[{"id":1627180,"date":"2026-06-08T16:13:30","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:13:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/?p=62855"},"modified":"2026-06-08T16:13:30","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:13:30","slug":"future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Future healthcare heroes take the stage as Niagara College kicks off Spring Convocation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The future of healthcare received a significant boost on June 8 as Niagara College launched its Spring Convocation. Hundreds of students crossed the stage to mark their transition from the classroom to the frontline of patient care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The morning ceremony celebrated 650 grads from School of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, and School of Academic and Liberal Studies, representing fields ranging from dental hygiene and massage therapy to pharmacy technicians and paramedics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The afternoon ceremony featured almost 500 graduates from the Myhal School of Nursing. As the Practical Nursing<\/a> and Personal Support Worker<\/a> students walked across the stage, they received their professional pins - a traditional rite of passage symbolizing their entry into the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Graduands, I am so proud of you and full of hope for what you will achieve and the ways in which you will change our world,\" said NC President Sean Kennedy in his address to the Class of 2026. \"Be a force for good, be willing to change, be willing to change your mind and think about the world differently and be passionate in all that you do.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many, graduation marked the end of a deeply personal journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Catharines resident Adrian Vicentini enrolled in in the PSW<\/a> program at age 43, motivated by his wife's experience following a severe car accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"I decided to learn about how to care for others so that I could better care for my family,\" he said. \"I am passionate about my field of study because I can positively impact the lives of other people and help improve their quality of life.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicentini's program placement at a long-term care home proved to be a turning point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"When I went to my placement, I felt I could rely on the knowledge taught to me throughout the program to succeed. I was able to care for every resident in my unit with confidence while making a positive impact on their lives. I could not ask for a better PSW program; I felt over-prepared if anything,\" he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"I had many residents of the long-term care home saying how much I would be missed and that they hoped I would be back to see them again ... I knew right then that I had finally found my place in this world, and I knew I made the right decision to go back to school and pursue this career path.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vicentini has already enrolled in the Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Bridge<\/a> program - a new Nursing Transformation Initiative for working PSWs who wish to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as a Practical Nurse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Going back to school at 43 was a major decision, and I was incredibly nervous - I wasn't sure what to expect or if I was still capable,\" he said. \" But with all the support, guidance, and encouragement I received, I've learned that anything is possible if you just try.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welland resident Scotty Poitras graduated from Practical Nursing<\/a> with the Dean's Award from the Myhal School of Nursing for the highest cumulative average in his school, found his calling after working in rehabilitation and volunteer support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"I've always been interested in biology and the natural world, and nursing felt like a good fit,\" he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding his academic path, he noted how he faced challenges after stepping away from high school, but he completed academic upgrading and graduated with top marks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Setbacks are not a reflection of where your future will lead,\" said Poitras. \"It is possible to achieve far more than you might imagine.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niagara Falls resident Tara Gray graduated from the General Arts and Science<\/a> program after more than 15 years of working in healthcare administration. She balanced her studies with family responsibilities - she even gave birth and cared for a newborn during her final term - and earned the Dean's Academic Medal for the highest cumulative average in her school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Being able to maintain excellent grades while managing these responsibilities is something I am extremely proud of, and it makes receiving this award even more meaningful,\" she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Gray initially enrolled in the program to school to improve her skills and further her career, she discovered a genuine passion for learning and plans to return to NC in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Education has become something I genuinely love, and I am passionate about exploring different subjects and expanding my understanding of the world around me,\" she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

