Adventure ahead
Posted By TINA PEPLINSKIE TPEPLINSKIE@THEDAILYOBSERVER.CA
Posted 1 year ago
Algonquin College valedictorian John Mitchell encouraged his fellow graduates to take the road less travelled as they embark on life after college.
The outdoor adventure naturalist graduate is already taking his own advice as he had to travel by a plane, train and automobile just to arrive in Pembroke for Saturday's convocation ceremony at the Pembroke Memorial Centre.
He travelled from a remote area of North Carolina, where he started a new job just last week, in order to be part of his college graduation.
"With the closing of a chapter, so opens another one to new adventures and new journeys," he said. "As we travel down the road that is called life, may we remember that while materials and possessions may make you wealthy, it is our experiences and the people we share them with that make us rich."
After attending a larger college, the Keswick, Ontario native found his way to Algonquin College in the Ottawa Valley. What he enjoyed during his time in Pembroke was the sense of community on campus and the opportunity to get to know people from many different programs because of the close-knit feel.
"This is one aspect that sets this campus apart from the rest," Mr. Mitchell said.
"It's a school where the teachers actually know your name and have the time to help you understand when you have a question. A school where the accomplishment of the individual is as important as the accomplishment of the whole."
Although graduation means saying goodbye to classmates they may never see again, he hopes they will always look back fondly at their college journey.
He would agree with the old adage that college is the best time of a person's life, a time of change and transition, new ideas and new ideals, a chance to experience, experiment and explore and enjoy the journey not the destination.
"But most of all, a chance to follow our dreams," he said. "Algonquin has taught us how to jump the first hurdle.
"The college has positioned us to succeed. The world is spread wide open before us. We are in control."
As the graduates move on, Mr. Mitchell's hope is that they have all chosen a profession that drives them and makes them want to get out of bed in the morning.
He believes people can find jobs, but it takes effort, direction and true commitment to find a career.
"A career is something that adds to your life and becomes part of who you are and not just what you do," he said. "A career is something that adds to your life."
During an emotional moment in the ceremony, an office administration executive diploma was awarded posthumously to Tya Lima. Ms. Lima, 22, was killed in a motor vehicle collision on Highway 17 near Chalk River last November just months after completing the program. She was travelling to her job at Atomic Energy of Canada Limited at the time.
Everyone applauded the courage of her brother Jamie Kelly who accepted the diploma while he and many others in the crowd struggled to hold back tears. Others members of Ms. Lima's family were also present at the graduation ceremony.
Close to 350 students were eligible to graduate from more than 20 diploma and degree programs at the college. About 190 graduates attended Saturday's convocation.
A number of special awards were handed out during the convocation ceremony.
The annual Award of Excellence, granted to a graduate who has combined outstanding scholastic achievement with demonstrated leadership, ability and community participation was presented to radiation safety graduate Dene Geary.
The Alumni Association Award, given to a graduate who exemplifies the greatest concern for the Algonquin College community while at college was presented to forestry technician graduate Trevor Slack.
The Health and Community Services Studies Department awards are as follows:
Lois Cahill Memorial Award, David Molson; General Proficiency Award for Nursing, Amanda Sheridan; Renfrew County Early Childhood Program Director's Award, Tiffany Lalonde; Wise Owl Day Care Award, Kelsey Gleason; Children's Garden Nursery School Literary Award, Marisa O'Connor; Frank Havey Memorial Award, Erica Robertson; Personal Support Worker Award, Kelsey Scheer; Police Foundations Program Award Jennifer McCormick; Roy C. Reiche Award, Alain Bertrand; Pembroke Police Service Award, Sheri Lorbetskie; L. A. Nienkirchen Award, Brandy Barnes; RPNAO Award for Student Excellence, Sheryl Tohivsky; Canadian Nuclear Society Award, David Scaife and Nancy Walsh and RadSafe Canada Ltd. Award, Matthew Dickson.
The Business, Technology and Outdoor Training Department Awards are as follows:
Co-operator Frances Lemke Insurance Award, Katlyn Dupuis; Dean-Sinclair Chartered Accounting Award, Katlyn Dupuis; Marketing Management Bursary Award, Kim Fuller; TD Canada Trust (Pembroke) Award of Leadership and Communication Skills, Tiffany Finucane; OACETT Award, Jennifer Boucher; Canadian Institute of Forestry Gold Medal, Susan Nelson; Dr. D. A. Fraser Award, Gregory Tipman; Keith Harold Wright Memorial Award, Shonelle Wilkinson; Benson Auto Parts Award, Christopher Pickering; Darwin Wendover Memorial Award; Andrew Kelly; NAPA Auto Parts Award, Ryan Deschambault; Moncion Grocers Award, Madonna Cybulski; Office Administration Executive Program Award, Tim Jacquard; Scott Rosien and Dempsey Chartered Accountants Award, Ashley Hartwig; Outdoor Adventure Program Award, Katelyn Burbank; Wilderness Tours Award of Excellence (outdoor adventure), Andrew Kucer-Dougherty; Outdoor Adventure Naturalist Program Award, Josee Archambault; Wilderness Tours Award of Excellence (outdoor naturalist) Graeme Walker; Buildex TIM-BR Mart Award, Andrew Seegmiller.
Awards that were presented during the year are as follows:
Algonquin Section of the Canadian Institute of Forestry Award, Alain Belliveau; Alexandra Club of Pembroke Bursary, Hope Weisenberg, Angus Campbell Scholarship, Kelly Reinert and Steven Ricard; Sam and Rose Cooper Memorial Award, Eileen Roff and Sheryl Tohivsky; James Croll Memorial Award, Pierre Sabourin; Ruth Grant Nursing Bursary, Jennifer Czyn; Terry Kohls Memorial Award, Tim Jacquard and Shawn Code; Kiwanis Award of Excellence, Kristin Shaw; Radiation Safety Advisory Committee Award, Gale Murphy; Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation Scholarship, Serena Loback; Dr. Kostantin Siegmund Memorial Award, Alicia Arsenault and Veronica Butler; Loretta Tario Bursary, Bobby-Jo Coulas; Dr. Tasker-Pembroke Rotary Club Scholarship, Samantha Mackie; Women's Initiative Network Award, Gloria Maika, Kelly Reinert and Nancy Walsh.
Tina Peplinskie is a Daily Observer reporter
