Lethbridge College is ready to celebrate its graduates at a Fall Convocation, returning to a previous college tradition that will see more than 120 people receive certificates, diplomas and applied degrees on Saturday, Oct. 16.
In alignment with the college’s Pandemic Response Program, only faculty, college leaders and graduates will be a part of the in-person ceremony, although the entire community is encouraged to celebrate at home and online. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium and will be available on livestream at lethpolytech.ca/convocation.
Those who attend must wear masks and provide either proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or a negative test taken within 72 hours of coming to campus.
“There is so much to celebrate about this remarkable group of grads, who have shown true grit and perseverance in completing their post-secondary education,” says Lethbridge College President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns. “And we are thrilled to mark this shift from one annual convocation ceremony in the spring to two true graduation ceremonies each year – in the spring and fall – after the students complete their practicum experiences, clinical placements and other work-integrated learning opportunities. We can’t wait to honour their achievements.”
One highlight of the ceremony will be the recognition of the fall valedictorian, Kyla Hornberger, who holds a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with Honours with Great Distinction from the Interior Design Technology program. She describes herself as “a mother to five glorious humans, a believer, a dreamer, a creator, a doubter, someone who is deaf, someone who is hearing (thanks to technology),” and so much more.
At the age of 39, and despite past experiences where her deafness was not received with understanding, Hornberger decided to change her path and enrol in the Interior Design Technology program. She says taking the step to back to school has opened up doors she never could have imagined, and that “learning to live from a space of possibility and choosing to simply try has left me in awe and filled with gratitude. I had no idea the community that would find me when I decided to leap.”
Cherie Bowker, chair of the School of Spatial Design Technologies, says “Kyla is inspired, and she inspires others. She is enthusiastic, illuminating every room she enters. She is creative, talented and ambitious. She is an interior designer extraordinaire, and I am so thankful to know her!”
The Fall Convocation shifts the ceremony back to the college campus in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium, after several years of ceremonies at the Enmax Centre. It also marks the return of a fall graduation ceremony, which was once a college tradition, but had been replaced by a single spring ceremony for many years. Students crossing the stage on Saturday will receive their parchments after completing all aspects of their programs.