CNC's Practical Nurse graduates receive diplomas during Convocation ceremony at CN Centre

Prince George, BC – It will be a record graduation year for the College of New Caledonia…

According to CNC Executive Director of External Relations, Randall Heidt, between 11- and 1200 students are set to graduate from the college this spring.  A total of 255 of those graduates took part in this afternoon's Convocation ceremony at CN Centre.  Including, as shown in photo above, those receiving their parchment from the Practical Nursing program – changes to the provincial curriculum allowed their graduation to line up with other programs for the first time this year.

In addressing the graduating class of 2014, CNC Interim President, Bryn Kulmatycki, noted they're joining a large community of alumni, with more than 100-thousand students graduating from the college's numerous programs in the past 45-years.

"It's a very important occasion, it's a very important milestone," Kulmatycki told those preparing to cross the stage.  "But you should also expect it to mark only one stage, as you continue your learning journey for the rest of your lifetime."

Speaking on behalf of CNC's Students' Union, International Students' Representative, Muhammad Rujmun Hussain, drew rousing cheers from his fellow grads during his his address.

"Whether you continue your studies, or enter or re-enter the workforce with a newfound outlook, graduation is not only for young students, but mature students, also," said the native of Dubai.

"Some have been waiting their whole life to get a college education, others are just about to start on a different path after re-training for a new career.  With that in mind, today is uniquely a proud moment for all of us and the friendships and memories we have all shared will continue to last a lifetime."  Hussain became CNC's first international student to graduate from the Automotive Technician program.

After telling the grads each and every one of them had the potential to make a 'real difference' in their communities and the lives of others, CNC Board Chair, Keith Playfair, presented Kelsey Antoine with the Mary John Award of Excellence, which is handed out annually to the CNC student who 'strives to live with dignity, while serving others in the community.'  Mary John, known as the Stony Creek woman, grew up in Saik'uz and received the Order of Canada in 1997 for outstanding contributions to her local community.  Playfair said John 'built bridges of understanding between cultures' and championed cultural preservation and First Nations rights.

Currently enrolled in CNC's Applied Business Technology program, Antoine also grew up on the Saik'uz First Nation.  Playfair said the young woman (shown at left), has exemplified the virtues embodied in the award through efforts that include mentoring her peers and the development a code of ethics for the Saik'uz community. "In Kelsey's own words, 'My only goal in life is to help my community and strive for a brighter life.  Everything I've done and choose to do isn't to better my own future, but to better the future of the whole.'"

With that, the procession of beaming students – young and mature – began across the stage at CN Centre.