Assiniboine celebrates grads

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This article was published 31/10/2024 (425 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Sheila Foreman, a nursing student who graduated from Assiniboine College on Wednesday, says she chose practical nursing in her late 30s because she wanted a career, and one that would benefit her husband and two small children.

Foreman was one of 841 students who donned a cap and gown during the fall graduation ceremony at the Keystone Centre, along with more than 60 other practical nurse graduates.

“I started nursing school when I was 37 with two small children at home, so it was a challenge.” Foreman said.

“I was fortunate to have a very supportive husband, and there was a lot of sacrifice in going back to school, so this is the culmination of what we as a family have worked hard for,” Foreman stated in a news release.

“I was working an office job for the Ontario Government prior to going back to school. We are a military family, and I wanted a career that could move with us, and nursing was that career.”

Foreman is also the recipient of the Governor General’s award for achieving the highest overall average from a diploma program at the college — something she said she “worked very hard for.”

“I already have an undergraduate degree and found this program to be equally as challenging,” said Foreman. “It took a lot of dedication and organization to be successful, traits I think have really helped me in my career as well. I like learning, so it is nice to be able to celebrate this accomplishment with my family,” she said.

Other programs that saw graduates accept their certificates and diplomas were early childhood education, civil technology and horticultural production.

Additionally, 281 students completed post-graduate diplomas in fields including human resource management, marketing and early childhood program management.

Post-graduate diplomas prepare those with a previous post-secondary credential with elevated skills and knowledge in a specific career-oriented area, stated the news release.

Assiniboine continues to play a significant role in readying graduates for in-demand careers in Manitoba’s labour market, said president Mark Frison.

This year’s October graduation ceremony of 841 students is an increase of 381 students compared to 2023, when there were 460 who graduated. In 2013, there were 25.

Frison said that offering programs at different times of the year contributed to the growth.

“Today is the start of the next chapter for more than 800 students who’ve taken this admirable step in their career journey,” Frison stated in the news release.

“We are honoured to come together and recognize their hard work and are thrilled to join them in celebrating this day with their family and friends,” he said.

As the college celebrates the October graduates, the fall term is now in full swing, and “off to an excellent start,” said Deanna Rexe, Assiniboine’s vice-president academic.

“At Assiniboine, we take pride in offering a broad range of programs that prepare our graduates for a variety of career paths,” Rexe said in the release.

Renee Cable, Manitoba’s minister of advanced education and training, sent congratulations on behalf of the provincial government.

“Manitoba’s labour market will benefit from the skills and expertise you gained during your education,” Cable said in the Assiniboine release. I look forward to witnessing the contributions you will make to communities throughout the province.”

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