AMANDA HADLAND
From the RDC Alumni Association Chair GREETINGS! On behalf of the RDC Alumni Association Board of Directors, I would like to take a moment to connect with all of you, and talk a bit about where we fit in to all the excitement surrounding the College. If you are a new alum – congratulations! And welcome to a very elite club. If you have been rocking the alumni status for more than a year, thanks for staying engaged! And remember, we’re always looking for fresh faces on the Board. Our primary focus has always been to instill in our alumni a sense of pride and connection with RDC. Recently, we discussed whether or not our current alumni will identify with RDC when it becomes a university. Will we get lost in it all? It’s an interesting situation for the Association as we figure out where and how we fit in. I graduated in 2007 from the Hospitality program, and my relationship with the College now far outweighs the one I had 10+ years ago. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve been able to look at the value of a post-secondary institution from a much more global perspective. In RDC’s quest for university status, we’ve learned when students move away to attend university, they often establish roots there and don’t return. Losing students to other cities directly affects Red Deer’s ability to grow and prosper. University status in Red Deer is a big deal. Huge. I truly believe this.
JOEL WARD
From the RDC President & CEO It has been a transformative time at Red Deer College, and the pace of change over the past 12 months has been breathtaking. Since last year’s edition of Notebook, our College has completed all three of our major construction projects, and we established RDC as an unparalleled leader in alternative energy across the post-secondary sector. We were a major partner in the 2019 Canada Winter Games, we hosted the CCAA Men’s Volleyball National Championship, and we welcomed thousands of people into our impressive new facilities. Plus, we’ve added eight new programs and have continued to make great strides in our transition to a university. With all of our recent successes, determining our new university name was a key milestone for our future. On March 5, 2019, the Government of Alberta accepted our recommendation and announced that our new name will be Red Deer University. This name is rooted in our community, while also aligning with our future vision as a university. And it reflects the intense pride that people have for both Red Deer and for Red Deer College. We will continue to work with our community members and partners to create a university that is dynamic and impactful. This work is already going on behind-the-scenes, as we plan for and meet the remaining requirements needed to become a university. Once this happens – in approximately three to five years – then we will officially be known as Red Deer University. As a university, we will continue to offer everything we do now, plus grant our own degrees. We will continue to be inclusive and innovative, and we will make an ever-increasing difference in this region.
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Notebook | 2019
Red Deer College is woven into the fabric of central Alberta, and the recent Canada Winter Games were an incredible example of this. Whether through work or volunteerism or fan support, people from across our city and region welcomed thousands of athletes and guests. The experience was unforgettable, with the gold medal final in Wheelchair Basketball, held at our own Gary W. Harris Canada Games Centre, being one vivid memory for me. The venue was filled to the rafters and there was energy and excitement the whole game. This snapshot in time truly demonstrated to me what a great facility it is, and what it will mean for our new University, our students, communities and athletes. By working together for the Games, we showcased our institution and our community to all of Canada. We should be proud of all we have accomplished, and this spirit of collaboration will allow us to forge ahead and create our new University together. This is my last article for Notebook, as I am retiring later this year. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead this great College over the last 10 years. Watching thousands of you graduate and begin the next phase of your lives has brought joy and fulfillment to my time at Red Deer College. Sincerely, Joel Ward President & CEO Red Deer College
Meet Your Alumni Association Amanda Hadland – Chair Lindsey Sheppard – Vice Chair Evan Staal – Secretary – Treasurer Scott Hucal – Past Chair/Director Michelle Colby – Director Barb Dixon – Director
So this is an important opportunity for the RDC Alumni Association to self-evaluate. As a Board, we’re working on two important goals right now: First, to strengthen the relationship between us and the College. Ahem, I mean, University. The program I took is no longer offered, but that doesn’t mean my alumni status changed, and even though our College is changing, we’re still a part of it. RDC and Red Deer University alumni will be part of the same group. And second, to increase engagement. I’m happy to ride the coattails of the attention our institution is getting right now! This is an opportunity for the Alumni Association to get out there and remind you all of what you came from and what you helped create! Red Deer University is going to bring so much value to Red Deer and central Alberta as whole.
Brittany Lausen– Director, SARDC Rep
Thank you all for this opportunity to serve you over the next year. I’m truly excited for the future and can’t wait to see what all of this brings. I leave you with one ask, in hopes you can contribute to the prosperity of the Alumni Association: ask a friend how they are connected to the College. You might be surprised how many of them are alumni but don’t consider it part of their identity. Can you help us change that?
Joel Ward – President & CEO, RDC
Kind Regards,
Dr. Robert Kurio – Director Amanda Blair – Director Reg Warkentin – Director Jillian Kuzina – Director, FARDC Rep
Janice Wing – Director, Community Relations
Amanda Hadland
rdc.ab.ca/alumni | Notebook
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