Order of Recognition for Graduates
Centre for Health and Wellness
School of Allied Health
Exercise Science diploma
Massage Therapy diploma
Medical Device Reprocessing certificate
Unit Clerk certificate
School of Health Sciences
Practical Nurse Refresher certificate
Practical Nurse diploma
Centre for Justice and Human Services
School of Human Services
Child and Youth Care diploma
Early Childhood Education – Internship certificate
Early Childhood Education certificate
Early Childhood Education diploma
Educational Assistant certificate
Educational Assistant diploma
School of Justice Studies
Correctional Studies diploma
Criminal Justice – Corrections diploma
Criminal Justice – Policing diploma
Bachelor of Criminal Justice
Justice Studies – Bachelor of Applied Arts
School of Environmental Sciences
Conservation Enforcement – Bachelor of Applied Science
Natural Resource Compliance diploma
Centre for Trades and Technologies
Crooks School of Transportation
Agricultural and Heavy Equipment
Technician certificate
Automotive Systems certificate
School of Construction Trades
Pre-Electrician certificate
Pre-Pipe Trades certificate
Pre-Powerline Technician certificate
Pre-Welder certificate
School of Culinary Arts
School of Culinary Arts
Culinary Arts diploma
School of Engineering Technologies
Civil Engineering Technology diploma
Engineering Design Technology diploma
Geomatics Engineering Technology diploma
School of Media and Information Technologies
Computer Information Technology diploma
Digital Communications and Media diploma
Multimedia Production diploma
School of Renewable Energy
Wind Turbine Technician certificate
School of Spatial Design Technologies
Architectural Animation Technology diploma
Interior Design Technology diploma
Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences
School of Academic Upgrading
Academic Upgrading credential of academic achievement
School of Agriculture
Agriculture Sciences – Agriculture Business diploma
Agriculture Sciences – Agronomy diploma
Agriculture Sciences – Animal Science diploma
Commercial Greenhouse Technician certificate
Bachelor of Agriculture Science
School of Business
Administrative Office Professional certificate
Business Administration – Accounting diploma
Business Administration – Business Operations diploma
Business Administration – Management diploma
School of Environmental Sciences
Environmental Assessment and Restoration diploma
Renewable Resource Management diploma
Bachelor of Ecosystem Management
School of General Arts and Science
General Arts and Science certificate
General Arts and Science – Health Sciences certificate
General Arts and Science diploma
General Arts and Science – Psychology and Sociology diploma
General Arts and Science – Science Pathway certificate
Graduates’ Academic Regalia
Stoles
The colour of the stole signifies the academic area where students in certificate and diploma programs studied.
Aztec gold ..................................... Centre for Business, Arts and Sciences
Purple ............................................ Centre for Justice and Human Services
Spruce green ................................. Centre for Trades and Technologies
White ............................................. Centre for Health and Wellness
Buffalo Stole
In past years, Lethbridge Polytechnic presented Indigenous graduates with a traditional eagle feather to honour their academic achievement. In wanting to do our part to conserve the eagle population, we will now commemorate the accomplishment of our Indigenous graduates by presenting them with a Buffalo Stole.
The design of the stole was inspired by a polytechnic illustration created in 2017 to mark Orange Shirt Day, a day that honours the survivors of residential schools in Canada. The design highlights Chief Mountain, an unmistakable and important landmark in traditional Blackfoot territory. It also highlights the buffalo, which historically provided for the Blackfoot people’s sustenance and basic needs. Post-secondary education is often referred to as “the new buffalo.”
Hoods
Students who have earned baccalaureate degrees wear hoods of different colours that signify the academic areas they are graduating from.
Dark green .......................................................... Conservation Enforcement
Purple .................................................................. Justice Studies
Gold-trimmed ...................................................... Ecosystem Management
Maize ................................................................... Agriculture Sciences
Cords
Gold Cord
Honours with Great Distinction Academic excellence at Lethbridge Polytechnic is celebrated each term when students are named to the President’s List. To qualify, students must achieve an academic standing of Honours with Great Distinction, reflecting a cumulative program GPA of 4.0. The college awards this gold cord to students to recognize and commemorate their academic achievement.
