Oshawa, Ont. - Durham College will be celebrating the dedication, determination and success of its more than 1,500 graduates at its convocation ceremonies this Friday, June 18.
Diplomas and certificates will be presented during three ceremonies at the Oshawa Civic Auditorium, located at 99 Thornton Road South in Oshawa.
At the 10 a.m. ceremony, the schools of Business, Technology, Applied Sciences, and Design and Communication Arts will honour their students. The 2 p.m. ceremony is dedicated to graduates from the schools of Health, Human Studies and Justice Studies. The schools of Integrated Studies, Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship, and Emergency Services, along with Business and Skills Development Services (BIDS), will celebrate the success of their graduates at 6 p.m.
The guest speaker at all three ceremonies will be Lyn McLeod, the Founding Chancellor of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, the college's educational partner. McLeod became the first woman to lead a political party in Ontario in 1992, when she was elected Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party. After 33 years in elected office, she retired from politics last year, and currently serves as the Ontario government representative on the newly formed Health Council of Canada. She is also governor and vice-chair of Confederation College in Thunder Bay, and national spokesperson for the Centre of Excellence for Children and Adolescents with Special Needs.
In addition, the college will be honouring eight graduating students with the Durham College Leadership and Participation Award. This year's winners are Christine Gilmore, Karen Marconi, Pauline McKnight, Amanda Rowen, Scott Slack, Julie Smith, Elaine Swerdfeger and Karen Tull, who have all demonstrated the college's values of integrity, respect for the individual, educational justice for all, market-driven innovation and accountability.
Karen Tull will also be receiving the Doris and Gordon Willey Founder's Cup for Excellence, an award and honorarium presented annually to a graduate who best personifies Dr. Willey's original choice for a college motto, "Excellence Through Perseverance." As a Business Administration - Marketing graduate, Karen is currently representing Durham College students on the 2004 Board of Governors, a role she is scheduled to maintain until January 2005.
The Governor General's Academic Medal and the W. Bruce Affleck Memorial Scholarship will be presented to Melissa Wilson, the highest-ranking graduate of any two- or three-year, full-time diploma program at the college.
In addition, Durham College medals will be presented to the highest-ranking graduates in various post-secondary programs. Chris Varoutas will be honoured from the School of Apprenticeship; Mario Benacquista from Skilled Trades, and Normand Robillard from Emergency Services. Sarah Mokry, Elaine Swerdfeger, and Andrew Phillips, respectfully, are the highest-ranking graduates in one-, two- and three-year, post-secondary programs.
About Durham College
For 37 years, Durham College has been committed to providing job-focused programs, accomplished professors, quality-driven innovation, student success and superior accountability. Almost 6,000 full-time students and 23,000 part-time students are enrolled at Durham College. For more information, visit our website at www.durhamcollege.ca, or call 905.721.2000.
For more information, please contact:
Tania Henvey
Marketing and Communications
905.721.3111, ext. 2513
tania.henvey@durhamc.on.ca
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