The past, present and future come together this week during the two days of Lethbridge College’s Convocation 2011.
Some 600 students will receive their credentials during two ceremonies, at 2 p.m. Thursday, and 10 a.m. Friday. (See below for the order of presentations.)
Beverly Hungry Wolf (Sikski-Aki Black-Faced Woman), Lethbridge College’s Honorary Degree recipient for 2011, pays tribute to the past in her use of traditional teachings and practices in mentoring First Nations students. The Lethbridge College elder, born in Cardston, will be presented with her degree at the Thursday ceremony; she addresses convocates both days.
Col. Rick Searfoss, retired NASA astronaut, is part of the future as the director of Flight Operations for XCOR Aerospace, where he works with the development team on a suborbital spaceplane, for which he will be the first test pilot. Searfoss will gear his student address to Dreams, Hopes, and Realities. He will address both convocation ceremonies, and will host a community function at the Val Matteotti Gymnasium at 7 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are free and available by contacting Lana Walsh at 403-320-3496.
Chief Clarence Louie from Osoyoos, B.C., speaks to the present as keynote speaker of the First Nations Metis Inuit (FNMI) Graduation 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, at the D.A. Electric Barn. He’ll address the college community 2-3:30 p.m. that day in the LaValley Theatres on “Social Inclusion – An Economic Development Perspective.”
The final grad ceremony will be for students of the Nippon Institute of Technology, on Friday.
Lethbridge College will also honour three of its instructors at the President’s Luncheon on Friday. D’arcy Kavanagh, School of Media and Design, and Keith Dudley, School of Liberal Arts, will receive Faculty Association/Students’ Association Teaching Excellence awards, while Terry Dreaddy, School of Justice Studies, will be presented with the Rookie of the Year award.