Retired CEO John F.T. Scott presented with honorary degree

More than 5,000 new graduates from Niagara College’s Class of 2025 are now ready to hit the ground running after six days of Spring Convocation ceremonies and, to honorary degree recipient John F.T. Scott, each one represents hope.

As the College capped off the last of spring ceremonies on June 14, the retired Chief Executive from Niagara-on-the-Lake addressed graduating students from the School of Business and Management at the morning ceremony.

“You are now the stewards of your community, your nation and the world,” he said to the new graduates. “Make it a better place.”

Scott, who chaired NC’s Board of Governors from 2017 to 2020, called the experience “an unparalleled privilege,” which he attributed to his interaction with the students themselves. He fondly recalled shaking hands with graduands as they crossed the convocation stage.

“I saw young people coming forward confident in their future. I knew when I looked into their eyes that these would be the people who would, regardless of their choice of vocation, establish their families; sustain our communities and build our nation in the years ahead. And that is where I found hope – in you,” he said to the Class of 2025. “I thank you for all that you will do in the future in whatever worthy endeavour you engage.”

Scott acknowledged that graduates would make “great decisions” and “spectacular mistakes,” but emphasized the importance of learning from both to build their success.

“Receiving this degree from Niagara College is one of the greatest honours of my professional career,” said Scott. “One day, some of you may even have the thrill of coming back and being on this stage.”

NC President Sean Kennedy and Vice President Academic Fiona Allan highlighted Scott’s extraordinary contributions to the retail food industry in Canada during his career as CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers before presenting him with an Honorary Bachelor of Business Administration – International Commerce and Global Development. They also noted Scott’s impact during his tenure on the NC Board of Governors – a time when the College launched Canada’s first Teaching Distillery, as well as the first Artisan Distilling and Commercial Cannabis Production programs in the country, and hired the College’s first new president in 25 years.

“John’s strategic leadership and years of industry expertise have been invaluable to Niagara College, and he has truly left a legacy here,” said Kennedy. 

More than 745 new graduates from the School of Business and Management were celebrated on June 14, capping off six days of Spring 2025 Convocation and 12 ceremonies held each day at the Welland Campus Simplii Financial Athletic Centre.

“Wherever your path takes you next, know your NC family is proud of you, and behind you every step of the way,” said Kennedy in his presidential address during the ceremonies.

Spring Convocation highlights

NC hosted two ceremonies per day from June 9 to 14 in celebration of its Class of 2025 – each honouring different areas of study.

The first day of ceremonies on June 9 saw more than 960 new graduates from the Schools of Academic and Liberal Studies, Justice and Fitness, and Community Services. Rochelle Bush (St. Catharines), owner of Tubman Tours, was presented with a Distinguished Alumni Award during the afternoon ceremony.

On June 10, more than 825 new graduates were celebrated from the Schools of Hospitality and Tourism, Business and Management, Culinary Arts, and Wine, Beer and Spirits. Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality) graduate Abigail Tuckwell (Chatham/ St. Catharines) who achieved a 95% average, was announced as this year’s prestigious Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal recipient – reserved for the student with the highest average in a degree program.

Convocation continued June 11 with 1,045 graduates from the Schools of Media, Trades, and Technology. The Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze Academic Medal – awarded to the graduating student with the highest average from a diploma program – was presented to Kane Jennings (Waterdown/Hamilton), who graduated from the Acting for Film and Digital Media program with a 97.83% average (morning ceremony).

On June 12, a new group of skilled nursing and healthcare professionals were ready to enter in-demand careers as over 685 students graduated from the Myhal School of Nursing and the School of Allied Health.

Day five of Spring Convocation on June 13 marked a special milestone for more than 1,035 new graduates from the Schools of Business and Management, Environment and Horticulture, Academic and Liberal Studies, and English Language Studies.

