Almost 4,800 graduating students will be recognized at Conestoga's Spring Convocation ceremonies to be held June 10 - 12 at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener.
Distinguished alumni from programs in business, hospitality, information technology, media and health will address each of the graduating classes, extending an official welcome to the college’s Alumni Association for Conestoga’s newest graduates.
In conjunction with the ceremonies, President John Tibbits will present a number of college-wide achievement awards.
At the 10:00 a.m. ceremony on Wednesday, June 11, Jordan Bomans and Michael Kasunic, both of Kitchener, will receive the Conestoga College Mastercraft award, which recognizes student achievement of excellence in program-related skills. Bomans and Kasunic, who are graduating from the Energy Systems Engineering Technology advanced diploma program, have developed a new system for preventing snow accumulation on solar panels and subsequent drops in power input. They are currently exploring opportunities to work with manufacturers to introduce their innovative technology into the marketplace.
The James W. Church award will be presented to Shelley Sprague of Kitchener at the 10:00 a.m. ceremony on Thursday, June 12. Established by Conestoga’s founding president, the award recognizes excellence in a combination of areas: achievement in learning, concern for the dignity of the individual and a personal contribution of benefit to society.
Sprague, who is graduating from the Recreation and Leisure Services diploma program, earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average over all courses in the final year of her program while juggling the demands of work, school, family and active volunteerism. She took on a variety of leadership roles through her program and travelled with a team of volunteers to support a child care project in one of Costa Rica’s most poverty-stricken regions early in 2014. She devotes hundreds of hours each year to providing support for Scouts Canada as well as for learning activities at a local elementary school.
For more information about Spring Convocation 2014, including a detailed program schedule, visit the Convocation website.