb Eldridge, Adam Bezan, Brad Houghton, Lucas Fantauzzo, Nic Francis, Colin Churchill.
or Bernetta Scime bernetta.scime@ mohawkcollege.ca Nomination deadline:
June 14, 2019
For more information, visit: mohawkcollege.ca/athletics /mountaineer-hall-fame
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Cross Country winners. Left to right: Kyle Rooke – OCAA Individual Gold Medal, OCAA 1st team All Ontario and 7th place finish at CCAA’s. Kaitlyn Pansegrau – OCAA Individual Bronze Medal, OCAA 1st team All Ontario and 11th place finish at CCAA’s. Jason LaPorta – OCAA Individual Bronze Medal, OCAA 1st team All Ontario and 19th place finish at CCAA’s.
Awards & Honours
Congratulations to Jad Saliba ’01 on being named one of seven 2018 Ontario Premier’s award winners. Approximately one decade ago, Jad traded in his police badge to start a software company. While working as a member of the Waterloo Regional Police Service, Saliba was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, forcing him to leave his job to undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatment. A year later, Saliba was in remission and returned as a digital forensics examiner. In 2011, he retired from the police service and co-founded Magnet Forensics. Today, his company is a global leader in digital forensics solutions with offices in Canada, the U.S., Europe and Asia. Saliba is an esteemed speaker at industry events, including the Crimes Against Children Conference, High Tech Crime Investigation Association (HTCIA), and the Canadian Police College. Read more about Jad’s story this fall in our entrepreneurship edition of In Touch.
Congratulations to YWCA Hamilton’s Women of Distinction winners, Clare Freeman ’95 in the category of Community Leadership and Candace Gagne ’17 who received the firstever Honourary Women of Distinction Award, this past March.
Supply Chain Management Program Coordinator, Carol Fleck ’87 was named one of the 100 Influential Women in Canadian Supply Chain by the Supply Chain Management Association.
Natasha Mando ‘18, a graduate of the Practical Nursing program, has been named a 2018 Work-Integrated Learning Student of the Year by Co-operative Education and Work-Integrated Learning Canada (CEWIL Canada).
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SAYING GOOD-BYE TO WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
TRAILBLAZER,
EARL BEGG I
n January, long-time Mohawk Women’s Basketball Coach Earl Begg passed away at age 86. A trailblazer for women’s sports in Ontario and Canada, Earl was inducted into the Mountaineer Hall of Fame, Ontario College Athletics Association (OCAA) Hall of Fame, and Basketball Ontario Hall of Fame for the recognition he brought to women’s basketball at the college-level and beyond. Earl holds the Mohawk record for most wins with 316 victories during his incredible career. His teams won six OCAA Championships in 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1990 and 1991. They also captured two national bronze medals in 1986 and 1990. Earl was named OCAA Coach of the Year in 1987, 1990 and 1991, and was honoured by the Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) as National Coach of the Year. “At the time, no one brought greater recognition to their sport and our female student athletes than Earl Begg,“ said Laurie Cahill, retired manager of athletics for the college. “The fact that he has been acknowledged by Mohawk College, OCAA and Basketball Ontario, for his contributions to women’s basketball is legendary. But his greatest legacy is his commitment, sacrifice and service to literally thousands of young women, who Earl encouraged, motivated and mentored through basketball, to succeed on and off the court. For more than 20 years Earl represented Mohawk College with dignity, class and respect for everyone he met that is unparalleled in Ontario.“
“Earl was a passionate and dedicated coach. He inspired his players and pushed them to work harder. He made me want to be a better player.“ – Mary (Gallagher) Begadon ‘89
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Around Campus
“What Earl may not have realized was the lasting effect he had on each player’s life. Lessons of hard work, commitment, and striving to win have lasted long after the balls stopped bouncing. Coach Begg had his hand in creating strong, successful women. Rest in peace, coach – you live forever in our hearts.“ – Tracy (Hynd) Hopkins ’90
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Keeping in touch Bernard A. Rose (Textile Engineering Technology, 1969) When I first started in 1966, the school was the Hamilton Institute of Technology, in 1967, it became Mohawk College. I graduated from Mohawk in 1969 in Textile Technology and joined DuPont Canada in Kingston as a technical service rep. In 1974, I was transferred to Montreal and worked in various marketing functions and, in 1996, I took early retirement to start a company to sell medical textiles, called Medifit Marketing Inc.
