Wider Horizons

New student orientationCollege welcomes students at NSO
More than 1,200 new students at Lethbridge College got some inspiring advice at New Student Orientation (NSO) from someone who has been where they are – and then went all the way to the head of Global News. Troy Reeb, a 1988 Communication Arts graduate and Senior Vice President of News for all Shaw Media properties, including Global TV, was the keynote speaker at this year’s NSO. More than 2,000 new students and more than 4,700 students in total registered in credit and apprenticeship programs for the fall semester.

A new kind of homebuilding on campus
Students in the newly formed Lethbridge College chapter of the Wildlife Society got some hands-on experience in homebuilding this fall – homes fit for bats, not human beings. The students constructed more than 30 bat houses by early November as part of the service component of the society. Eight will be used by MULTISAR, an organization which works to conserve habitat for species at risk, while many are available for future needs with the Alberta Community Bats program. The students, including leaders Michael Kelly and Jacey Fellman, said that still others will be available for purchase by community members – and they are even hoping to place a few on campus. For more information about the society go to learn.lc/wildlifesociety.

Police cadets graduate from collaborative program
Nineteen cadets from the 2015 Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) and Canadian Pacific Police Service (CPPS) Cadet Training program graduated from the college’s 17-week training program in August. Eleven MHPS cadets and eight CPPS recruits, all of whom met or exceeded provincial standards in the areas of police recruit training, also received academic accreditation through Lethbridge College for the knowledge and skills they have acquired through this competency-based educational program. The training program was the first of its kind in Alberta and was the result of a collaborative partnership between MHPS, CPPS and Lethbridge College.

Accounting grads can pursue new industry-recognized credential
Starting last fall, Lethbridge College Business Administration – Accounting graduates are able to pursue a new credential – CPA Canada’s Advanced Certificate in Accounting and Finance (ACAF). This means that graduates of the college’s two-year diploma program can move directly into the ACAF program following their graduation without needing to complete additional pre-requisite courses. The ACAF is a new, nationally-recognized certificate and Lethbridge College is one of very few post-secondary institutions in Canada to offer a diploma program that includes all of the ACAF program pre-requisite courses.

“Code-iaks” compete well in international competition
Congratulations to the two computer programming teams, Code-iaks Green (Austin Burtt, Nic Enslen, Reed Hambrook) and Code-iaks Blue (Sylvain Boutros, Kleanthi Tupe, David Nam), who competed well at the ACM International Collegiate Programming Competition Regional Competition at the University of Alberta in November. There were 52 teams from universities and colleges in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and New Mexico. Code-iaks Blue placed 49th and Code-iaks Green placed 28th. Special thanks to student-coach Calvin Rempel for his dedicated work.

Students shine in new agribusiness competition
Congratulations to the Lethbridge College students and alumni who competed well in the inaugural Cor Van Raay AgriBusiness Case Competition held in November. The first-place team included Christian Blott (Business Administration – Marketing 2014) and Marcy Pengilly, a second-year Agriculture student. The second-place team included Daniel Wiley, a second-year Business Administration – Management student, and Laurie Stewart, a second-year Agriculture student. Other college participants included Business students Ammar Shahid, Cara Lee Wannop, Doran Johnson, Madison Hunter and Jolayne Kopervas; Agriculture Business Risk Management student Cody Adams; and Agriculture students Logan VanderPloeg, Derek Murray and Aurora Eggert.

College and university enhance agricultural programming
Lethbridge College and the University of Lethbridge signed a new partnership agreement in agriculture in November, which will allow the two institutions to develop and deliver together academic agribusiness programming, and to formalize initiatives that bring together the mandates of other agencies and organizations in the region. This initiative was made possible by Cor Van Raay, who made a donation of $5 million in June 2014 to support agriculture programs shared between both institutions. The Government of Alberta also formally announced its support of the partnership with the strategic investment of $5 million toward advancing learning and research opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness.

