More than 3,700 students will cross the platform and enter the next phase of their life at Niagara College’s Spring Convocation Ceremonies, to be held at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus June 19-22.

Graduates and their guests will hear from a variety of distinguished business and community leaders who will deliver convocation addresses and receive special honours from the College.

Vicki Heyman

Ceremonies will begin on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 am with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport as well as the School of Food and Wine Sciences. The convocation speaker for the morning will be Vicki Heyman,

Daljit Singh Gujral

founder of Uncharted, values-driven family office that convenes and connects a diverse group of Americans and Canadians. Heyman will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

The 1 pm ceremony will see students in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies hear a convocation address from Daljit Singh Gujral, a first-generation entrepreneur from India and president of INSCOL, which operates a nursing institute in Toronto that trains internationally educated nurses who move to Canada. Gujral will receive an Honorary Diploma in Health Studies.

Coletta McGrath

Wednesday, June 20 will begin with a ceremony celebrating graduates in the School of Community Services. Coletta McGrath, executive director of Quest Community Health Centre and a founding board member of the St. Catharines Life Lease Corporation, an organization that built two of the first not-for-profit life lease buildings for older adults in Niagara, will bring the convocation address and will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

Chief Bryan MacCulloch

In the afternoon, Bryan MacCulloch, chief of the Niagara Regional Police Service, will address graduates in the School of Justice and Fitness Studies, the School of Allied Health Studies, and the School of Nursing and Support Worker Studies. Chief MacCulloch will receive an Honorary Diploma in Police Foundations.

Anthony Spiteri

Ceremonies will continue the morning of Thursday, June 21 with the School of Business and Management Studies hearing from Anthony J. Spiteri, who graduated from Niagara College’s Business Administration program in 1989 with honours. Spiteri, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, grew up in Niagara, and is now a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry. He has held executive level positions with Maple Leaf Foods, Thrifty Foods, Lilydale Inc., New Food Classics and is currently vice president of marketing, research and development with Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc.

Thursday morning’s ceremonies will also honour the recipient of the 2018 Governor General’s Academic Medal, presented to Business Administration – Accounting graduate Jesse Reynders, who graduates with a grade average of 98.23 per cent.

Tim Denis

Thursday ceremonies will conclude in the afternoon with Niagara radio host Tim Denis addressing graduates in the School of Academic and Liberal Studies, the School of English Language Studies and the School of Media Studies. Denis, who recently celebrated 40 years in radio, has been CKTB Talk Radio’s morning host for more than 23 years, and has made waves in Niagara and beyond with his work as a singer, actor, director and songwriter. He will receive an Honorary Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film.

Sarah Watts-Rynard

Spring Convocation Ceremonies conclude on  the morning of Friday, June 21.  Graduates in the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, the School of Technological Studies and the School of Trades will hear from executive director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Sarah Watts-Rynard. An advocate of the skilled trades, Watts-Rynard works to encourage a better understanding of the high-level of competency and skill required by these careers. Watts-Rynard will receive an Honorary Diploma in Skilled Trades.

Friday will also be a milestone for the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, as it will see the first cohort of graduates from the college’s Commercial Beekeeping program. The Graduate Certificate program is the first of its kind in Eastern Canada, and was launched in 2017 to meet a significant demand for qualified, professional beekeepers across the country.

Schedule of Proceedings

Tuesday, June 19 – 10 a.m.
Hospitality, Tourism and Sport; Food and Wine Sciences
Speaker: Vicki Heyman

3 p.m.
Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Daljit Singh Gujral

Wednesday, June 20 – 10 a.m.
Community Studies
Speaker: Coletta McGrath

3 p.m.
Justice and Fitness Studies; Allied Health; Nursing and Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Bryan MacCulloch

Thursday, June 21 – 10 a.m.
Business and Management Studies
Speaker: Anthony J. Spiteri

3 p.m.
Academic and Liberal Studies; English Language Studies; Media Studies
Speaker: Tim Denis

Friday, June 22 – 10 a.m.
Environmental and Horticultural Studies; Technology Studies; Trades
Speaker: Sarah Watts-Rynard

More than 3,700 students will cross the platform and enter the next phase of their life at Niagara College’s Spring Convocation Ceremonies, to be held at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus June 19-22.

Graduates and their guests will hear from a variety of distinguished business and community leaders who will deliver convocation addresses and receive special honours from the College.

Vicki Heyman

Ceremonies will begin on Tuesday, June 19 at 10 am with the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport as well as the School of Food and Wine Sciences. The convocation speaker for the morning will be Vicki Heyman,

Daljit Singh Gujral

founder of Uncharted, values-driven family office that convenes and connects a diverse group of Americans and Canadians. Heyman will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

The 1 pm ceremony will see students in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies hear a convocation address from Daljit Singh Gujral, a first-generation entrepreneur from India and president of INSCOL, which operates a nursing institute in Toronto that trains internationally educated nurses who move to Canada. Gujral will receive an Honorary Diploma in Health Studies.

