His career has taken him from coast-to-coast-to-coast, working across North America in three of the continent’s four major professional sports leagues. And it’s a journey that began at Lethbridge College.
John Vidalin (Communication Arts 1991), Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer of the NBA’s Miami Heat, will share his story as this year’s keynote speaker at the college’s New Student Orientation (NSO) on Sept. 5. Vidalin is responsible for developing local, national and international business opportunities for the Heat, after previously working with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans, and the NHL’s Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames.
Vidalin will address more than 1,100 students on Tuesday morning, in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium. NSO is part of a broad strategy to integrate students into life at Lethbridge College by making them aware of all the support available to them.
“John is a great example of the exciting careers that a Lethbridge College education can prepare students for,” says Shelley Carter-Rose, Lethbridge College’s director of Student Services. “Our theme this year is “Arrive and Thrive,” because our job is to make sure our students have an environment where they can succeed and prepare them so that they can embrace those opportunities. That begins at New Student Orientation by letting them know about the many academic, health and wellness, and other services that we provide.”
New Student Orientation begins with program orientations on the morning of Sept. 5, followed by an institutional welcome and Vidalin’s keynote speech at 11 a.m., and a lunch courtesy of the Lethbridge College Students’ Association at noon. Welcoming new students is more than a one-day commitment and includes “Arrive and Thrive” workshops and a family orientation session throughout the Labour Day weekend, and an Indigenous welcome ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 12.
“We have talked directly to students, parents and instructors over the past year and have re-shaped our New Student Orientation to fit what we have heard,” says Carter-Rose. “Our goal is to make sure that all students feel welcomed, prepared and informed as they take the big step of beginning their college experience.”
All first-year students are expected to attend the free New Student Orientation and must register in advance, either on-campus or through the Lethbridge College website.
Lethbridge College will provide services throughout the Labour Day long weekend, with employees on campus from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday and Monday. New and returning students can stop by to meet with academic advising, registration, Bookstore, Buchanan Library, financial services, residence services and much more. Campus tours will be available hourly between noon and 3 p.m.
As of Aug. 31, more than 2,420 new students will enter Lethbridge College this year, and more than 5,190 students in total have registered in credit and apprenticeship programs for the fall semester.