The NC-NPAAMB Journey to Success team honoured its latest graduates at special in-person ceremonies held on August 10 and August 19. The celebrations marked a significant achievement for the grads who embraced online learning after program staff adapted the course for remote delivery in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
NPAAMB team member and instructor Cindilee Ecker-Flagg is pictured singing/drumming a closing ceremony song in honour of the graduates on August 19.
Although learning through an online environment was a first for some students and came with its challenges, NPAAMB program instructor Cindilee Ecker-Flagg says the experience taught resiliency and allowed the students to learn new skills.
“Together we worked through the new process, which developed new transferable skills and strengthened essential skills when working with computer programs, documents, emails and attachments,” said Ecker-Flagg.
For cohort six co-valedictorians Alayah Robinson and Montana Skye, who graduated on August 19 from the healthcare stream of the program along with eight other students, the online format proved to be beneficial.
“Going into this program I didn’t know how I would do with online classes, but with all the support from teachers, mentors and students, I was able to work the hardest I could,” said Robinson. “I will be continuing school in September and the fall semester is completely online. Being in this program has helped me understand so much more about online learning.”
“At the beginning, as I had no prior experience, it was exceptionally difficult, but as the program continued, I gained so many different skills, plus being able to manage my time online,” said Skye. “Having such an understanding group of individuals going through the same problems certainly helped morale, too, and made my first online schooling experience much easier and worthwhile. Should I choose to pursue online schooling in the future, I know I’ll be ready.”
The latest Journey to Success hospitality and tourism cohort was also honoured at a graduation ceremony on August 10. The celebration was particularly special for this group of 10 grads whose in-class instruction ended abruptly on March 13 when NC campuses closed due to COVID-19. Dubbed the “COVID cohort,” the group completed the remaining four weeks of classes online and previously attended a virtual graduation celebration on April 9.
Students from the Journey to Success hospitality cohort are pictured during a team-building exercise on March 4, 2020, shortly before their in-person classes ended due to COVID-19. The picture captures the group’s intent to work well together to accomplish a goal.
Cara Zahorchak, who has overcome many personal obstacles and academic barriers, attended the August 10 celebration. She completed the program with a final average in the 80s and learned many important life lessons through the experience. “I learned to be kind to yourself, be proud of the person you are and that I have so much more to offer than I thought,” she said.
She recently started a new full-time job with a cleaning service that “speaks very highly of her skills, customer service, and willingness to work,” said Cathy Smith, NPAAMB job developer.
“I love my new job right now because I’m never in the same place and I work with really good people,” said Zahorchak.
The Journey to Success program provides a training course equipping Indigenous youth with both soft employable skills, as well as the on-the-job training they need to prepare for, get and keep jobs with a focus on the healthcare, hospitality and tourism industries.
Launched in the Spring of 2018, the program is delivered by faculty in NC’s School of Hospitality and Tourism, and School of Allied Health, who provide instruction, and NPAAMB staff, who bring an important cultural context to the program. Each student who completes the course receives a Certificate of Completion from Niagara College.
The program has not only been a journey to success for students but for NC and NPAAMB staff as well, who have developed a strong partnership through their spirit of collaboration and focused efforts to meet the goals of Indigenous youth taking the program.
“This relationship we have built, the sense of community we are always working on, and the energy we have given to one another, has allowed us to also rise to the challenges that this COVID-19 world has put in our paths,” said NC program manager Shanyn Porter. “We have all been encouraged by the resiliency of our students to move forward and face new obstacles…this has been the NC-NPAAMB journey to success as well.”
The next Journey to Success healthcare cohort begins the program on September 14.
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