Okanagan College takes China by storm

International Education and the Okanagan School of Business moved closer toward the  internationalization of Okanagan College in late November/early December. A team comprising Dr. Heather Banham, Dr. Yunke He and Benedicte Lee made contact with hundreds of students, professors and administrators from seven educational institutions in China.  The promotional trip had a dual focus - recruitment of international students for all programs at Okanagan College and building relationships with universities for student exchanges and other collaborative initiatives.  The trio visited the following schools: Qingdao University, Dalian Maple Leaf School, Linyi Normal University, Houmei Bond School, Guangzho University, South China Agricultural University and Boren-Sino School.

Forty-nine applications to Arts, Science, Business and Technology programs were received at the Dalian Maple Leaf School, and the interest from students at Boren Sino and Huamei Bond is expected to bring in additional applications for Fall 2008.  During the trip, Heather and Yunke were awarded Honourary Professorships by the School of Law at Linyi Normal University where Yunke had contributed as a visiting professor the previous year. Interest was generated from the administrators and professors at the various universities to undertake professional development at Okanagan College in the Teaching English as an Additional Language and Cultural Experience programs developed by International Education and similar to that taken by Guangzhou University professors in the summer of 2007. 

Practical Nurses celebrate achievement

Shelby Griffith, Valedictorian

Thirty-four Practical Nursing students graduated in two ceremonies during the past week - one in Penticton and one in Kelowna. Valedictorians from each of the ceremonies were profiled in a Public Affairs media release, which was picked up by regional media. Read more about the graduating class in two articles in the media section.

Pay it Forward

Four truckloads in Kelowna, 11 hampers in Penticton and 10 bags full of clothing in Salmon Arm was the outcome of the second annual Pay it Forward giving drive. Through the generosity of students, staff and members of the community, Okanagan College donated to a variety of charities throughout the Valley. Organizer and Okanagan College alumna Sarah Comba, was extremely pleased with the outcome and inspired by the notion that one person donating just one item can really make a difference.

Kat Hay noted that the generosity of donations was complimented by the efforts of tireless volunteers and College donors including: the OBSA, the Kelowna campus Cafeteria, the Purchasing department and Copy Shop, Williams Moving & Storage, the Kelowna Campus Bookstore, Julie Thode, Leslie Bogula, Sarah Comba, Christy Cave, -  Christina Ferreira, BBA ’00, Dana Sullivan (Business student), Tracy Stoessiger (Business student), Brittany Hansum (Business student), Fiona Jeeves (Arts student) and Louise King (Business student).

IT raises money for Food Bank

Dave Harris

When the IT department at the Kelowna campus throws a party, they do much more than offer great games, food and company for the rest of the College. Last Friday the IT department raised $175 for the Food Bank at their annual open house.

Dave Harris was an excellent host as he manned the bar. Jim Hamilton got in on the fun when he donated funds in exchange for a gift from Terry the elf.

Techies and civilians got a chance to play interactive games such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution.

Salmon Arm contributes to worthy cause

Okanagan College’s Salmon Arm campus presented a cheque for $2,318 to the Shuswap Lake General Hospital in support of the CT Scanner fundraiser. The dollars are the result of the June 29 Links to Learning charity golf tournament. Seen in the photo are: Don Kolysher (Manager CS Salmon Arm), Eugene Casavant (President Shuswap Hospital Foundation), Norm Embree (Chairperson, 11th Annual Okanagan College Foundation and Shuswap Hospital Foundation Links to Learning Golf Tournament), and Regional Dean Lynda Wilson.



Okanagan College business administration students hit the pages of the Okanagan Saturday when reporter Steve MacNaull profiled the work experiences they have acquired through third-year marketing courses. Read about how Okanagan College students are contributing to real life challenges facing local businesses in Kelowna in Down to business.

Okanagan College’s Practical Nursing convocation ceremony made the news in Kelowna, being featured in the Kelowna Capital News’ Practical nursing grads needed and in the Okanagan Saturday College gives boost to health-care workforce.

Sarah Comba, creator of the Pay it Forward giving drive, was featured in an article in the Kelowna Capital News for her efforts to help those less fortunate during the holiday season. Read more in Movie inspires alumni association giving drive. A second article about Pay it Forward appeared in the Penticton Herald Student, college team up for charity challenge.

Okanagan College’s Marco Dolcetti, a member of the Lakers basketball team, contributed 27 points and five rebounds when the Lakers beat Camosun 91-78. Read more in the Vernon Morning Star Dolcetti lifts Lakers.

The Home for Learning projects were recognized by the Salmon Arm Observer in Program a winner. Find out more about the award-winning project and read comments from John Haller and Lynda Wilson.

An article featuring Vernon’s upcoming plumbing pre-apprenticeship program appeared in the Vernon Morning Star. Find out all of the details in Plumbing program offered.

Okanagan College’s esteemed list of columnists grew this month when Regional Dean Lynda Wilson wrote a piece for the Salmon Arm Observer. Lynda was a guest columnist and wrote a piece about education in Salmon Arm A big, hairy audacious goal for city.

Stan Chung wrote about the perils and inequity associated with one of our nation’s most deadly diseases. Read more in Stan’s Global Citizen column, Mystery of the C word.

Jane Muskens interviewed Okanagan College professors for her weekly column School’s In. Jane offered insight into how professors compile questions for final exams. Check out OK professors prefer giving multiple choice exams.

