THUNDER BAY — More than 1,400 students are graduating from Confederation College this June.
Convocation ceremonies were held on Friday at the Thunder Bay Auditorium, honouring graduates who received certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas.
“I have been in school since 2015, so actually walking across the stage and graduating from something means a lot, especially as someone who was in foster care as well as an Indigenous woman,” said Melissa Podnar, who graduated from the Onajigawin Indigenous Services program.
Podnar said she plans on using her diploma at her current workplace, the University of Toronto, where she will work with Covenant House Toronto, a youth shelter with a focus on implementing harm reduction strategies.
The morning convocation ceremony featured students from the School of Health, School of Business, and students from the Hospitality, Media Arts, Neghaneewin and Community Services programs.
The afternoon ceremonies featured students from the School of Aviation, School of Engineering Technology and Trades, School of Business, and more students from the Hospitality and Media Arts program.
Michelle Salo, college president, said seeing students succeed after all their dedicated textbook days is the most rewarding part for faculty.
“Education is something that you can do at any point in your life, and we see that with our graduates,” she said.
“Having been a former graduate myself, I know firsthand how important this first step is and how much it sets the foundation for the rest of their lives and how much employers actually appreciate college graduates and the hands-on experience that they get,” said Salo.
Confederation College’s convocation ceremonies continue next week in Fort Frances on Monday, Kenora on Tuesday and Dryden on Wednesday.
