Belleville, Ontario, June 7, 2013 – At the 46th Annual Convocation Ceremony on Friday, June 7th at 2:30 p.m., Loyalist College proudly presented 875 successful candidates in the School of Media, Arts and Design and School of Continuing Education with 121 diplomas, 92 advanced diplomas, 599 certificates, and 63 graduate certificates. The Convocation ceremony was the final of four.
The convocation address was delivered by guest speaker Wendy Freeman, President of CTV News. As President, Ms. Freeman is responsible for news, information, and current events programming, including CTV National News, CTV News Channel, BNN, and CP24. Also under her leadership are Canada AM, W5, Question Period, and CTV Original Documentaries. Ms. Freeman presides over Bell Media news editorial content and news gathering efforts, and oversees day-to-day newsroom operations. In 2012 under Ms. Freeman’s leadership, the CTV News division was recognized with the prestigious RTNDA Bert Canning Award for Best Newscast for CTV National News, along with 46 other RTDNA awards for local and national news programs. Prior to joining the company, Ms. Freeman worked at WPIX-TV in New York and WXYZ-TV in Detroit, as well as Citytv in Toronto, where she began her television career.
“I never had a plan to become President of News for a major media company as I was begging for that first radio gig,” said Ms. Freeman. “But I did have a plan to take risks and say yes to things I may not otherwise have, and that’s where it’s brought me. An important life lesson I learned from Lloyd Robertson and share with you today is this: it’s all about moderation. Take everything in moderation. Things don’t happen overnight – you need to be patient. And listen. Listening is so important. Listen to those who are wiser and older than you, they really do know from experience and they have invaluable advice to pass on. I hope I’m doing that for you today.”
In appreciation of her memorable address to the graduating class of 2013 and in recognition of her industry leadership, Ms. Freeman was presented with an Honorary Diploma in Applied Arts and Technology.
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, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536