OKANAGAN COLLEGE
2021
CONVOCATION SPRING
JUNE 5, 2021 - 10 A.M.
OKANAGAN COLLEGE Okanagan College draws on a rich heritage of post-secondary education and training in the region that can be traced to the early 1960s when the B.C. Vocational School was established in Kelowna. Growth, changes and mergers led to the development of Okanagan College and by 1968, the first university and career transfer students were registered in a full complement of academic and vocational programs. Okanagan College began to offer third- and fourth-year university courses in co-operation with the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Victoria (UVic) in 1989. By 1992 it had received its new mandate and was named Okanagan University College (OUC). OUC offered joint degrees with UBC and UVic until 1995 when new legislation enabled university colleges to grant their own baccalaureate degrees. OUC conferred its first degrees on 123 grads at the Spring Convocation in 1998. At OUC’s last convocation ceremonies 900 degrees and diplomas were conferred. On July 1, 2005, OUC evolved to become two new institutions, Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan. Okanagan College offers a broad array of diploma and certificate programs and three degree programs. With campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm (as well as several education centres), Okanagan College is the largest college in the interior. It is an institution that serves the education and training needs of the region – stretching south to Osoyoos, west to Princeton, to Mica Creek in the north, and Revelstoke in the east. Okanagan College has become a vital and integral component of the social and economic fabric of B.C.’s interior. It serves not only this region, but also the world through its programs, services, community activities and enterprises. Okanagan College is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for people at every stage of life and educational experience. The College offers programs that lead to a full range of credentials, from basic literacy skills to bachelor’s degrees, and that cover a broad spectrum of subject matter, career opportunities and interests. Okanagan College transforms lives and communities.
PROCESSIONAL
O CANADA Ben Klick OKANAGAN SONG Amber Cardenas Penticton Indian Band MOMENT OF SILENCE Dr. Neil Fassina President, Okanagan College OPENING REMARKS Dr. Andrew Hay Provost and Vice President Academic, Okanagan College ADDRESS Honourable Anne Kang Minister, Advanced Skills and Education Training Dr. Neil Fassina President, Okanagan College Gloria Morgan Chair, Okanagan College Board of Governors
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PROCESSIONAL
STUDENT ADDRESS Adrian Balaguer Rodriguez Associate of Arts Degree Kaitlynn Peterson Criminal and Social Justice Diploma Raquel Couto Rodrigues Communications, Culture and Journalism Studies Diploma Mark Ines Environmental Studies Diploma PRESENTATION OF GRADUANDS Dr. Chris Newitt Chair, Education Council CONFERRING OF DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES Dr. Neil Fassina President, Okanagan College READING OF THE GRADUATING STUDENTS Sharon Josephson Associate Dean, Arts and Foundatinal Programs CLOSING REMARKS
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GRADUATING STUDENTS Certificate in ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES Chen, Yu Mistry, Priyanka Akshar Advanced Certificate in COMMUNICATIONS Whidden, Margaret Helen Diploma in BRITISH COLUMBIA ADULT GRADUATION Gardner, Madisen Tamta Diploma in GENERAL STUDIES Maninder Amritpal Singh Ayush Kumar Dilpreet Singh Dhaliwal, Veerpal Kaur Dhillon, Khushbeen Kaur Sociology He, Jiawen Kaur, Jaspreet Psychology Nelson, Sasha Simonae *Obrigewitch, Jenna Leigh Communications Sandhu, Harmandeep Sharma, Shiva Waller, Alexander William-Martin