Ceremonies were livestreamed throughout the week and are available for viewing on NC’s Convocation website.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Recent Convocation media releases

June 13: Niagara College celebrates over 1,035 graduates on day five of Spring Convocation

June 12:NC graduates new group of nursing and healthcare professionals entering critical careers in the community

June 11: Acting student earns top academic medal during third day of Niagara College Convocation

June 10: Niagara College awards top academic medal to Hospitality graduate

June 9: Niagara College kicks off week-long Spring Convocation ceremonies

June 5: Niagara College to celebrate class of 2025 at Spring Convocation

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco 
Communications Consultant 
905-328-2532 
[email protected]

The post Niagara College caps off six-day Spring Convocation with over 5,000 skilled graduates  appeared first on Niagara College.

Day two of Spring Convocation celebrates more than 825 new alumni  

Hospitality took centre stage as Niagara College welcomed hundreds of new graduates into its alumni community on day two of Spring Convocation, including a standout scholar who received the prestigious Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal.

More than 825 new graduates received a warm welcome as they celebrated their academic milestone on June 10, whether they crossed the stage at the Welland Campus or watched the ceremony livestream. The morning ceremony saw more than 345 graduates from the School of Hospitality and Tourism earn their credentials, while the afternoon celebrated 480 graduates from the Schools of Business and Management, Culinary Arts, and Wine, Beer and Spirits.

President Sean Kennedy encouraged the Class of 2025 to carry forward the spirit of welcome they experienced at NC, where they cultivated their passions and forged meaningful connections.

“Wherever your next path takes you, I want you to remember the power of welcome,” said Kennedy. “In a time of incredible uncertainty and divisiveness, it is so important that we never lose sight of our humanity; that we focus less on what sets us apart and more on what unites us; that we make an effort to find common ground.”

Academic excellence shines

The morning ceremony recognized Abigail Tuckwell, Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality) graduate. The 23-year-old capped off her studies with an impressive 95% average, earning her this year’s prestigious Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal – an annual honour reserved for the student with the highest average in a degree program.

Tuckwell, who is originally from Chatham, has been applying her skills across the country in Dawson City, Yukon. Since completing her studies, she has been working at Holland America/Princess Alaska-Yukon Land Operations where she previously completed one of her program’s co-op placements.

Tuckwell credits her academic success to her strong work ethic and genuine passion for hospitality. She finds inspiration in creating experiences for people, whether working in hotels, events, or the food and beverage sector – all areas where she gained valuable experience as a student.

“I found my passion for hospitality as I enjoy creating experiences for people,” she said. “Whether they’re visiting a new location, celebrating something special, or exploring, I enjoy being able to help create those moments.”

Though unable to attend in person, Tuckwell addressed her fellow graduates via video. She said that receiving this award was special to her and led her reflect on all the hard work and dedication she has put into the past four years.

“It’s helped me to truly appreciate the wealth of knowledge and skills that will prove useful as I go out in the industry,” said Tuckwell. “As I’m now taking the next steps within my career in hospitality, I recognize that my motivation and work ethic came both from my interests in the industry, but also from the passion my professors exemplified through my studies. Their passion helped fuel my own and made me more excited for my career ahead.”

Tuckwell was also named Dean’s Award winner for the School of Hospitality and Tourism. Dean’s Academic Awards are presented to students with the highest cumulative grade-point average in each academic school.

y. Dean’s Awards were also presented during the afternoon ceremony to Chevell Clarke, Culinary Innovation and Food Technology (Co-op) graduate (School of Culinary Arts); Nicole Hennig, Winery and Viticulture Technician graduate (School of Wine, Beer and Spirits); and Jessica Rakotonandrianina Ratsimba, Office Administration – Health Services graduate (School of Business and Management).

Spring 2025 Convocation continues

Niagara College will celebrate more than 5,000 new graduates during Spring 2025 Convocation, running from June 9-14 with ceremonies held twice daily at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The first day of ceremonies on June 9 saw more than 960 new graduates from the Schools of Academic and Liberal Studies, Justice and Fitness, and Community Services. Rochelle Bush (St. Catharines), owner of Tubman Tours, received the Distinguished Alumni Award during the afternoon ceremony.