Silver Cord
Honours with Distinction Academic excellence at Lethbridge Polytechnic is celebrated each term when students are named to the Dean’s List. To qualify, students must achieve an academic standing of Honours with Distinction, reflecting a cumulative program GPA of 3.75 to 3.99. The college awards this silver cord to students to recognize and commemorate their academic achievement.
Congratulations to Our Spring 2025 Valedictorian
Abigayle Terrill
Agriculture Sciences – Agronomy
Having grown up on a Cardston-area ranch, Abigayle (Abby) Terrill says pursuing a post-secondary education in agriculture was an easy decision.
After graduating from Cardston High School, Terrill followed her passion for animals to Lethbridge Polytechnic and enrolled in the Agriculture Sciences diploma program, focused on learning animal science. Upon graduation in the spring of 2024, Terrill decided that spending one more year at the polytechnic to earn a second diploma – this time focused on agronomy – made good sense.
During her time on campus, Terrill says she built valuable connections with her peers and within the agriculture industry, and she credits her instructors for a memorable three years filled with field trips, conferences and hands-on learning. She was also a member of the student-run Aggie Club.
Terrill says she is considering further education, possibly veterinary school, as working with cows is her “favourite thing.” She says she has plans to, one day, return home to her ranch to run the operation with her mom.
Congratulations, Abigayle
The valedictorian represents the graduating class, and the honour is based on a combination of academic achievement and service to the college, fellow students and the community.
Jaydon Haustein
Agriculture Sciences – Agronomy, Governor General’s Academic Medal recipient
Jaydon Haustein moved to Lethbridge from his family farm in central Alberta to pursue an interest in agronomy. He says he was drawn to Lethbridge Polytechnic by the diversity of classes in the program and the opportunity to ladder into the Bachelor of Agriculture Science degree after graduation. Haustein excelled in his studies and maintained a 4.0 grade point average – honours with great distinction – in every term. He plans to continue his education at Lethbridge Polytechnic and earn his bachelor’s degree. Alongside his commitment to academics, Haustein is actively involved in both the polytechnic and surrounding community, volunteering for Lethbridge Polytechnic Students’ Association events and coaching archery at Winston Churchill High School for the past two seasons. Haustein will be heading back to his family farm for the summer, which is where he hopes to eventually work full-time.
Ceremonial Mace
Lethbridge Polytechnic was pleased to incorporate a ceremonial mace for the first time at the 2019 Convocation. In the academic world, the mace symbolizes the internal authority of president and board of governors. At Convocation, it is carried by Chief Marshal and Registrar Marko Hilgersom.
Employees from across campus collaborated on the design and creation of this mace. Jeremy Lauzon, Jonathan Legg and Leon Wensmann oversaw the planning, design, fabrication and installation; Tyler Wall assisted with design and provided 3D renderings; Marcia Black Water and Peter Weasel Moccasin offered input on the Indigenous design; and Kiri Stolz created the graphic design.
The team deliberately selected materials for the mace and its stand that were local, elemental and strong. The steel represents industry and the trades and technologies programs. The stone represents students, the land, the polytechnic’s Blackfoot name Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan or “Stone Pipe,” and polytechnic colours. The wood represents education and the transformative experience it provides. The natural colours represent the local landscape.
The mace incorporates the lines and shapes of the land with gentle curves and flowing lines; the polytechnic’s Blackfoot name in words, images and materials; symbols unique to the institution such as its crest, motto and date of incorporation; and rings that represent the past, present and future of the polytechnic.
Dr. Brad Donaldson
Dr. Brad Donaldson would like to congratulate the Class of 2025 for achieving this important academic milestone, and he looks forward to seeing the many great things they will accomplish in the next steps of their journeys.
