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Convocation celebrated at Northern Lights College

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Students from over 40 program areas were awarded credentials for completing their area of study, and presented certificates or diplomas by NLC President and CEO Dr. Bryn Kulmatycki, and former Board of Governors chair Karen Simpson as well as NLC faculty and staff. Registrar Warren Stokes served as the Master of Ceremonies and emcee.

NLC hosted three convocation ceremonies this year. On June 5, the Chetwynd, Dawson Creek, and Tumbler Ridge Campus graduates were honoured with a ceremony in the College’s Aircraft Maintenance Engineering hangar located on the Dawson Creek Campus. On June 19, the Fort Nelson Campus hosted a ceremony at the Phoenix Theatre, and in Fort St. John, graduates were honoured at the North Peace Cultural Centre on June 12.

“It is always a genuine pleasure to take part in convocation” said Dr. Kulmatycki, “Our students’ success is what our faculty and staff work for each day, so when we get to come out and celebrate what our students have achieved through their own hard work it is a joyous occasion for all of us.”

Special awards of distinction were also presented. The Governor General’s Bronze Medal for academic excellence and the highest overall grade-point average (GPA) was awarded to Katherine Vint, a graduate of the Criminology Diploma program from the Dawson Creek Campus. Vint achieved an overall GPA of 4.176.

The Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal is awarded annually to one student from each of the province’s community colleges and institutes who has excelled in both academic achievement and through contribution to the college community. James Jones, an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program (AME) graduate, was presented the medal by AME program chair Hal Hobenshield. In addition to his academic achievements, Jones also served as an executive member on the NLC Student Association and was an elected student member to the NLC Board of Governors, and the College’s Education Council.

This year NLC bestowed its Associate of Arts Honorary Degree upon Dr. Charles Helm, a resident of Tumbler Ridge and general medical practitioner, whose love of nature spurred him to create and get involved with numerous initiatives to preserve and protect the natural beauty of the region.

Dr. Helm summarized his contributions best when he said, “Living in this beautiful area with incredibly spectacular mountains and scenery – how could one not do one’s best to interpret it?”
To view Convocation albums online, visit NLC’s Facebook page.

Dr. Charles Helm, recipient of NLC’s Associate of Arts Honorary Degree

James Jones, Aircraft Maintenance Engineering program (AME) graduate and recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Silver Medal