Diploma in COMMUNICATIONS, CULTURE AND JOURNALISM STUDIES Allin, Paige Nicole Couto Rodrigues, Raquel Lowe, Hanna Kimberlie Mohindru, Nitya *O’Sullivan, Bonnie Irene Yazdani, Tarlan Diploma in CRIMINAL AND SOCIAL JUSTICE Austin, Emily Berg-Talman, Alyssa Eliana Caruso, Emily Bella Chudyk, Stephanie Barbara Helen Cridland, Dryden Gage Deighton, Emma Catherine Dye, Courtney Melissa Gakhal, Manraj Singh Hayes, Easton Allan *Isobe, Aleena Sophia Jones, Ryanne Jamie *Kaminski, Kurt Matthew Koesling, Heila Macor, Jordynn Emmaleigh June *Marbach, Dante Richard Marcotte, Faith Anne Paige Mathers, Kiana Leah Lynn Marie Methot, Kiara Moser, Jocelyn Kathleen *Peterson, Kaitlynn Dawn Stel, Miya Jacqueline Vera, John Kim Navarro Wood, Lucas Grant *Wright, Natasha Michelle
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GRADUATING STUDENTS Diploma in ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES Gaggioli, Eva Interdisciplinary Environmental Arts Hare, Jasmine Rain Environmental Science *Ines, Mark Joshua De Guzman Environmental Science Kallen, Kayla Mae Environmental Studies Leeder, Emma Catherine Environmental Management Lontos, Eleni Interdisciplinary Environmental Arts Lorette, Amber Environmental Management Merchant, Kira Environmental Studies *Mokonen, Laura Environmental Management Moulton, Tia Environmental Management Ouwehand-Minchin, Ferron Kylee Environmental Management Diploma in INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Azzolini, Christian James Friesen, Angela Christine Ruth Governance Diploma in WRITING AND PUBLISHING Reena Shankar Raman Bergg, Daniel Anders Chahal, Mankaran Singh Johnson, Aaron Josef Schlegel, Pauline
Associate Degree of ARTS Ankit Singh Gurinder Singh Harnoor Kaur Jaismeen Kaur Karandeep Singh Psychology Navjot Singh Ranjna Sukhvir Singh Sumanpreet Kaur Alfano, Alexandra Elizabeth *Balaguer Rodriguez, Adrian Psychology Beertema, Luke Peter Psychology Birch, Raena Christina Bloomquist, Jordan Scot Bonner, Naomi Suzanne *Bourassa, Casey Chapple, Miranda Lorraine *Dela Pena, Von Edzel Lansang Dore, Kaden James *Edge, Jason Alan Ewert, Jordan Bailey Fakaua, Makenzie Saili Psychology Feldra, James *Grant, Jaylen Kennedy History Green, Mary-Katherine Jaime Henne, Elizabeth Jaeger, Tiffany Marie Psychology Kaur, Arshpreet Kennedy, Jordan Kennedy, ReAnne Geography King, Breanna Monique Psychology *Kranabetter, Josie Maria Leake, Brandon Geography
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GRADUATING STUDENTS Associate Degree of ARTS MacLean, Alexander Roderick Geography Makortoff, Tara Lynn *Martell, Zoe Marie McGregor, Jayda Thelma Irene Psychology Mintzler, Megan Lee Montpellier, Aimee Psychology Newton, Nick History *Nitchie, Kaia Kody Noble, Bonita Ostafie, Kendra Deanne Ostoforoff, Jaeda Aspyn Parker, Richard James Neil *Parliament, Alana Rae Pluta, Brittni Lee Psychology Ramsay, Mirella Marie Barbra Sandhu, Lovepreet Kaur Sangha, Manjeet Singh History Sanjenko, Bethany Rose Anne *Schooley, Lisa Anne Shuttleworth, Anika Jo Sidhu, Jaspreet Singh Singh, Tarsem Spoelstra, Naomi Grace English Spring, Shayla Psychology Stepaniuk, Jessica Danielle Tsai, Chia-Ching Valouch, Jennifer Anne Psychology Van Zandwijk, Kim Catharina Virk, Pranvat Singh Wood, Teegynn Elizabeth
*denotes with distinction The “with distinction” is awarded for academic excellence. It is awarded to students within the top 15 per cent of the program who have achieved a minimum graduating grade average of 80 per cent.
