Graduation record for ACC

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This article was published 03/06/2016 (3523 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Assiniboine Community College marked its largest graduation in the college’s history on Thursday.

The accomplishments of 948 students were recognized, which included 789 from 45 certificate and diploma programs, plus 159 individuals receiving Red Seal certification.

“In 2013, our board set out a new strategic direction that looked at how we could potentially double the number of graduates by 2025,” ACC president Mark Frison said. “So we’ve made good progress since then, keeping the numbers growing each year.”

A few highlights from this academic year for Frison included the great uptake on a new social service worker program, as well as the growth in the college’s apprenticeship programs.

“We’ve had a lot more international students that have been coming as well and that’s certainly adding to the total numbers,” Frison said.

The college’s valedictorian for the Class of 2016 was Charlee McLaughlin-Ventnor, who graduated from the college’s two-year agribusiness program.

“It’s a huge honour. I’ve had a great two years here at ACC,” she said. “I’ve learnt so much, met so many great people, the teachers have all been fantastic, and I just think it’s an amazing opportunity to represent such an amazing school.”

McLaughlin-Ventnor is already working in her field as a sales agronomist with Shur-Gro Farm Services in Shoal Lake. She said growing up on a farm just outside of Rivers inspired her to pursue a career in agriculture.

“I’ve been born and raised on a farm all of my life, been in that country lifestyle and it was just something I wanted to do with my future and continue on being in that field,” she said.

The province’s new minister of education and training, Ian Wishart, came to Brandon to attend the event at the Keystone Centre.

“I always have been a big fan of ACC; in fact, I’ve come here a couple times to guest lecture in the past, in the agricultural course,” Wishart said.

“We value the fact that they train people to go right into the workplace, and as minister of education and training, the training aspect is increasing important, so I want to make sure that that really gets emphasized in the future.”

ACC’s move to the North Hill campus continues to be a priority for the provincial government, but Wishart admits it will be a long-term project.

“We’re certainly prepared to work with ACC to make that happen over time,” he said. “We’ll have to be patient on these things, I guess.”

Two graduating students were presented with Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medals by the Province of Manitoba. According to the college, these graduates have “excelled academically, displayed strength of character and contributed to the college and community in a meaningful way.”

This year’s medal recipients were Sara Corbett, graduating with a diploma in early childhood education, and Brooke Huculak, graduating with a certificate in police studies.

Rick Borotsik was presented with an honorary diploma in business administration. Borotsik’s political career spans more than three decades, serving first as a Brandon city councillor, mayor, Brandon-Souris MP and Brandon West MLA.

“I’m humbled, certainly, to accept the honorary diploma. I have a soft spot in my heart for ACC,” he said. “It’s a very important institution in the city … With its leadership and its staff they’ve grown immensely. They’ve put in programs that are certainly going to allow us in Manitoba and Brandon particularly to deal with the global economy.

“They prepare people, prepare students, prepare graduates, with real job skills and that’s important, so I’m a fan.”

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