Ceremonies will continue on Wednesday, June 11, with over 1,045 graduates from the Schools of Media, Trades, and Technology. The Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze Academic Medal – awarded to the graduating student with the highest average from a diploma program – will be presented to Kane Jennings (Waterdown), who graduates from the Acting for Film and Digital Media program with an outstanding 97.83% average (morning ceremony).

On Thursday, June 12, over 685 students will graduate from the Myhal School of Nursing and the School of Allied Health.

Friday, June 13 will celebrate more than 1,035 new graduates from the Schools of Business and Management, Environment and Horticulture, Academic and Liberal Studies, and English Language Studies.

Convocation will conclude on Saturday, June 14 with over 745 new graduates from the School of Business and Management. Retired Chief Executive John F.T. Scott (Niagara-on-the-Lake), former CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers and former Chair of NC’s Board of Governors, will be presented with an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (International Commerce and Global Development) during the morning ceremony.

All Niagara College Convocation ceremonies take place at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre at the Welland Campus. For the full schedule, including a list of programs graduating within each school, or to watch the livestream of any ceremony, visit NC’s Convocation website.

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Recent Convocation media releases:

June 9: Niagara College kicks off week-long Spring Convocation ceremonies

June 5: Niagara College to celebrate class of 2025 at Spring Convocation

Media inquiries, please contact:

Julie Greco 
Communications Consultant 
905-328-2532 
[email protected]

The post Niagara College awards top academic medal to Hospitality graduate appeared first on Niagara College.

A new Motus tower at Niagara College’s Welland Campus is tracking at-risk birds and other migratory species moving through the region.

Installed on the roof of the Simcoe building, chosen for its accessible high point on campus, the tower was positioned to pick up radio transmitters from tagged birds which broadcast unique identifiers as they fly overhead.

“Each tower collects data that are like pieces of a puzzle, and all those puzzle pieces are put together through the network of hundreds of towers,” said Martin Smith, Professor in NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture. “It’s the collective of the different data points which makes the system informative.

“We can use the data to see where birds were flying, how long it took them to go from station to station, whether they stopped to rest, and how many disappeared or got lost.”

This data feeds into the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, an international collaborative research network connected to hundreds of other towers across North and South America, as well as Europe. Managed by Birds Canada, Motus uses coordinated automated radio telemetry to facilitate research and education on the ecology and conservation of migratory animals, including birds, bats and insects.

The Motus tower at the Welland Campus was installed just two years after the College’s first Motus tower made its debut at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. While the Niagara-on-the-Lake tower tracks birds migrating through North Niagara, the Welland Campus tower detects those flying along the south shore of the region, benefitting both the international network and student learning opportunities.

The two towers on NC’s campuses expand the Motus network. Currently, there are only three Motus receiver locations in the Niagara region – two on NC campuses and one in Thorold. The next closest stations are in Grimsby and Port Maitland, and across the U.S. border in North Tonawanda, New York.

“The Niagara College Motus towers are integral to this large-scale collaborative effort by helping fill a crucial gap in the Niagara region, which is an area where many animals migrate through if they are unable to cross over Lake Ontario or Lake Erie,” said Matt Fuirst, PhD, Research Ecologist and Observatory Manager, Birds Canada.

Fuirst noted that Motus is a collaborative research network that makes use of new and existing infrastructure to enable anyone to play a part in tracking migratory birds, bats, and insects, and contributing to their conservation. Motus is rapidly expanding and there are over 2,000 stations worldwide.

Students in NC’s environmental programs gain direct experience with monitoring techniques, hands-on training with the equipment and how to navigate the sophisticated monitoring system, enhancing their employability.

