Red River College Polytechnic honored graduates from its Winkler campus last Thursday, June 12th with a convocation held at the P.W. Enns Centennial Concert Hall.
For Oxana Krug, being able to attend classes remotely was integral to her success— “...because I have kids, it was very easy for me to get to be at home and also do school”. Krug graduated with a Mature Student High School Diploma, something that she shared was “a big check mark” in her life goals.
Staying local enabled connections that strengthened throughout Joshua Froese’s diploma program. Unsure if he wanted to go to Winnipeg for post-secondary education, Froese reflected that his decision to take classes in Business Administration at RRC Polytechnic “...grew into something a lot greater than that... I got to stick around with all the people that I knew locally and grow with some more connections.”
The hybrid approach to learning was also a highlight for Cassandra Ann, who graduated with an Administrative Assistant certificate. For her, these connections spread across Manitoba and the other RRC Polytech campuses.
Being able to earn a degree while living and working in the area has been a valuable part of these recent graduates’ education at RRC Polytechnic. With opportunities both for those new to the working world, and those who already have careers, these recent graduates attribute success not only to the accessible nature of classes, but also to their instructors.
For Musfika Vabna and Courtney Hoeppner, their instructor in the Educational Assistant program was a cornerstone in their education. “She was absolutely amazing” shared Hoeppner. “She helped us with everything. She was always there, whether we needed someone to talk to, to cry to.” Hoeppner and Vabna, in their future careers as Educational Assistants, want to make an impact like educational assistants have made in their lives.
Words of guidance from Dr. Tamara Chambers-Richards echo the hard work and effort these graduates have put in. As Dean of the School of Health Sciences and Community Services at RRC Polytech, Dr. Chambers-Richards expressed the pride the school has in their graduates and had one thing to say to them: “You’ve got this, you’ve learned well, and you are ready. Just remember that.”
