Practical Nursing students take caring to a whole new level

When charged with creating a class assignment with personal meaning, practical nursing students at the Kelowna campus joined forces to raise much-needed funds for the Holding Hands for Hospice campaign. "The students decided they wanted to participate in an assignment that was personally important but also meaningful for the community," says instructor Christine Topley. Through a series of fundraisers including a barbecue, car wash and bake sale all held on Sept. 8, the class generated more than $1,200 for the cause.

While at the car wash the nurses witnessed a cyclist being hit by a car and immediately sprung into action. One student called 911 while three others attended to the individual. They used their nursing assessment skills to determine his level of consciousness and injuries while waiting to give a report to EMTs. Watch an interview with nursing students from SHAW TV .

AIDS Walk

All staff are invited to join President Jim Hamilton as he leads an Okanagan College team on Sunday, Sept. 23 at the 11th Annual Okanagan Family AIDS Walk at Waterfront Park in Kelowna. This important event raises awareness, decreases stigma and discrimination for those affected, and promotes education about HIV & AIDS. It also raises much-needed funds which stay in the community for prevention and education programs. Anyone interested in joining Jim in the AIDS Walk can contact Joanna Campbell .

Jamaican students arrive on campus

The last of the 12 Jamaican students enroled in Okanagan College programs arrived in Kelowna yesterday to begin their studies. A second group of students will arrive in Canada in January to begin classes in the winter semester. Many of the students have begun classes and are finding the classes interesting and faculty friendly. According to second-year business students Latoya Bailey and Kristyal Walker the Okanagan is the most beautiful place they have ever seen.

Jamaican ambassador to Canada to visit College

The Jamaican ambassador to Canada will be in Kelowna Sept. 18-21 to help welcome the first group of Jamaican students to Okanagan College. In addition to meeting with students, Her Excellency Evadne Coye will greet a group of Jamaican workers who were recruited by Okanagan businesses and will address a second group of Okanagan employers who are set to travel to Jamaica on a second recruiting mission.

Kelowna courtyard to be ready by month's end

A recent update by Regional Dean Heather Schneider has put the completion date for the courtyard renovation in October. During the next two weeks the concrete work, irrigation and electrical work will be completed. The maple trees (for great fall colour) are scheduled to be planted next week with the project completed and the gates down by the end of October. A big thank-you to all of the staff and students on the campus for your patience as the construction work continued into the fall. Work on the water features and new stage is expected to take place next year.

Revelstoke students complete first Residential Construction program

The first Residential Construction program wrapped up on Wednesday in Revelstoke with an open house, reception and dinner for staff, students and community partners. The 2,460 square-foot home was built by nine students under the leadership of instructor Bob Reed (seen cutting the ribbon) and with tremendous support from partners Vic Van Isle Construction Ltd., Jake and Jay Holdings and School District 19. See the event listing for details on an information session on the next Revelstoke Residential Construction program.

Arts taps in to social networking site to enhance communication with students

The popularity and high usage among students of the social networking site Facebook has led Okanagan College's Arts and Foundational programs to incorporate it as a tool to communicate and network with students. Last week when students came to campus orientation sessions they were informed that Arts and Foundational has a Facebook profile and were encouraged to invite Okanagan College to become a friend. "Facebook enables us to communicate with our students about events and news, but it also allows students to interact with each other," said Stan Chung, Associate Dean of Arts and Foundational programs.

Poetry reading on campus

English professors Alix Hawley (right), Jake Kennedy, Sean Johnston, Matt Kavanagh and Associate Dean of Arts and Foundational programs, Stan Chung, gathered on Monday to take advantage of a sunny day and a crowd of staff and students to read from a selection of original poetry, fiction and editorial work.

Online registrations continue to grow for Continuing Studies

Since going live with access to website registration for Continuing Studies programs on August 21, the number of people utilizing the online resource continues to grow. Director of Continuing Studies, Charlotte Kushner, is extremely pleased with how smooth the implementation of the new system has been. "The transition has been great," says Kushner. "I have had lots of feedback as to how easy the system is to use and that is key to the success of online registration."

Welcome back a success

The Kelowna campus welcomed over 3,393 students on September 5 (up 144 from last year). Thanks to the efforts of faculty and staff on campus their welcome back was exceptional. Restructured student orientation, more greeters and extended hours in the bookstore and registrar's office meant that students had reduced wait times. As a result, campus tours were up significantly and more students than ever before have signed up for intramural and recreational activities.

In Salmon Arm, perfect weather coupled with a delicious barbecue helped to make orientation day a great success (as seen in the photo).



One of Okanagan College's business administration classes received media attention at the conclusion of Kyleen Myrah's third-year course, Social Entrepreneurship. The course challenges students to use their acquired business skills to give back to the community by offering their services and expertise to non-profit organizations. Read more about the course and some of the College's students in the Kelowna Daily Courier's , Learning to give back and the Kelowna Capital News' , Nonprofits benefit from business school students' marketing skills .

A decision by the provincial government to offer adult basic education classes for free put the spotlight on Okanagan College (who have been funding tuition-free Adult Academic and Career Preparation classes for the past two years). Find out more in the Okanagan Saturday , Free tuition for basic education classes and the Kelowna Capital News , Making it easier for adults to return to the classroom .

Catch Public Affairs' Jane Muskens in her weekly Kelowna Capital News column: Assessment test meant to help students succeed, not fail and Translating computer time into a high-tech career.

Read Stan Chung's Global Citizen column as he takes on Parents gone wild.

An article appeared in the Kelowna Capital News featuring Kelowna's Chamber of Commerce president (also now Okanagan School of Business faculty), Laura Thurnheer . Read more in, Chamber president leaves UBCO for OC teaching position .

Ken Smedley , arts and cultural activist and Honorary Fellow of Okanagan College, was selected as the recipient of Armstrong's Community Recognition of Excellence Award . Find out more about his contribution to the Okanagan in the Vernon Morning Star , Smedley to be honoured by city .

Okanagan College Distinguished Alumnus Robert Louie was re-elected as chief of the Westbank First Nation. Read about the election in the Okanagan Saturday , Louie re-elected as chief .

Summerland's Home for Learning project was featured in the Business Thompson Okanagan in a piece entitled, New skills, products at Home for Learning .

A feature on Okanagan College's Continuing Studies program was published in the Vernon Morning Star . Read more about online registration and other news from CS in, College opens doors .

Continuing Studies Director Charlotte Kushner was interviewed in an article published in Forever Young . Read more in Long live life long learners .

A feature on the success of Salvadoran immigrant Carlos Perdomo - Project Literacy award winner and Okanagan College student - appeared in the Kelowna Daily Courier . Read more about his achievement in, Project Literacy's star pupil .

In the Kelowna Daily Courier's Economic boom strangled , Okanagan College's Heather Banham provided insight into the local economy and growth patterns. Heather is currently leading a provincial initiative, Building Small Business Human Resources, to address the skills shortage in the region.

A move by the provincial government to fund a loan forgiveness program for graduates of the Home Support Resident Care Attendant program received coverage in the Kelowna Capital News , Loan forgiveness applauded and Forgiveness loan aids home support care students as well as the Vernon Morning Star , Forgiveness program benefits students .

The Vernon Morning Star looked to Regional Dean John Lent for news of opening week enrolment numbers at the Kalamalka campus. Read the article, Enrolment numbers on rise .