Okanagan College Media Release

Okanagan College will acknowledge the accomplishments of more than 1,250 graduates at a series of Convocation and Commencement ceremonies this weekend.

The College will confer 457 degree and diploma credentials to students from a variety of programs during two Convocation ceremonies held on Saturday. A separate Commencement ceremony honouring the achievements of more than 800 Trades students will take place on Friday.

This weekend’s graduates are just some of the 1,337 Okanagan College students who have earned a credential so far during the 2007/08 academic year. Sixty-three Practical Nurses received credentials at previously held ceremonies; another 17 Practical Nurses will graduate at a ceremony in Vernon on June 16.

A Summer Convocation honouring diploma and certificate graduates from Health, Applied Business and Trades programs will confer more credentials on June 26, 2008.

“We are looking forward to celebrating the achievements of Okanagan College’s largest graduating class at ceremonies held this weekend,” said Okanagan College President Jim Hamilton. “We take a great deal of pride in the success of our students and are pleased to be able to share the experience with our students’ friends, families and supporters.”

The Trades Commencement begins Friday evening at 6:30 p.m. In the tradition of Commencement, students will be recognized for their accomplishments, top students in a variety of programs will receive awards and two industry speakers will address the graduates. More than 120 students will attend Friday’s ceremony, just a portion of the 800 students who completed entry-level or apprenticeship credentials over the course of the past year.

A morning Convocation ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 6 at 10 a.m. for 141 degree and diploma graduates from a range of programs. An afternoon ceremony honouring 316 Business degree and diploma graduates will begin at 2 p.m.

Four Honorary Fellows will also be recognized at Saturday’s Convocation ceremonies. Brothers Syd, Dick and Rob Cannings will be honoured at the morning session while Jeannette Armstrong will receive the distinction during the afternoon ceremony. A third Honorary Fellow, Ken Harding, will be recognized at the Summer Convocation ceremony on June 26 at 7 p.m.