London, Ont. resident Amna Ahmed, graduated from the Dental Hygiene<\/a> advanced diploma program following her successful board exam last. She is already working as a Registered Dental Hygienist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"One of the most rewarding parts of the program was seeing the real impact of patient care and education,\" she said. \"The biggest highlight, for me, was the [NC Dental] Clinic - especially being able to finally apply what we were learning in a real client setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"I really enjoyed building relationships with patients over time and seeing the impact of client education and care in real life situations.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first day of ceremonies also recognized academic excellence with several Dean's Academic Awards for the highest cumulative average in each academic school: Tara Gray, (General Arts and Science<\/a>) for the School of Academic and Liberal Studies<\/a>; Andi Gordon, (Pharmacy Technician<\/a>) for the School of Allied Health<\/a>; Tanya Evdokimova (Dental Hygiene<\/a>) for the School of Health Sciences<\/a>; and Scotty Poitras (Practical Nursing<\/a>) for the Myhal School of Nursing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By the time Spring Convocation concludes on June13, NC will have conferred credentials on approximately 7,000 new graduates. Ceremonies will continue daily with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Simplii Financial Centre at the Welland Campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highly anticipated for the week ahead include the presentation of the Governor General's Bronze Academic Medal<\/strong> to Welland resident Alleeya Guthro (Recreation Therapy<\/a>) on June 9 (3 p.m. ceremony), and the Governor General's Silver Academic Medal<\/strong> to St. Catharines resident Nashwa Higazy (Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources<\/a>) on June 12 (3 p.m. ceremony) - for the highest average in a diploma and degree program, respectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 12 (3 p.m. ceremony) the College will present a Distinguished Alumni Award<\/strong> to Toronto resident Celeste Anderson, CEO and Co-founder of Digital Sports Administration Inc. Anderson is a graduate of the Tourism Management - Business Development<\/a> program (class of 2020)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On June 12 (10 a.m. ceremony), Lincoln resident Bob Martin, former General Manager of Martin Farms Ltd., will be presented with an Honorary Diploma in Environment and Horticulture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All ceremonies will be livestreamed and available for viewing on the College's Convocation website<\/a>. For a detailed list of programs graduating within each school and the full schedule, please visit the w.niagaracollege.ca\/enrolmentservices\/convocation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A leader in applied education, Niagara College offers diploma, bachelor degree, post-graduate and apprenticeship programs at specialized campuses in Niagara-on-the-Lake and Welland. Consistently ranked among Canada's top research colleges, NC is also involved in educational projects and partnerships around the world that provide students with important hands-on-experience. NC welcomes students from across Niagara, Ontario, and around the world who are studying in in-demand programs that support key sectors and industries in Niagara and beyond, with graduates making important contributions in all corners of our community. Learn more at <\/em>niagaracollege.ca<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

-30-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Six days, 7,000 grads: NC hosts Spring Convocation June 8-13<\/a>
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media inquiries, please contact:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Julie Greco
Communications Consultant
905-328-2532
jgreco@niagaracollege.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

The post Future healthcare heroes take the stage as Niagara College kicks off Spring Convocation<\/a> appeared first on Niagara College<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The future of healthcare received a significant boost on June 8 as Niagara College launched its Spring Convocation. Hundreds of students crossed the stage to mark their transition from the…<\/p>\n

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Hundreds of students crossed the stage to mark their transition from the classroom to the frontline of patient care.<\/p>\n<p>The morning ceremony celebrated 650 grads from School of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, and School of Academic and Liberal Studies, representing fields ranging from dental hygiene and massage therapy to pharmacy technicians and paramedics.<\/p>\n<p>The afternoon ceremony featured approximately 395 graduates from the Myhal School of Nursing. As the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/rpn-practical-nursing\/\">Practical Nursing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/psw-personal-support-worker\/\">Personal Support Worker<\/a> students walked across the stage, they received their professional pins – a traditional rite of passage symbolizing their entry into the field.