460 ACC students celebrate graduation

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This article was published 28/10/2023 (894 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A triumphant graduation ceremony was held in the Manitoba Room at the Keystone Centre on Friday, honouring the achievements of 460 graduates from Assiniboine Community College. Among the graduating students, the challenges they overcame to reach this milestone were evident, with their resilience and determination shining brightly.

“When I started, the most difficult thing for me was that the educational system in India and in Canada is totally different,” international student Amanpreet Kaur told the Sun. “Over there, we are totally dependent on books, like written documents, and over here it’s all on technology and computers. That was the most challenging part.”

Kaur said her dedication and the support she received from ACC’s resources, including the learning library and extra classes, helped her overcome these hurdles. “We just make different schedules, we get help from our college, and we practise a lot. We can go with a learning curve, ask questions, take extra classes, and improve our weaknesses,” she said.

Reflecting on her accomplishments, Kaur said, “I’m super excited today. I’m so happy. My office skills studies have equipped me with the skills I can apply in my work field and pursue a career in administration.”

To Amber Rae, who earned a sustainable food systems advanced diploma, her experience of transitioning from a university setting to a college environment was a bit challenging, but her determination kept her going.

“The environment of college versus university was very different, especially since it’s very condensed. The close-knit nature of the program, with a small group of students and dedicated professors, helped me adapt and succeed,” she said.

Though currently working as a research assistant at ACC, Rae told the Sun that she is open to various opportunities in the field in the future.

“The first term was not difficult, but the second term was just too much,” horticultural production certificate holder Vina Okeh said. “It was like riding a slow car and suddenly the speed increased. With determination and hard work, I overcame the challenges and secured employment in a greenhouse.”

The college’s president, Mark Frison, expressed his delight at the increasing number of graduates.

“Our graduates have increased from 25 as of 2013 to 460 today and offering programs at different times of the year has contributed to this growth,” Frison said. “After graduation, one of the things we consistently find is that they get jobs in their field of study, and they tend to live and work right here in Manitoba, contributing to the local workforce.”

Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to consider staying in the city.

“We love that you’ve come to Brandon. We hope you’ve enjoyed your time here,” he said.

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