Coletta McGrath

Wednesday, June 20 will begin with a ceremony celebrating graduates in the School of Community Services. Coletta McGrath, executive director of Quest Community Health Centre and a founding board member of the St. Catharines Life Lease Corporation, an organization that built two of the first not-for-profit life lease buildings for older adults in Niagara, will bring the convocation address and will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies.

Chief Bryan MacCulloch

In the afternoon, Bryan MacCulloch, chief of the Niagara Regional Police Service, will address graduates in the School of Justice and Fitness Studies, the School of Allied Health Studies, and the School of Nursing and Support Worker Studies. Chief MacCulloch will receive an Honorary Diploma in Police Foundations.

Anthony Spiteri

Ceremonies will continue the morning of Thursday, June 21 with the School of Business and Management Studies hearing from Anthony J. Spiteri, who graduated from Niagara College’s Business Administration program in 1989 with honours. Spiteri, recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award, grew up in Niagara, and is now a leader in the consumer packaged goods industry. He has held executive level positions with Maple Leaf Foods, Thrifty Foods, Lilydale Inc., New Food Classics and is currently vice president of marketing, research and development with Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc.

Thursday morning’s ceremonies will also honour the recipient of the 2018 Governor General’s Academic Medal, presented to Business Administration – Accounting graduate Jesse Reynders, who graduates with a grade average of 98.23 per cent.

Tim Denis

Thursday ceremonies will conclude in the afternoon with Niagara radio host Tim Denis addressing graduates in the School of Academic and Liberal Studies, the School of English Language Studies and the School of Media Studies. Denis, who recently celebrated 40 years in radio, has been CKTB Talk Radio’s morning host for more than 23 years, and has made waves in Niagara and beyond with his work as a singer, actor, director and songwriter. He will receive an Honorary Diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film.

Sarah Watts-Rynard

Spring Convocation Ceremonies conclude on  the morning of Friday, June 21.  Graduates in the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, the School of Technological Studies and the School of Trades will hear from executive director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Sarah Watts-Rynard. An advocate of the skilled trades, Watts-Rynard works to encourage a better understanding of the high-level of competency and skill required by these careers. Watts-Rynard will receive an Honorary Diploma in Skilled Trades.

Friday will also be a milestone for the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, as it will see the first cohort of graduates from the college’s Commercial Beekeeping program. The Graduate Certificate program is the first of its kind in Eastern Canada, and was launched in 2017 to meet a significant demand for qualified, professional beekeepers across the country.

Schedule of Proceedings

Tuesday, June 19 – 10 a.m.
Hospitality, Tourism and Sport; Food and Wine Sciences
Speaker: Vicki Heyman

3 p.m.
Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Daljit Singh Gujral

Wednesday, June 20 – 10 a.m.
Community Studies
Speaker: Coletta McGrath

3 p.m.
Justice and Fitness Studies; Allied Health; Nursing and Support Worker Studies
Speaker: Bryan MacCulloch

Thursday, June 21 – 10 a.m.
Business and Management Studies
Speaker: Anthony J. Spiteri

3 p.m.
Academic and Liberal Studies; English Language Studies; Media Studies
Speaker: Tim Denis

Friday, June 22 – 10 a.m.
Environmental and Horticultural Studies; Technology Studies; Trades
Speaker: Sarah Watts-Rynard

A message from Wendy Dueck, director of Development and Alumni Relations:

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Jana Boniferro as alumni engagement officer in the Development and Alumni Relations department. Jana joined the NC family on May 23.

Jana has a Business Communications degree from Brock University and over 10 years of experience in both the not-for-profit and corporate community. For the past five years she worked in the Advancement department at Brock University, most recently as senior major gifts officer focusing on the Goodman School of Business expansion; prior to that she worked on the fundraising efforts for the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. Both roles required her to create meaningful engagement and trusting relationships with key alumni – experience which will be instrumental in helping build a robust alumni community for Niagara College.

The primary focus of Jana’s role is fostering relationships and strengthening alumni affiliation that results in alumni having a lifelong relationship with the College. This includes presenting opportunities for meaningful continual engagement, such as sharing their talents and experience with students, and the ability to continue to learn from and with exceptional faculty members and talented peers.

Recognizing the existing effort and attention given within each College department to enrich the experience of students, both prior and beyond graduation, in the coming months Jana will be reaching out to the NC community to identify opportunities to engage, and strengthen the College’s relationships, with alumni.

In the interim, if you would like to reach out to Jana to discuss alumni engagement opportunities, she can be reached at extension 7427 or jboniferro@niagaracollege.ca.

Please join me in giving Jana a warm NC welcome!