“The Motus tower at our Welland Campus is another outstanding example of how Niagara College blends experiential learning with meaningful community partnerships. It not only enhances the hands-on training our students receive, but also contributes to vital conservation efforts across the region,” said Evan DiValentino, Dean of Business and Environment. “Projects like this are why our graduates are so well-prepared to meet the demands of today’s environmental sector.”

Even before the tower became operational, different classes of Ecosystem Restoration students learned the nuts and bolts of the initial installation process, including  figuring out costs and applying for funding. Students were involved with equipment purchase and assembly, linking the tower to computer and internet systems, troubleshooting technical issues, and more.

Smith noted that Ecosystem Restoration students use the Motus data in an animal monitoring project for their Species Management course. They also write formal proposals for funding grants as part of their Ecological Engineering course – an essential skill for many Ecosystem Restoration graduates as they pursue their careers.                 

Through written proposals, different classes of Ecosystem Restoration students over the past few years have successfully gained funding to support both of NC’s Motus tower projects.

Funding and community support

The tower at the Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake was supported by an RBC Foundation grant of $4,000, and a student-led Go Fund Me campaign that raised $2,800 to cover purchase and installation of the Motus tower, as well as a $2,531.69 donation from the Niagara Falls Nature Club and $1,000 from the World Wildlife Fund.

The Welland Campus project was supported by funds raised by students in 2023-2024, including $13,000 from the Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) and $6,000 from RBC Foundation.

“The Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower Project is an excellent example of an innovative project that is addressing the ever-changing environmental concerns of our region,” said Bryan Rose, NCF Executive Director.

Rose noted that the NC project exemplifies a successful initiative addressing a priority of NCF’s Environmental Grants program, supported by the Dorothea Thomas Fund.

“We know that Niagara has a unique natural habitat that is in constant threat by climate change, and human impact of development and growth within our region. We need to work together to protect it. But the first step in any environmental protection, is knowledge,” said Rose. “Gaining a better understanding of the migratory corridors, with the help of the Tracking Tower, will equip Niagara College and other community partners with the data and information they need to better understand how to protect and preserve our environment for migratory birds and animals.”

“Protecting Canada’s biodiversity and investing in solutions that fight biodiversity loss will be important for generations to come,” said Jaye Toulouse, Regional Vice President, Niagara Region, RBC. “That’s why we are proud to support Niagara College’s Motus Wildlife Tracking Tower Project, that leverages technology and helps unlock the data needed to inform how to protect and restore our natural ecosystems.”

Hands-on experience for students

In addition to supporting the Welland Campus tower, funds raised enabled 12 selected students from NC’s School of Environment and Horticulture to attend a three-day advanced ornithology micro-credential course, which focused on the Motus system, at Birds Canada’s Port Rowen Observatory in March. 

Graduating Environmental Technician student Tyler Warmbold (Port Colborne), who will continue his studies in the Ecosystem Restoration post-graduate program in September, valued the experience he gained with Motus towers on campus and the opportunity to attend the Birds Canada course. He was in his early twenties when he enrolled in the program, pursuing a career change to a field he was passionate about.

“The Motus initiative was an unexpected pleasure …  I was able to use the experience installing the new tower on the Welland campus rooftop and finding out the way the towers work to create a proper thesis and complete the term long project,” he said.

Warmbold noted that the experience students are gaining may be beneficial for their future environmental careers. 

“If I were to pursue a career in birds, there is potential to install Motus towers in other countries; for example, South America has very few towers and it is where a lot of our bird species end up migrating to,” said Warmbold. “If we are to better understand and track these species, many more towers are going to need to be installed and maintained.”

Niagara College has a full-time enrolment of more than 10,000 students from over 95 countries, who study in 130 diploma, certificate and bachelor degree programs at specialized campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Niagara College is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world and is consistently ranked among Canada’s top 10 colleges for research funding. Learn more at niagaracollege.ca.

Media inquiries, please contact:   

Julie Greco 

Communications Consultant 

905-328-2532 

[email protected]

The post Bird-tracking initiative takes flight at Welland Campus appeared first on Niagara College.