Belleville, Ontario, May 28, 2013 – Loyalist College will host up to 300 students in grades nine through 12 for a special Taste of College initiative on Tuesday, May 28th and Wednesday, May 29th. During the on-campus event, students will try different hands-on activities that introduce them to a wide range of College programs and related career paths.
“Our community’s future depends on the skills and knowledge that these students will eventually bring to the workforce,” said Loyalist President Maureen Piercy. “The goal of Taste is to engage young people with the College and build their awareness of the career-focused learning and practical experiences offered by our expert faculty. We are looking forward to providing these students and their teachers with a full day of fun workshops where they can explore their interests in a nurturing environment and discover hidden talents.”
A School College Work Initiative (SCWI), Taste is jointly funded by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities. This collaboration between the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE) and the Committee of College Presidents (COP) speaks to the importance of easing students’ transition from secondary school to college. By increasing the number of highly qualified college graduates, the government will effectively address Canada’s growing skills gap. In addition, Taste has received support from the East Central Ontario Training Board, the City of Belleville, and Trenval Business Development Corporation, through the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP).
In preparation for Taste, students selected two areas of interest from programs such as Advertising & Marketing Communications, Animation, Automotive, Construction Renovation, Developmental Service Worker, Electrical Technician/Technology, Manufacturing/Mechanical Engineering, Media Experience, Nursing, Radio Broadcasting, Welding, and Television and New Media Production. A number of schools will participate from area District School Boards including the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic; Hastings and Prince Edward; Kawartha Pine Ridge; and Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic.
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% of Loyalist College graduates found employment within six months of graduation, compared to the average provincial rate of 83.6% 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, Manager, Corporate Communications and Media Relations, Loyalist College, klorimer@loyalistc.on.ca, (613) 969-1913, ext. 2536