During the Middle Ages, scholars at the earliest English and European post-secondary institutions wore wool or fur garments to stay warm in the drafty, stone buildings that were poorly heated. Presidential regalia for Canadian post-secondary institutions generally follow the tradition inherited from ancient institutions of higher learning in the United Kingdom.
While PhDs have worn black mortarboards historically (some say the tradition represents the scholar’s destiny as a builder on the foundation of knowledge), more recently soft, black velvet tams have become popular. The gold metallic tassel is reserved for those entitled to wear the doctoral gown. Each institution specifies its own patterns and colours for the gown, hood and cap for its presidential regalia. The colours in Dr. Donaldson’s presidential regalia represent the blue of the prairie sky and the green of Lethbridge’s coulees.
The hood generally communicates the wearer’s school, degree and field of study. The overall size and shape of the hood represents the type of degree, with the narrow end getting progressively longer with the higher-ranking degrees. The President’s Medallion, which carries the college crest and is a symbol of rich tradition at Lethbridge Polytechnic, symbolizes the responsibility in the Office of the President. Dr. Donaldson’s presidential robe is the most elaborate of academic gowns. It has a full sleeve with a velvet facing on the front and at the neck, and four velvet bars (chevrons) on each sleeve. Three of the bars indicate his doctoral designation, and the fourth is a distinction only allowed to polytechnic and university presidents.
Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan – “Stone Pipe”
Evoking the image of strength and celebrating promises made with honesty and integrity, Kainai Kaahsinnoonik (Grandparent) Peter Weasel Moccasin gave Lethbridge College the Blackfoot name Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan, which means Stone Pipe, in the fall of 2017.
Pipes are used in sacred ceremonies of the Blackfoot people to make an offering to Iihtsipaatapi’op, the Source of Life. The pipe kept and keeps the Blackfoot people at peace. The offering of a pipe is a promise or a peace bond made with the honesty and integrity needed to fulfill the commitment. During the offering of the pipe, everyone involved must uphold and carry out the promises made. It is not certain where or how the first pipe of the Blackfoot people came to be. Oral stories refer to a dream in which direction was given of which materials to use and where to find them. One of the places the stone used in the pipe is found is near the land where Lethbridge Polytechnic sits, within the coulees and along the river bottoms that flow into the Old Man and Bow rivers. In this coulee, a chunk of the ground would be dug up and then broken up on a nearby hard rock to get to the raw stone material within. Once the raw stone was revealed, it would be shaped to a likened form without any cracks.
Next, the stone would be baked and painted with crushed red willow. The pipe stem would be made from ashwood, which is found in Crow territory and is similar to a chokecherry branch. In a process that requires patience, these two raw materials were then shaped into one. The stone starts out rough and becomes refined. The pipe stem must be made straight and unbreakable, for when formed correctly, it represents a straight path – a good path. Once dry, it is unbreakable. These two pieces together form the pipe, which is a connection to Iihtsipaatapi’op, and a promise that keeps us together.
Honouring Blackfoot Territory
Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan Honour Song
Since 2017, Lethbridge Polytechnic celebrations have been enhanced by the performance of the Ohkotoki’aahkkoiyiiniimaan Honour Song – a gift to the college from Blackfoot singers and drummers Troy and Julius Delaney.
Lethbridge Polytechnic is committed to recognizing the Blackfoot and other Indigenous peoples who are an integral part of our community. The significance of the Honour Song is one of reciprocity – the polytechnic’s employees and students honouring the success of all its students with a traditional song from Blackfoot territory, the place they have chosen to meet their educational goals.
Winter Count Robe
Lethbridge Polytechnic’s traditional Buffalo Winter Count Robe was unveiled in September 2023 as part of events surrounding the National
Day for Truth and Reconciliation. A Winter Count is a pictorial calendar or history painted on a buffalo hide that carries the story of a community. The college’s story thus far was painted by Kainai Knowledge Keeper and artist William Singer III (Api’soomaahka/Running Coyote). The robe is a sign of the polytechnic’s ongoing work to understand and honour traditional cultures and ways of knowing, and it is displayed on campus for students, employees and visitors to learn from.