June 20, 2024
Class of 2023-24 celebrates graduates at Aurora College Convocations
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES – Aurora College honoured graduates during annual Convocation Ceremonies in Yellowknife (June 1), Fort Smith (June 7) and Inuvik (June 14) over the past two weeks. Up to 142 students were eligible to graduate from certificate, diploma and degree programs at Aurora College.
Certificates were presented to students completing programs in Adult Education, Business Administration, Early Learning and Child Care, Office Administration and Personal Support Worker. Those receiving diplomas completed Business Administration, Early Learning and Child Care, Environment and Natural Resources Technology and Office Administration. Four-year degrees were awarded to graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program.
Family, friends, community leaders, community members, instructors and staff of Aurora College were on hand to congratulate the graduates at each of the ceremonies. The Early Learning and Child Care program saw its largest graduating class to date, with 37 individuals from the in-person and distance programs receiving certificates or diplomas.
Valedictorians as each convocation gave heartfelt addresses to their fellow graduates. This year’s valedictorians were: Sarah Fleming, Early Learning and Child Care (Yellowknife); Therese Petak-Dube, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (Yellowknife); Lyndie Bourque, Business Administration-Accounting Stream (Fort Smith); and Agnes Amos, Early Learning and Child Care (Inuvik).
“It is an honour to be a part of the educational journey of each of our graduates. They have worked incredibly hard and made many sacrifices to achieve their goals. We are proud of every one of them and know they will continue to face future challenges with strength and resilience”
– Joseph Handley, Chair, Board of Governors, Aurora College
Attachment: Convocation Ceremony Program* Not all potential graduates participated in the convocations or chose to be included in the program
Aurora College 2023-24 Convocation Awards
Yellowknife North Slave Campus:
- Board of Governors Student Leadership Award: Sarah Fleming, Yellowknife, Early Learning and Child Care Diploma
- Avens Sheila Broders Award: Breanna Mandeville, Fort Resolution, Personal Support Worker
- Honorary Personal Support Worker Certificate – Violet Drybones, Behchokǫ̀
- College and Association of Nurses of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut (CANNN) Academic and Clinical Excellence Award: Danielle Heslin, Yellowknife, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Thebacha Campus, Fort Smith:
- Town of Fort Smith, Duncan MacPherson Citizenship Award: Tianna Melvin Simon, Fort Resolution, University and College Access Program (UCAP)
- Ronalda Boutillier Webb Memorial Bursary: Terri Gruben, Tuktoyaktuk, Office Administration Diploma
- Posthumous Diploma – Environment and Natural Resources Technology: Dwight Carpenter
Aurora Campus, Inuvik:
- Board of Governors Student Leadership Award: James Thrasher-Pokiak, Tuktoyaktuk, University and College Access Program (UCAP)
- Town of Inuvik, Office Administration Scholarship: Clara Omilgoituk, Inuvik, Office Administration
- Aurora Cup: Clara Omilgoituk, Inuvik, Office Administration
- UNW Local 29 Staff to Student Legacy: Clara Omilgoituk, Inuvik, Office Administration
- Eli Nasogaluak Jr. Memorial Bursary: Stephanie Felix, Tuktoyaktuk, Personal Support Worker
- Mervin Joe Memorial Bursary: Dawson Kovacs, Inuvik, Business Administration