Niagara College grads to receive impressive sendoff
Niagara College is getting prepared to send another batch of graduates into the working world.
From Tuesday to Thursday next week, more than 3,670 students will gather at the Welland campus to celebrate their postsecondary graduation during the annual spring convocation — adding their names to a list of 80,00 alumni who have built their careers through programs at Niagara College.
“Our convocation ceremonies are a special celebration for all of us at Niagara College,” said Niagara College president Dan Patterson.
“These are the highly skilled graduates who will go on to make their mark in all corners of our society, and our faculty and staff take great pride in their success,” he added.
There are seven business and community leaders who will address the 2018 graduating class and their guests.
The first speaker is Vicki Heyman, co-founder of Uncharted, LLC, a family office that convenes and connects a diverse group of Americans and Canadians. The long-time Chicago resident who was active in the Obama for America campaign from 2008 and 2012 is married to former U.S. ambassador to Canada Bruce Heyman.
She spent three years in Ottawa as a cultural envoy, helping to strengthen ties between the two countries. Heyman will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies and will speak in front of Hospitality, Tourism and Sport; Food and Wine Sciences students on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
Daljit Singh Gujral is a firstgeneration entrepreneur from India and president of INSCOL, which operates a nursing institute in Toronto that trains internationally educated nurses who move to Canada. Gujral will receive an Honorary Diploma in Health Studies and present to Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies students Tuesday afternoon.
Coletta McGrath is executive director of Quest Community Health Centre in St. Catharines and a founding board member of the St. Catharines Life Lease Corporation, which built two of the first not-for-profit life lease buildings for older adults in Niagara. She will receive an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Studies as part as her address to Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies graduates on Wednesday morning.
Niagara Regional Police Chief Bryan MacCulloch, a recipient of the Governor General of Canada’s Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal and Bar for dedicating 30 years of distinguished service to the community, will receive an Honorary Diploma in Police Foundations after he addresses graduates from the Justice and Fitness Studies, Allied Health, Nursing and Support Worker Studies programs on Wednesday afternoon.
Anthony J. Spiteri grew up in Niagara, graduated from Niagara College’s Business Administration program with honours in 1989 before becoming a leader in the consumer-packaged goods industry. He is currently the vice-president of marketing, research and development with Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc., executive chairman of Erie Treat Motorsports, and chairman of Eataly Food Inc. Spiteri will receive a Distinguished Alumni Award when he speaks to Business and Management Studies graduates on Thursday at 10 a.m.
Local broadcaster Tim Denis recently celebrated 40 years in radio has been a host at Newstalk 610 CKTB for more than 23 years, and has also worked as a singer, actor, director and songwriter. Denis will receive an Honorary Diploma in Broadcasting — Radio, Television and Film.
He will address students from the Academic and Liberal Studies, English Language Studies, Media Studies programs.
Sarah Watts-Rynard, executive director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum and advocate of the skilled trades, will speak to graduates from Environmental and Horticultural Studies, Technology Studies and Trades on Friday morning. She will receive an Honorary Diploma in Skilled Trades.
Friday will also be a milestone for the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies, as it will see the first cohort of graduates from the college’s Commercial Beekeeping program.