Hard work pays off
NSCC Pictou Campus celebrates more than 200 graduates
NEW GLASGOW More than 200 graduates from Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) Pictou Campus took part in their convocation ceremony, on June 8, at the Pictou County Wellness Centre (PCWC).
Friends and families from across the county, province and Maritimes gathered to celebrate the hard work of the graduating students.
The ceremony began with Carl Thomas performing a Mi'kmaq Honour Song which was followed by Erika Sloan with the singing of O Canada.
Maxine Mann, Pictou Campus principal, greeted the crowd and provided welcoming remarks which were followed by NSCC President Don Bureaux addressing the students, faculty and crowd of supporters.
“Convocation is the high point of our academic year – it's a celebration of student success and all the moments that led them to this day,” Bureaux said. “It's an honour to be part of this important milestone in each graduate's journey as they get set to embark on their next chapter.”
Bureaux made a point of exchanging a few words of congratulations and best wishes with each student as they accepted their diplomas.
Following the presentations, five special awards were handed out for graduate achievement on the year. The awards included: the Board of Governors' Award to Jesse Graham (truck and transport repair diploma); the NSCC Gold Medal Award to Megan Manuel Murphy (office administration certificate); the President's Award to Jacob Hausman (cabinetmaking certificate); NSCC Alumni Award to Josie Reynolds (business administration diploma); and the Governor General's Academic Medal to Kassi Brightman (business administration - accounting diploma).
“It feels amazing but I wouldn't be here without my classmates,” said Brightman, who is from Pictou.
“I would attribute my success to my friends and the people who helped me to get here (graduation day). So this award is for them.”
As for what will stand out for her from her two years at the NSCC, she talked about having to first maneuver around COVID and then “growing” as an individual.
“I came from university; I was doing a science degree and I didn't like it. And so coming here and being at NSCC made me realize that this is where I'm meant to be … in business,” she said, adding her time “exceeded” her expectations.
Manuel Murphy also talked about the experience rising above her expectations.
“Definitely, the support of my teachers and classmates and everybody at the school … they really wanted everybody to achieve their best,” she said while reflecting on her time.
She talked about her decision to attend the Pictou campus.
“I have a two-and-a-halfyear-old daughter and my family’s from here, so I wanted to be close to them and have that for my daughter,” she said.
The Grads were left with the valedictorian speech by Pictou’s Andrew Johnson who became a multiple graduate of the school on the day, this time in the cabinetmaking program.
He joked that today was his “third and a half NSCC graduation,” but none of them compared to graduating in his hometown.
“Everyone has a story and for this brief moment in time we’re here on this same page,” Johnson told his fellow graduates in a speech about shared experience, growth, and confidence. “Every single graduate shares the burning desire to grow, to be a better version of ourselves.”
“It was awesome to be here and be the chosen voice of everyone graduating today,” Johnson said following the ceremony while attending a reception held in the adjoining rink at the PCWC and presented by the NSCC Alumni Relations.
The reception featured photos as well as plenty of smiles, and hugs signaling accomplishment that lasted well into the afternoon, and to be remembered for a lifetime.