Belleville, Ontario, June 7, 2013 – At the 46th Annual Convocation Ceremonies on June 6th and 7th, Loyalist College proudly announced 117 award recipients. The awards were provided by private donors, businesses, industry associations, community organizations, and the Loyalist College Foundation. At the Convocation ceremonies 2,204 Loyalist students will graduate with a diploma, advanced diploma, or certificate.
“These award-winning graduates should feel exceedingly proud of their academic accomplishments and enjoy the recognition of their success today with family and friends,” said Loyalist President Maureen Piercy. “What they have achieved here at the College is an indication of what they will do in the future through rewarding careers where their talents are in high demand.”
The Governor General’s Medal was presented to Sarah Cole of Belleville who graduated with a cumulative average of 97.9 percent from the two-year Community and Justice Services Worker program in the Centre for Justice Studies. The Collegiate Bronze Medal from the Governor General of Canada is presented to the student in a two or three-year college program with the highest cumulative average. The Governor General’s Academic Medal was first awarded in 1873 by the Earl of Dufferin, and has since become one of the most prestigious awards that a student in a Canadian educational institution can receive. Ms. Cole also received the Community & Justice Services Faculty Award for superior attitude, academics, and aptitude.
“I feel extremely honored to be receiving the Governor General’s Medal,” said Ms. Cole. “I worked extremely hard over the last two years while raising two children and working full-time. It feels great to know that my efforts have not gone unnoticed. I looked forward to coming to the Community and Justice Services Worker program every day, and will miss it now that I have graduated. I attribute my incredible experiences at the College to the wonderful faculty I was blessed to have.”
The Herbert Young Scholarship Award was presented to Tegan Mandeville of Belleville for her outstanding academic achievement and participation in Loyalist College life. A Biotechnology Technician graduate, Ms. Mandeville also received the Biosciences Faculty Award for excellence in the program. She will be returning to Loyalist in the fall to complete her third year of the Biotechnology Technologist advanced diploma program. Valued at $750, the award is presented in recognition of Herbert Young, who was the President of Loyalist College from 1970–1988.
“It is an honour to be selected from among so many worthy students,” said Ms. Mandeville. “It reminds me that hard work, determination and kindness go a long way. I have always prided myself in earning my academic standing and striving to be the best I can be for myself, as well as setting an example for my peers. Loyalist feels like home to me, so devoting my skills and passion to the College just seems natural. I enjoyed Biotechnology so much that I am staying for a third year!”
The Ontario Association for Applied Architectural Sciences Student Award for Technical Excellence was presented to Rosalind Chow of Belleville for her exemplary architectural final design project which demonstrated her achievement of technical excellence in Architectural Technology.
“Students from every Ontario college Architecture program submitted their final year’s work for judging by the OAAAS provincial jury,” explained Ms. Chow. “A winner was selected from each college, and then their projects were judged to determine a final winner. It was a huge surprise when I found out I had won. It’s great to have my three years of hard work pay off – a true recognition of the time and effort that went into the final project.”
In addition to receiving her Architectural Technology Advanced Diploma, Ms. Chow also received the Architectural Faculty Award for the best set of working drawings submitted by a graduating student of the program, and the Architectural Faculty Award for highest academic standing in the program.
The Hugh P. O’Neil Outstanding Alumni Award was presented to Vern Haggerty, a 1978 graduate of the Water Resources Technician – Environmental program, in recognition of the leadership he demonstrated throughout his 30-year career. The Hugh P. O’Neil Award recognizes a graduate of Loyalist College who has made an exceptional contribution to his or her community through professional, community leadership, or volunteer service. Alumni Association President Rosemary Rooke presented Mr. Haggerty with the Award, which was named after Hugh P. O’Neil in 1998 by the Board of Governors, in honour of his leadership as Chair of the College’s Foundations for the New Millennium Campaign.
“As a proud Loyalist grad, I am grateful for the opportunity to share in the joy of these graduates’ achievement,” said Mr. Haggerty during his Convocation address. “I am deeply appreciative of the honour bestowed on me today. Had I not earned my Loyalist diploma, I know that I would not have had the career that I enjoyed before recently retiring.”
Loyalist College prepares students for a rewarding career by combining rigorous academic standards with hands-on training from industry experts. Programs range from apprenticeships and certificates to diplomas and post-graduate studies. Loyalist offers more than 60 full-time programs and 77 university transfer agreements around the world. A testament to the College’s strength is the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) released on April 17, indicating that 87 percent of Loyalist College graduates found employment within six months of graduation, compared to the average provincial rate of 83.6 percent for Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology. Loyalist is committed to helping students find great jobs, as well as supporting and enhancing the economic and social development of all individuals in its communities.
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Media Contact: Kerry Lorimer, Interim Director of Marketing and Communications, Loyalist College, lorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536