College celebrates annual FNMI Days
Lethbridge College, in partnership with RBC Foundation, hosted FNMI Days in October to celebrate the pride, history and knowledge at the heart of Canada’s First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) communities. This year’s FNMI Days celebration included a special evening event with Aboriginal writer Tomson Highway, who is considered one of Canada’s most important playwrights. His visit to campus was organized in collaboration with the School of Liberal Arts and instructor Christopher Grignard and included a performance by award-winning musician Armond Duck Chief (Business Administration – Management 2015). Highway also gave a writing workshop at the college.

Blood Tribe Agricultural Project wins award
Congratulations go out to Lethbridge College and the Blood Tribe Agricultural Project, which jointly received the inaugural Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce’s Aboriginal Opportunities Award for their partnership on the Blood Tribe Agricultural Training Initiative (BTATI) education and training program. The partners had three goals when they developed and delivered the new BTATI program in 2015: to introduce agriculture to participants; to provide them with the necessary skills and theoretical knowledge to gain immediate employment in the industry; and to pique their interests to seek further post-secondary agricultural training. The program was an overwhelming success in its inaugural year, and the two organizations look forward to offering it again in 2016.

New partnership supports the Aboriginal community
Lethbridge College is collaborating with Saamis Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (SAETA) and their partners to support a Power Line Technician program intake specifically for the Aboriginal community. The program is unique, with essential skills training aimed at increasing the success of participants while in the program and their employability following completion of the program. This opportunity is made possible by funding from Rupertsland Institute Métis Centre of Excellence and Community Futures Treaty Seven. The program began in October and will conclude in March.

College partners with AFSC to support ag risk management program
Lethbridge College is partnering with Agriculture Financial Service Corporation (AFSC) to support the college’s recently launched Agriculture Business Risk Management (AgBRM) program. As part of the partnership, AFSC will provide an industry review and subject matter support to strengthen the curriculum that was offered starting last fall. The partnership is an exciting addition to a program that has been praised for addressing a business risk management knowledge gap that industry leaders are seeing with existing and prospective clients.

College celebrates 15 years of Finnish exchange
Lethbridge College and Kajaani University of Applied Sciences, six hours north of Helsinki, will celebrate 15 years of student exchanges in 2016. More than 50 Canadian and Finnish students have studied business at the partner institutions over the years, including two Lethbridge students who are heading there this January. Students live in residence and travel to nearby sights – which include Russia, Sweden, Estonia and beyond – for the Lethbridge students in Finland. The students return with global contacts and a more meaningful understanding of international business and marketing. This is just one of many international exchange opportunities offered to students at Lethbridge College.

Men’s soccer player named best in Canada
Congratulations go out to Nico Pasquotti, who was named the best men’s soccer player competing in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association this fall. Pasquotti, an Engineering Design and Drafting student in his second season, was earlier named the 2015-16 ACAC Men’s Soccer Player of the Year. In 10 regular matches played, Pasquotti led the nation in scoring, putting the ball in the back of the net 19 times.

Men’s soccer wins silver at provincial championships
The men’s Kodiaks soccer team played some incredible soccer at provincials and fell just short of the gold medal. The team took down NAIT 4-1 in the semi-final match of the ACAC Championships to earn a berth in the gold medal game. The Kodiaks faced the Keyano Huskies, who were ranked first in the country, and played to the last whistle, losing to the Huskies 1-0. The team walked away with silver medals and many proud Kodiaks fans. Team members who received all-conference honours, as selected by the ACAC men’s soccer coaches, include Peter Ntignee (forward), Nico Pasquotti (forward) and Taylor Jetten (defense).

Women’s soccer plays with heart at provincials
The women’s Kodiaks soccer team represented the college well at the provincial championships in October where they faced the hosts, Grande Prairie Regional College in the first game. The team ended up losing 3-0 to the Wolves in the ACAC Championship quarter-final match, but played with dedication, commitment and hard work all season and were representing the college at the ACAC match for the second year in a row. Team members who received all-conference honours, as selected by the ACAC women’s soccer coaches, were Cassandra Evans (forward), Shannon Clark (midfield) and Taylor Rypien (midfield).