A message from Development and Alumni Relations:

The Niagara College 29^th annual Seafood Gala was held at the Fallsview Casino Resort on Friday, April 6, with 645 guests in attendance. The evening began with a thrilling performance by Greg Frewin who ‘magically’ made NC president Dan Patterson appear in a box for a grand entrance.

Thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters, the event raised more than $200,000 to support learning resources, equipment, scholarships and bursaries. This greatly enhances the College’s ability to offer financial aid to students and to provide a high quality, technology-rich learning environment to ensure they graduate work ready.

A highlight of the evening was an announcement by Patterson of a $1-million gift from the Marotta Family. This generous donation is supporting the development of a new innovation complex at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Campus, which the College is proud to name: the Marotta Family Innovation Complex. This new facility will enhance the College’s ability to support innovation in Niagara’s agricultural business sector.

President Patterson also announced an additional $20,000 gift from Two Sisters Vineyards, owned by the Marotta family, to establish a Bursary Fund for students in the College’s Culinary Innovation snf Food Technology, Culinary Management, and Winery and Viticulture Technician programs.

We are very grateful to our presenting sponsor Fallsview Casino Resort, our Admiral sponsors Rankin Construction Inc. and TD Insurance Moloche Monnex, as well as our many College and Niagara community supporters who contribute to our students’ success by participating in this major fundraising event. Over its 29 year history, the gala has raised more than $2.8 million.

Please mark your calendar for the 30^th Annual Seafood Gala on Friday, April 5, 2019. We hope to see you there!

For event details and photos visit ncseafoodgala.wordpress.com/

Niagara College has 11 million reasons to thank those who have generously supported students through the recently completed Achieving Dreams fundraising campaign.

At a special event on March 26 thanking those who have made significant contributions to the campaign, it was announced that Achieving Dreams far surpassed its goal of $7 million, raising a total of $11,450,791.

The Achieving Dreams campaign was launched in April 2015, with a goal of supporting student success through campus redevelopment projects; equipment and learning resources; and scholarships, bursaries, study-work abroad and student leadership development opportunities.

Thanks to donors’ generous support, 788 new student scholarships and bursaries were created, and $1.6 million of new instructional equipment was purchased to help provide students with the up-to-date equipment and support they need to excel in their studies.

Donations have also helped fund 203,000 square feet of new and renovated learning spaces, providing new and expanded facilities to enhance the student experience and expand the College’s research and innovation capabilities, such as a 49,000 square foot Innovation Complex to support Niagara’s agricultural-business sector, and the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre, where teams of students and faculty work with local manufacturing companies on applied research projects to help these companies enhance and grow their businesses.

“Niagara College is extremely grateful to the many individuals and organizations who have so generously supported our students through the Achieving Dreams campaign,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “Whether it’s learning equipment, innovative learning environments or financial aid that helps students pursue their dreams, your contributions have made, and will continue to make, a lasting impact on the life and success of our students.”

At the celebration on March 26, donors to the campaign saw the effect their contributions have had first-hand, as three Niagara College alumni shared their own personal stories of success.

Daniela Cortes Aristizabal graduated in 2015 from the College’s Business–Sales & Marketing program, and will graduate for a second time in 2019 from NC’s Mechanical Engineering program, joining her father and her sister, who are both graduates of the same program. Aristizabal benefitted from the state-of-the-art equipment and innovative learning opportunities provided through the Walker Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre. The Centre was funded in part by a generous gift from Walker Industries and the Walker Family.

“Thanks to this on-campus, state-of-the-art facility, students like me have a place to apply the skills we learn in the classroom at a real job, with a variety of industry clients,” said Aristizabal. “It’s rewarding to know that I’m helping contribute to Niagara’s economy by helping businesses innovate.”

Gurjeet Dhaliwal grew up in India and immigrated to Canada at the age of 20 in search of a better life. Arriving in Canada without any support or income, Dhaliwal had a master’s degree in Math and Economics but could only make a living by working a series of odd jobs. She entered Niagara College’s Dental Hygienist program and is now a proud graduate. Thanks to donors, she was able to learn on the latest high-tech equipment that allowed her to seamlessly transition into the workplace.

“At Niagara College’s dental clinic I trained on leading-edge equipment.  From computer software programs, to digital x-rays, to instruments like the ultrasonic cleaner – the equipment we learned to use as students prepared us well for the realities of working in clinical environments,” said Dhaliwal. “Now that I am in the workforce, the skills I acquired at Niagara College are ones I use every day.”

Connor McCulloch is also a proud Niagara College graduate and is living his dream as an advanced care paramedic. Receiving a scholarship helped to alleviate some of the financial pressures that came with being a student, and allowed him to focus on his studies.

“All the time I spent focusing on my studies paid off. I graduated with a professionalism award from my program, which reassured me that I was on the right track with my career choice,” said McCulloch. “Perhaps most importantly, being able to fully immerse myself in the program changed the way I thought about being paramedic. By the time I graduated, it was a true passion for me.”