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OKANAGAN COLLEGE EDUCATION COUNCIL Christopher Newitt (Chair), Faculty, Arts Danny Marques (Vice Chair), Faculty, Trades Catherine Farrow, Faculty, Health and Social Development Youry Khmelevsky, Faculty, Science/Technology Amanda Krebs, Faculty, Foundational Programs Svan Lembke, Faculty, Business Administration Glen Coulthard, Faculty, North Okanagan Nicole Davis, Faculty, South Okanagan Similkameen Vladimir Neykov, Faculty, Central Okanagan Tim Walters, Faculty, Shuswap Revelstoke Simran Bajwa, Student, North Okanagan Choi Leong, Student, South Okanagan Similkameen Matthew Rice, Student, Central Okanagan Deana Slack, Student, Shuswap Revelstoke Michelle Somerville, Staff, Support Staff Bobbie Wyatt, Staff, Support Staff William Gillett, Educational Administrator Dean, School of Business Andrew Hay, Educational Administrator Provost and Vice President, Academic Joan Ragsdale, Educational Administrator Regional Dean, Shuswap Revelstoke Ross Tyner, Educational Administrator Director, Library Services
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OKANAGAN COLLEGE BOARD OF GOVERNORS Gloria Morgan, Chair Juliette Cunningham, Vice Chair Andrea Alexander Marcel Beerkens Sanya Choudary Shelley Cook Neil Fassina JoAnn Fowler Tina Lee Christopher Newitt Devin Rubadeau Dale Safinuk Karley Scott Nicolette Theil
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OKANAGAN COLLEGE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION The Okanagan College Alumni Association (OCAA) celebrates alumni by creating connection and opportunities. The Okanagan College Alumni Association has created many services, products and benefits to allow alumni and all those interested to get involved with the Association. The OCAA organizes events and creates programs to benefit graduates and friends of Okanagan College and its predecessor OUC. It provides opportunities to meet fellow grads and members of the community. Okanagan College keeps in touch with its graduates via E-News, an electronic newsletter, the Alumni Association Facebook page, the Alumni Association LinkedIn page and the online community. Alumni are encouraged to stay in touch by notifying the Alumni Office of address and name changes, degrees from other universities and other important news that could be published in the newsletter. Convocation marks the end of a student’s academic life at Okanagan College, but Okanagan College considers its graduates important throughout their lives as part of its history, and more importantly, as part of its future. Remember, you were students for a short time, but are now alumni for a lifetime! To keep a connection with Okanagan College Alumni Association contact us: Okanagan College Alumni Association 1000 KLO Road Kelowna, BC V1Y 4X8 Telephone: 250-862-5630 Toll-Free: 1-888-650-6968 Fax: 250-862-5627 Email: alumni@okanagan.bc.ca Visit our website at www.okanagan.bc.ca/alumni
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OKANAGAN COLLEGE FOUNDATION The Okanagan College Foundation raises money by engaging interested businesses, organizations and generous individuals who want to help create excellent teaching and learning facilities and help students studying at Okanagan College achieve their goals. Students apply for bursaries and scholarships which help cover tuition costs, textbooks, tools, housing and living expenses, as well as other costs, such as child care. Okanagan College Foundation awards range from $750 to several thousand dollars. Some are awarded based on financial need, some on academic achievement, and some on both. Students may apply for and receive more than one award. Become an Okanagan College Foundation donor and help students achieve their goals on their way to becoming tomorrow’s contributing citizens and leaders.
For more information, please contact: Okanagan College Foundation www.okanagancollegefoundation.ca Telephone: 250-762-5445, ext. 4775 Toll Free: 1-888-650-6968
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OKANAGAN COLLEGE EAGLE STAFF In September 2018, at the 10th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow, Okanagan College was presented with a ceremonial Eagle Staff, created by Elder Richard Jackson Jr. of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. Jackson Jr., along with Elder Noel Ferguson of the Canoe Creek Nation, gave the staff to Okanagan College as a symbol of respect recognizing the College’s efforts to embrace Aboriginal culture and values in supporting Aboriginal learners. Many Indigenous peoples consider the eagle to be the most honoured and respected animal in the natural world. The eagle relays prayers to the creator and often represents the voice of the people. The use of eagle feathers on the staff establish it as a sacred item of reverence. The staff is also adorned with jingle bells. They symbolize the jingle dress and the healing potential of the dance of the same name. The medicine wheels and four directions on the staff represent the multitude of teachings in holism, interconnectedness, and living in balance. This ceremonial Eagle Staff plays a prominent role in Okanagan College commencement and convocation ceremonies. Signifying the respectful assembly of all nations gathering in unity to celebrate, the Eagle Staff is carried at the front of the Platform Party in the graduation procession. The staff is drummed into the ceremony with an Honour Song. When the procession reaches the platform, the staff is placed in the flag stand alongside the nation, Indigenous and institution flags. The role of the bearer is an honour bestowed on someone who is recognized as living in a good way. The Okanagan College Eagle Staff joins the traditions of pipers, gowns, speeches and formalities which are the hallmarks of commencement and convocation ceremonies at Okanagan College. The staff has taken its place as an integral part of an institutional culture which recognizes the value of inclusion, respect and an appreciation of diversity in ways of knowing.
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O CANADA O Canada! Our home and native land! True patriot love in all of us command. With glowing hearts we see thee rise, The True North strong and free! From far and wide, O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. God keep our land glorious and free! O Canada, we stand on guard for thee. O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
OKANAGAN COLLEGE 1000 KLO Road Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 4X8 Tel: 250-762-5445 Toll Free: 1-877-755-2266 www.okanagan.bc.ca