’60s
When we first started, the company was selling compression hosiery and other types of compression garments. This evolved to include silver-based dressings and wound care products which we purchased. In 2004 we started a second company called TransTex Technologies Inc. to manufacture our own dressings to treat burns, chronic ulcers and wounds, under the trade name of SilverClear. These products are registered with Health Canada as Class 2 Medical Devices and sold by prescription through hospitals and health care centres across Canada. Today I look back on my years on Wentworth street, at HIT and Mohawk, and I am very grateful to the teachers, the access to resources and the facilities which led to a wonderful and fulfilling career. (1) Robert James Hill (Architectural Technology, 1970)
Sam Carrera (Architectural Technician, 1974) Upon graduating from Mohawk, I pursued further education in architecture in the US. After fulfilling careers working in the design field with Acres International Consulting, specializing in hydro electric power plants throughout the world, and then with W.P. London & Associates, specializing in nuclear power, I switched to a career in municipal government for my last 20 years of working.
’70s
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Charles Cicero (Business, 1973) I just retired. Jadwiga Yee (Business Administration, 1974) Enjoying retirement.
’80s
Norma Ewanick (Early Childhood Education, 1981) Just retired. Loving it!!!!
(2) Kevin Mercer (Civil Engineering Technology, 1981)
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(3) Sherry Lynn (née Rydall) (Nursing, 1984) I am the owner of Sherry Lynn Psychotherapy in Hamilton. Through my business, I focus on offering private therapy to individuals and couples, relationship weekend workshops, trauma therapy and providing MARI Art Therapy Facilitator Training. We are excited to be moving to our new home and office location in Grimsby. (4) Judy Scott (Nursing, 1985) 3
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Protection of Personal Information From time to time, you may be contacted either by mail, e-mail or phone by one of our services and benefits partners regarding one of our programmes. Mohawk College is proud of its relationship with a number of trusted partners and service providers who have an established record of treating personal information with care and provide valuable services and benefits to our alumni. We appreciate you taking the time to learn about the programmes and the latest offers available. We want to let you know that at no time will your name or contact information be shared with anyone not specifically authorized by Alumni Relations. Mohawk College respects the privacy of its alumni and the sensitivity of personal information. All of our partners sign strict confidentiality agreements with us prior to receiving any contact information. Should you wish to not be contacted about services and benefit programs, just call 905-575-2258 or e-mail alumni@ mohawkcollege.ca and tell us you wish to OPT OUT of affinity marketing plans. Thank you for your interest and your participation in the services and benefits provided by the Alumni Association and the Alumni Relations Department.
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5&6
From left to right: Debbie Coffey ’92, Christina Allmark ’93, Steve van Bodegom ’93, David Allmark ’93
Brad Molnar (Law & Security - Private Security, 1992) My current position is a restricted exposure position to the general public for my personal safety and the safety of my family. Prior to this position I spent seven years as a canine officer for search and rescue.
’90s
(5) Christina Allmark (Broadcasting Television and Communications Media, 1993) I recently celebrated my 25th anniversary with the CBC. My CBC colleagues and fellow Mohawk Alumni who also celebrated 25 years with the CBC are: Debbie Coffey (Television Broadcasting ’92), Coordinating Associate Director for CBC Kids; Steve van Bodegom (Television Broadcasting ’93), Supervising Production Editor for CBC Kids; and David Allmark (Television Broadcasting ’93), Lead Technical Producer, Olympics, English Services CBC TV. (6) David Allmark (Broadcasting Television and Communications Media, 1993) I just celebrated 25 years of service at CBC. (7) Abd Ghani Ahmad (Industrial Engineering Technology, 1993) Heather Hiscox (Office Administration – Legal, 1998) I retired December 31, 2014.