Men’s and women’s cross country teams win gold, honours at provincials
At the provincial cross country championships held on their home turf of Nicholas Sheran Park in October, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks represented their college and city spectacularly, winning team gold medals for the men’s and women’s teams as well as individual medals for three runners. In the women’s race, Emily Lucas claimed a bronze and was followed closely by Rachel McKenzie, who finished fourth, and Dina Iatrou, who finished sixth. In the men’s race, Alex Harding brought home the individual gold while teammate Andrew Harding finished third, Boaz Korir finished fourth, and Moses Cherreret finished sixth. In addition, Alex Harding was named the provincial male runner of the year, Andrew Harding was named the rookie male runner of the year, Emily Lucas was named the rookie female runner of the year, and coach Bertil Johansson was selected as the 2015-16 ACAC cross country coach of the year.

Cross country teams claim silver and bronze at nationals
Lethbridge College Kodiaks cross country teams ended their impressive season on Nov. 14, emerging combined as the most dominant team in the country, and adding a couple more medals to their collection when both the men’s and women’s teams took part in the 2015 Canadian Collegiate Athletics Association Cross Country National Championships, hosted by St. Lawrence College (Brockville, Ont. Campus). The women’s team, led by Emily Lucas, claimed team bronze and the men’s team, led by Alex Harding, claimed team silver. The combination of both results earned the teams the Overall Team Supremacy trophy for the national championships. Harding was also named to the 2015 Men’s Cross Country Running All-Canadian team at a banquet following the competition.

Wine auction raises nearly $300,000 for new facility
Lethbridge College hosted its 25th Annual Clayton Allan Wine Auction in November and raised a record amount of more than $295,000, which will go towards the college’s new trades and technologies facility. Held at the Garden Court Restaurant, the room was transformed into a space fit for the many black ties in the room. This event has continued to grow over the course of its 25 years and the community has continually supported the event. The anniversary year provided a great opportunity to honour many of the community’s philanthropists including Flora Matteotti for her and her late husband, Val’s, long-standing involvement with the wine auction. Keith Dys was also honoured for his unparalleled involvement as he retired from his position as co-chair of the wine auction committee.

Federal funding to benefit aboriginal students
On July 9, Lethbridge MP Jim Hillyer announced support to Lethbridge College for a program designed to prepare First Nation and Inuit youth with the skills and training needed to join the labour market. Hillyer made the announcement during a visit to Lethbridge College which, with its partners at Red Crow Community College and Northern Lakes College, will receive close to $380,000 for the Community Health Promotion Program that will allow First Nation and Inuit students to build the skills needed to access jobs within multiple sectors.

Annual college golf tournament a success
The 32nd Annual Lethbridge College Golf Tournament in September was a huge success, and the feedback from the golfers was that our tournament was one of the best that they have ever attended. The event, which was co-sponsored by the Calgary Flames and Avison Young, raised more than $45,000 in support of athletic and student awards.

College launches the second Extreme Career Makeover
Lethbridge College launched the second edition of its Extreme Career Makeover contest in October. More than 360 people applied for this opportunity and a judging panel assessed the entries and then contacted those chosen as first-round qualifiers. The college will produce videos of the Top Six, which will be available for viewing online during a 12-day voting period at the end of February 2016. Online voting will determine the two contestants who move on to the next step and the judging panel will select the winner in March 2016. The winner will be awarded a package that includes tuition, books and residence fees for up to four semesters and the runner-up will receive tuition for up to four semesters. The contest has a potential total value of more than $30,000 for the winning student.

Want to keep up on all of your Lethbridge College news between issues of Wider Horizons? Check out our news and events webpage (lethbridgecollege.ca/news) for the latest stories and all of the college news you need. 

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