Indigenous high school students explored their options for higher learning at an information fair hosted at Niagara College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake on December 1.
The Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program (APSIP) is a collective of recruitment representatives from colleges, universities, and Indigenous learning institutes in Ontario and Quebec that collaborate on and plan a 12-week post-secondary education tour for Indigenous learners.
NC hosted the Niagara region stop along the APSIP tour, welcoming 125 high school students from the Niagara Catholic District School Board, District School Board of Niagara and the Grand Erie District School Board to campus.
High school students explore post-secondary options at the APSIP tour stop, hosted at NC on Dec. 1
The event was planned and executed by NC Student Recruitment in partnership with the College’s Indigenous Education department, Brock University and the local school boards.
“This is the second year in a row that Niagara College has hosted the event for Indigenous students exploring post-secondary options, as well as community supports and services,” said Ian Aikenhead, NC’s Director, Student Recruitment. “We had 25 post-secondary institutions, colleges, universities and local community partners on campus to share their information.”
Indigenous community partners in attendance included the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre and NPAAMB Indigenous Youth Employment & Training, as well as 40 Indigenous influencers, some of whom spoke to students about their post-secondary journeys. A local Indigenous food vendor provided lunch for the students and a hands-on cookie decorating activity was also offered.
“Indigenous Education staff were pleased to meet high school students at the APSIP event to tell them about how our team supports the transition and success of Indigenous learners at Niagara College,” said Leah Hogan, NC’s Associate Director, Indigenous Education. It is important to demystify the college experience by bringing them to our campuses and hearing the success stories of our graduates. It is events like this that help students see a future in postsecondary knowing that they will be supported along their journey.”