(8) Rosemarie Hassan (née Patcheson) (Insurance, 2002) Between my dual roles of CEO of Hassan Holdings, an international conglomerate of 12 companies with offices in France, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, USA, Canada and Dubai, and my role as COO for Novedo Marketing headquartered in Spain, my life is chaos personified as I manage both companies and roles 100% remotely from my home in Ontario. Since Mohawk, I’ve discovered my sheer love for chaos and wrangling it always brings a smile to my face. I love what I do. I am married, going on 15 years now, and have two beautiful children. Loving life, and it’s all due to my start at Mohawk College. I graduated and received my PhD in 2017 in Business Management and Economics and am currently attending Husson University, working on my Masters in Modern Leadership. Thanks Mohawk for the love of education you gave me.
’00s
(9) Mandi Buckner (née Luis) (Career Consultant, 2005) I am an instructor at Sheridan College where I provide mental health and working online courses to equip learners with 21st century skills and support academic upgrading learners.
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9 Natalie Hache (Travel and Tourism, 2005) I have launched my new business as a postpartum doula. I offer in-home support for new mothers and their babies from newborn to 12 months.
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(10) Ashgan Abdelaziz (Environmental Technician, 2008) Over the past 10 years, I have been busy working in a variety of environmental areas. I started in the geotechnical field with a consulting engineering firm. I took part in the construction of a 10.8 km long slurry wall as well as phase 1 earthwork for potash mines. I also had the opportunity to work in a uranium exploration project in the north, and see the importance of the geological side of drilling operations. In recent years, I’ve gained valuable experience in the management of industrial and household hazardous waste material in the private sector. More recently, I have felt the connection with the land and the obligation to give back. I enrolled in university to gain knowledge in natural resource conservation and renewable resource management. In my final year (2018), I had the opportunity to work for the government sector and gained knowledge in a range of health assessment and monitoring programs. I also took part in maintaining a fescue grassland restoration project.
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No matter what area you are passionate about or how long it takes you to figure that out, you are an important element in the equation of running our planet sustainably, and you will meet great people along the way that help shape the path you take in life. No one else can take care of our planet besides us and that takes each and every one of us.
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(11) Danielle Denault (Industrial Relations, 2008) Austin Chambers (Gas & Oil Burner Technician, 2014) Since moving to Alberta I’ve become a registered Gas 1 apprentice, known as Gas A in this province. I work with one of the largest growing fuel distributors in Canada, Parkland Fuel Corp. I live in one of the biggest cities in the north, Grande Prairie. We are a small city of around 70,000 people, but it is super busy. Around here oil, gas, farming, and forestry are our economy. With work I’ve traveled to some beautiful places and put my skills to the challenge in remote locations. The majority of my classmates from Mohawk work the very end of the
’10s
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downstream of the Gas & Oil industry. I work at the start of the process; I’m there before the gas even comes out of the ground. I always tell my tradesmen friends back east, I wouldn’t be where I am today if I was in Ontario. Marwah M. Al Salem (Small Business and Entrepreneurship, 2016) I’m volunteering at Immigrants Working Center. Ashutosh Patel (Biotechnology [Health], 2016) Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. (12) Jamie A. Brown (Advertising and Marketing Communications Management, 2018) Upon completion of my three-year Advertising and Marketing Communications Management program, I took my skills and what I had learned to Xaxis: The Outcome Media Company. At Xaxis, I serve as Programmatic Coordinator for the Wavemaker Agency.
