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Community and Health grads ready to give back, make a difference

The future awaits Niagara College’s Class of 2022 – and many of its latest graduates are already working to make it brighter for those around them.

On June 24, the College celebrated more than 460 new graduates from Community and Health Studies who are now well-positioned to take on critical roles in their communities – 229 from its high-demand Practical Nursing and Personal Support Worker programs alone.

“As we honour graduands from our School of Community Services, and School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker, we have much to celebrate,” said College President Sean Kennedy. “Many of them have already been putting their sought-after skills to work during their studies with us.”

Recreation Therapy graduate Jonhel Ampil graduated with a 98.046% grade-point average – the highest GPA in the Class of 2022 – and the most prestigious award a student can receive: the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

Originally from Quezon City, Philippines, Ampil worked as an occupational therapist before she and her partner left to pursue their dreams in Canada and enrol in the College’s Recreation Therapy program. She currently lives in Niagara Falls where she has been working at local Chapel Heights retirement home.

“We left our professional careers, our families, and our friends behind in the Philippines. It was a difficult path to take, but we have no regrets,” said Ampil in a powerful speech during the ceremony. “Our decision three years ago has led us to today, our graduation, and it has led me to where I am standing right now proving that dreams do come true.”

Ampil addressed her fellow graduates – including her partner who graduated from the same program that day – and recounted how she overcame challenges as an international student during the pandemic.

“The experience has taught me so much about life and I believe I am stronger for it today,” she said.

To her fellow graduates who also persevered to achieve their goals, Ampil said, “Graduation is not the end but the start of a new chapter for us. Keep dreaming, believing, and surviving!”

The College’s top graduate had a special message for her mother watching from her home country.

“We did it, Ma!”

Practical Nursing graduate Aleksandra Foulis accepts her Dean’s Award for the highest cumulative average in the School of Nursing and Support Worker from Interim Dean, Angela Butt.

youtu.be/c6wPMH3pwoMPractical Nursing graduate Aleksandra Foulis, who won the Dean’s Award for achieving the highest cumulative GPA in the School of Nursing and Personal Support Worker Studies, was recently hired by Niagara Health to work in Mental Health and Addictions at the St. Catharines site.

“I have always had an interest in health care, doing something to give back to my community and make a difference in people’s lives. The nursing field has endless possibilities in terms of what you can do,” Foulis said. “The pandemic has brought so much to light regarding the nursing profession and how vital it is to the health care system, and I am honored to now be a part of that.”

Graduation was not the only new beginning for the Mississauga resident; she also gave birth to her second child less than three weeks after completing her consolidation.

Guest speaker Jon Montgomery, gold-medal Olympian and host of The Amazing Race Canada, received an Honorary Diploma in Fitness and Health Studies.

“You are in the real world and always have been. You are better prepared to launch and relaunch a million times over from your new ‘ground zero,'” he said via video to the Class of 2022. “Your new baseline will always be ‘college graduate’ and that equals opportunity.”

The June 24 ceremony – in honour of graduates from NC’s Practical Nursing, Personal Support Worker,  Social Service Worker, Recreation Therapy, Educational Assistant – Special Needs Support, Early Childhood Education, and Autism and Behavioural Science programs – drew the curtain on the College’s five-day convocation week. Eight ceremonies were held from June 20-24 to celebrate more than 3,650 Class of 2022 graduates who joined the College’s global alumni community of more than 100,000 – a milestone passed during June 2021 convocation.

“Graduates, remember that you are part of an amazing NC alumni family making a difference in communities across our region, province, country and around the world,” said Kennedy. “Nothing brings us more joy than seeing you succeed. We know you’ll make us proud.”

Throughout the week, more than 2,100 graduates chose to cross the stage at Welland Campus before an audience of families and friends at NC’s first in-person convocation ceremonies since 2019. Grads also had the option of celebrating virtually and view their ceremony livestreams, which drew more than 10,640 views from 72 countries throughout the week.

Videos of all ceremonies are available on the College’s Convocation website (by accessing the ceremony from the schedule) at NiagaraCollege.ca/convocation.

Video

View June 24 ceremony here.