“Embrace the fear.”
That’s what Sarah Watts-Rynard, executive director of the Niagara Apprenticeship Forum, challenged Niagara College’s Class of 2018 to do on June 22 as she addressed more than 365 graduates from the Schools of Technology Studies, Trades, and Environmental and Horticultural Studies.
“Why do something that scares you? Because those are the moments when you are stretching yourself … if it isn’t scary, you aren’t trying hard enough,” she said.
The Ottawa resident reflected on what have been the keys to her success since her own postsecondary convocation more than 25 years ago, leading her to her current role championing the skilled trades on the national stage. For the past eight years, she has been promoting the important work that trades people play in Canada’s economy.
Watts-Rynard encouraged the new graduates to find their passion for their careers. “It’s easy to be authentic when you really care,” she said. “Authenticity drives credibility and being authentic is so much easier when it’s backed by passion.”
She also emphasized the importance of fully embracing your passion, and to always be open to new ideas, people and places.
“Put your phone down. Engage in conversations. Be interested,” she said. “Not only will you have more fun, but people will remember you. In my experience, opportunity presents itself to people who show up.”
Watts-Rynard was presented with an honorary diploma in Skilled Trades.
A group of Commercial Beekeeping students become the first graduates from the program on June 22, standing with program coordinator Mylee Nordin (left).
The ceremony also marked a milestone for the College, as it celebrated its first cohort of graduates from the Commercial Beekeeping program. The first of its kind in Eastern Canada, the graduate certificate program was launched in 2017 to meet a significant demand for qualified, professional beekeepers across the country.
The morning ceremony capped off 2018 Spring Convocation at Niagara College, which celebrated more than 3,700 new graduates from June 19 to June 22 at the Welland Campus.
Previous ceremony highlights
Spring Convocation kicked off on June 19 with speaker Vicki Heyman, co-founder of Uncharted, LLC, who received an honorary bachelor of Applied Studies. The wife of former U.S. ambassador Bruce Heyman, she was cultural envoy during their time in Ottawa from 2014-2017. Daljit Singh Gujral, a first-generation entrepreneur from India and president of INSCOL, received an honorary diploma in Health Studies.
On June 20, Coletta McGrath, executive director of Quest Community Health Centre, received an honorary bachelor of Applied Studies in the morning ceremony; and Niagara Regional Police Service chief Bryan MacCulloch received an honorary diploma in Police Foundations in the afternoon.
On the morning of June 21, the College welcomed guest speaker Anthony J. Spiteri, vice president of marketing research and development at Pinty’s Delicious Foods Inc. A graduate of the College’s Business Administration program (1989), Spiteri received a Distinguished Alumni Award. The College also honoured top student Jesse Reynders (Business Administration Accounting) with a Governor General’s Academic Medal, for achieving the highest grade-point average – 98.23 per cent.
Popular morning show host Tim Denis, from Newstalk 610 CKTB, addressed graduates at the afternoon ceremony and received an honorary diploma in Broadcasting – Radio, Television and Film.