Articles about two upcoming Central Okanagan Continuing Studies programs made the pages of the Kelowna Capital News. Find out the details in Expand your creative horizons and Learning the ropes in front of and behind the camera.

One of Vernon’s best-known philanthropists was awarded the Freedom of the City award by Vernon’s city council last week. Tom Foord, who also holds an honourary doctorate from OUC, is the founder and chairman of Kal Tire. Find out more about Tom in the Vernon Morning Star’s Honour humbles community booster.




Do you have comments, questions or a submission for INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE? Please email Public Affairs c/o  Christine Ulmer.

The next edition of INSIDE OKANAGAN COLLEGE will be issued on January 18, 2008.

December 20, 2007, Vol. 1 Issue 19

See you next year

Okanagan College will close for the holidays at 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21. The College will officially reopen on Jan. 2, 2008. Due to the winter closure, Food Services will reopen the Kelowna cafeteria and O'Tools on Jan. 2, 2008. Public Affairs will issue the next edition of Inside Okanagan College on Jan. 18, 2008. Happy Holidays!

Volunteer faculty needed

Experience Okanagan College will be taking place on Feb. 18 and 19 at each campus. Faculty volunteers are needed to hold sessions for attending Secondary School students who will come to the campuses to find out what life is like at college. All faculty should have received an email about the event and are asked to reply by Jan. 12 with their session title and description. For more information about the event please contact your local recruiter: Christy Cave (Kelowna and Penticton), Tawnya Cameron (Vernon) and Leslie Bogula (Salmon Arm).

Don't let the holidays get you down

The holidays can be a stressful and extremely busy time for many people. Interlock has provided a list of tips to stay on track, on time and on budget this holiday season.  Click here to find out how you can make your holiday season easier to manage.

Tuition Consultation

Okanagan College will hold tuition consultations in the new year at each campus. These consultations will provide students with the opportunity to offer input into the consideration of 2008 tuition fees. Consultations are as follows:

Vernon Jan. 14 12 – 1:30 p.m. room A204
Salmon Arm Jan. 14 3 - 4:30 p.m. student lounge
Penticton Jan. 15 12 – 1:30 p.m. room PEC16
Kelowna Jan. 16 12 – 1:30 p.m. room A125
For more information, visit the website: www.okanagan.bc.ca/tuition2008.

New Switchboard hours

Office hours for the Okanagan College Kelowna switchboard have changed slightly and are now: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. This change has already gone into effect.

Electronic Payroll delivery

If you receive electronic notification of your pay statement, you will be seeing a new name pop up in your email in January. Vicki Pannell, Manager of Payroll and Payables will take over electronic notification from Donna Potter.

50/50 winner announced

Congratulations to Jim Gamble from Trades in Kelowna who won today's payday draw for $495. The Okanagan College Foundation 50/50 Staff Lottery is open to all employees of Okanagan College. If you wish to sign up for the lottery, registration forms are available from: Advancement & Alumni/Okanagan College Foundation office (P103, KLO Campus), Human Resources (Landmark V, Kelowna) or  online. 

Dec. 22 - Okanagan College closes for winter break.

Jan. 2 - Okanagan College re-opens for Winter semester.

Lynn Grahame performs double-duty at grad

The Kelowna Practical Nursing convocation held special meaning for Lynn Grahame, Manager of Admissions, as Lynn had the opportunity to watch her son Roland walk across the stage and receive his certification. "Seeing his lifelong dream come to fruition was so fulfilling for all of us,” said Lynn. “We are so proud of him. I witnessed firsthand the hard work and dedication our students put into reaching their goals." Congratulations to Roland and all of his classmates.

Naughty or Nice?

Short a Santa for the Kelowna ESL holiday party, Quentin Hughson was just about to don the gay apparel himself when he spotted an unsuspecting Catherine Williams coming down the hallway. Always a good sport, Catherine was quick to help make the party special for students. Andrew Hay was among many who took the opportunity to tell Santa what they are wishing for this year!

Mischo Erban

In the last edition of Inside Okanagan College we brought you the story of second-year Mechanical Engineering Technology student Mischo Erban – the number one ranked longboarder in the world. Last week Mischo was in Cape Town, South Africa where he competed in an international longboarding event. Here is the race recap in Mischo’s words:

“The course was fun. Not really technical but I still had problems with one turn in the beginning. I hadn't ridden since September, maybe once in November so I was mainly getting back into it. I crashed twice in the left turn on the practice days. The first day it scared me - the second day I got over it but I was still cautious about getting into a bad position in the turn.

On race day I placed first in all my heats until the finals where I crashed in the left almost at the end of it. I just had to take the turn really fast so I could make sure I drafted the three guys in front of me with enough speed to lose them after I had passed them. But that didn't happen and I ended up crashing on my shoulder leaving me with an AC separation. Six to eight weeks and I should be back to normal. Otherwise, the Cape Town area is absolutely beautiful and I wish I had more time there -- next year.” 

Mischo placed fourth overall, which puts him in the number two spot in the world. Congratulations Mischo – all of Okanagan College is wishing you a speedy recovery so you can get back out there and regain your number one title.

Staff celebrate Shelagh's career

Colleagues had an opportunity to say farewell to Shelagh Donnelly earlier this week at a reception held in Kelowna. Shelagh’s last day with Okanagan College will be Jan. 2, 2008. Best of luck in the future Shelagh!

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