13 (13) Jagjeet Bhogal (Mechanical Engineering Technology, 2018) Success doesn’t happen by chance, it takes strategic actions in the right direction to get there. I would say trust in the process, be consistent and never give up on your goals. During my last semester at Mohawk College, I received a call for an interview and accepted a job offer with Load Covering Solutions Inc. before I graduated. I started my fulltime job the day after my final exams. I worked very closely with the company president and learned about marketing, sales and business overall. When I combine this with my engineering skills, we are able to make very refined products that the market demands. I would really like to thank some of my professors who have taught me skills that are beyond what a text book could teach a person.
Return to Mohawk for the 2nd Annual
Mohawk
Super Saturday ...we‘re all Mountaineers Saturday, November 2, 2019 11 am start Super Saturday highlights: • Reunions • Tailgate lunch • Varsity Games • Campus Tours ... and more!
Want to stay up-to-date on this and other Alumni events, update your contact information at mohawkcollege.ca/stayconnected
Nicole Bullock (Biotechnology [Health], 2018) Shortly after graduating from Mohawk College, I got my first “career“ job at the University of Guelph’s Agriculture & Food Lab. I wouldn’t have got this position without doing my coop with Agriculture Canada, and I am very grateful. Naila Chohan (Early Childhood Education - Intensive, 2018) Working as a supply staff member in a daycare. Michael Holinaty (Community Integration through Co-operative Education, 2018) I’m looking forward to my future. (14) Pramit Mehta (Business Accounting, 2018) Even before I graduated from Mohawk, I earned the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) Canada designation. I was able to demonstrate my skills learned at Mohawk which is why McKeil Marine decided to offer me a full-time position.
(15) Natalie Williams (Libraries and Digital Technologies, 2018) I have been a part-time technician at Sheridan College since February 2012. Since completing the Graduate Certificate program in Libraries and Digital Technologies, I have been getting a lot of cataloguing work which I love, and in January I started working out of the Oakville Campus doing only cataloguing work, which I am quite happy about. The lead cataloguer at Oakville Campus has advocated for me to be here and consistently gives
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me exciting work to do while offering great reports of my performance to my supervisors. Since completing this program, my confidence in my work has grown and it shows in my day-to-day dealings with my library patrons. (16) Yashkumar Patel (Computer Systems Technology – Network Systems, 2018) KEEP IN TOUCH: Want your update to be included in the next issue? Visit mohawkcollege.ca/stayconnected.
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Upcoming Events
UPCOMING EVENTS AT A GLANCE For additional event details and more upcoming Alumni event listings please visit mohawkcollege.ca/alumni-events.
CONTINUING
EDUCATION
JUNE
IN-CLASS OR ONLINE
7
Alumni Nine & Dine
Professional. Practical. Personal.
OCTOBER
10
Alumni of Distinction Awards Dinner
ce.mohawkcollege.ca
NOVEMBER
plan your next trip with us SUMMER HOTEL ALTERNATIVE BOOK THE ALUMNI RATE ONLINE PROMO CODE: MOHAWK
1 Mountaineer Hall of Fame
2 Mohawk Super Saturday
Reunions planned by Mohawk grads: MAY
23
St. Joseph’s School of Nursing and St. Joseph’s Campus – Annual Reunion Day | Mass at 10:00 am | Luncheon at 12:30 pm | Michelangelo Banquet Centre | Tickets - $60.00 | For tickets and information, contact Kathy and Teresa at sjsnaareunion@gmail.com *restrictions apply May to August availability
Residence & Conference Centre - Hamiltom Located on Mohawk College - Fennell Campus hamilton@stayrcc.com 905-385-3200
stayrcc.com/hamilton
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Class of ‘76 Nursing - St Joseph’s Campus | Courtyard at the Marriott Upper James | 4:30 pm – 9 pm | For more information, contact Jane Ross: jane_ross55@yahoo.
Choose how you get your InTouch! Would you prefer to receive your Alumni InTouch magazine in your inbox instead of your mailbox? Or do you love getting it mailed to your house? Indicate your preference at mohawkcollege.ca/alumnimagazine
36 INTOUCH | Spring 2019
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