June 5, 2013

Preparations are in full swing for Friday’s convocation at Medicine Hat College.

A total of 607 students will graduate from certificate, diploma and applied degree programs, with another 140 apprentice students completing studies at MHC this spring. Approximately 432 of these students plan to attend convocation, and will cross the podium in two separate ceremonies on Friday, June 7. The 10:00 a.m. ceremony will see grads from the divisions of adult development, business and arts. The 2:00 p.m. ceremony will honour graduates from the divisions of health studies, science and department of trades. The ceremonies will take place in the MHC gymnasium.

Several awards will be handed out at the ceremonies, including the prestigious Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degree, Student of the Year, Instructor of the Year, and the Governor General’s Academic Medal.

The 2013 Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degree will be presented to Rob Renner, alum of MHC and retired MLA for the Medicine Hat constituency. Renner served on student council while at Medicine Hat College, and was a strong advocate for the college during his time as MLA.

The MHC Student of the Year award will be presented to Shayla Paxman, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration at this year’s ceremony. A strong student academically, Paxman served as the Students’ Association (SA) Vice President Internal during her third year and SA President during her fourth. Her involvement with business clubs on campus were also cited in her nomination.

Duane Delaurier will receive MHC’s Instructor of the Year award. Delaurier teaches in the paramedic program, and is being commended by his students as a dedicated, passionate instructor who is always willing to take extra time to ensure his students fully understand course material.

This year’s recipient of the Governor General’s Academic Medal is Neil Hayes, a power engineering graduate. The medal was created in 1873 to encourage academic excellence across the nation. It is awarded to the student who receives the highest overall average upon graduation from a diploma level program.

Hayes has a long history with Medicine Hat College: a Red Seal Journeyman graduate from the Automotive Service Technician program in 1988, and a former instructor in both the Automotive Service Technician and Heavy Duty Technician trades programs. Hayes has now begun his new career with CanCarb Limited, and credits his instructors and fellow students in helping him achieve success.

The college will once again host distinguished guests from the city and province at the ceremony. Additionally, faculty members will form a gauntlet to honour the graduates as they cross Centennial Hall to enter the gymnasium. For more information on MHC’s graduation ceremonies, visit www.mhc.ab.ca.