<\/p>\n<p>“Graduands, I am so proud of you and full of hope for what you will achieve and the ways in which you will change our world,” said NC President Sean Kennedy in his address to the Class of 2026. “Be a force for good, be willing to change, be willing to change your mind and think about the world differently and be passionate in all that you do.”<\/p>\n<p>For many, graduation marked the end of a deeply personal journey.<\/p>\n<p>St. Catharines resident Adrian Vicentini enrolled in in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/psw-personal-support-worker\/\">PSW<\/a> program at age 43, motivated by his wife’s experience following a severe car accident.<\/p>\n<p>“I decided to learn about how to care for others so that I could better care for my family,” he said. “I am passionate about my field of study because I can positively impact the lives of other people and help improve their quality of life.”<\/p>\n<p>Vicentini’s program placement at a long-term care home proved to be a turning point.<\/p>\n<p>“When I went to my placement, I felt I could rely on the knowledge taught to me throughout the program to succeed. I was able to care for every resident in my unit with confidence while making a positive impact on their lives. I could not ask for a better PSW program; I felt over-prepared if anything,” he said.<\/p>\n<p>“I had many residents of the long-term care home saying how much I would be missed and that they hoped I would be back to see them again … I knew right then that I had finally found my place in this world, and I knew I made the right decision to go back to school and pursue this career path.”<\/p>\n<p>Vicentini has already enrolled in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/parttimestudies\/online\/programs\/nti\/\">Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Bridge<\/a> program – a new Nursing Transformation Initiative for working PSWs who wish to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as a Practical Nurse.<\/p>\n<p>“Going back to school at 43 was a major decision, and I was incredibly nervous – I wasn’t sure what to expect or if I was still capable,” he said. ” But with all the support, guidance, and encouragement I received, I’ve learned that anything is possible if you just try.”<\/p>\n<p>Welland resident Scotty Poitras graduated from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/rpn-practical-nursing\/\">Practical Nursing<\/a> with the Dean’s Award from the Myhal School of Nursing for the highest cumulative average in his school, found his calling after working in rehabilitation and volunteer support.<\/p>\n<p>“I’ve always been interested in biology and the natural world, and nursing felt like a good fit,” he said.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding his academic path, he noted how he faced challenges after stepping away from high school, but he completed academic upgrading and graduated with top marks.<\/p>\n<p>“Setbacks are not a reflection of where your future will lead,” said Poitras. “It is possible to achieve far more than you might imagine.”<\/p>\n<p>Niagara Falls resident Tara Gray graduated from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/liberal\/program\/gas-college-exploration-wc\/\">General Arts and Science<\/a>\u00a0program after more than 15 years of working in healthcare administration. She balanced her studies with family responsibilities – she even gave birth and cared for a newborn during her final term – and earned the Dean’s Academic Medal for the highest cumulative average in her school.<\/p>\n<p>“Being able to maintain excellent grades while managing these responsibilities is something I am extremely proud of, and it makes receiving this award even more meaningful,” she said.<\/p>\n<p>While Gray initially enrolled in the program to school to improve her skills and further her career, she discovered a genuine passion for learning and plans to return to NC in September.<\/p>\n<p>“Education has become something I genuinely love, and I am passionate about exploring different subjects and expanding my understanding of the world around me,” she said.<\/p>\n<p>London, Ont. resident Amna Ahmed, graduated from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/alliedhealth\/program\/dental-hygiene\/\">Dental Hygiene<\/a>\u00a0advanced diploma program following her successful board exam last. She is already working as a Registered Dental Hygienist.<\/p>\n<p>“One of the most rewarding parts of the program was seeing the real impact of patient care and education,” she said. “The biggest highlight, for me, was the [NC Dental] Clinic – especially being able to finally apply what we were learning in a real client setting.<\/p>\n<p>“I really enjoyed building relationships with patients over time and seeing the impact of client education and care in real life situations.”<\/p>\n<p>The first day of ceremonies also recognized academic excellence with several Dean’s Academic Awards for the highest cumulative average in each academic school: Tara Gray, (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/liberal\/program\/gas-college-exploration-wc\/\">General Arts and Science<\/a>) for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/liberal\/\">School of Academic and Liberal Studies<\/a>; Andi Gordon, (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/healthsciences\/program\/pharmacy-technician\/\">Pharmacy Technician<\/a>) for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/alliedhealth\/\">School of Allied Health<\/a>; Tanya Evdokimova (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/alliedhealth\/program\/dental-hygiene\/\">Dental Hygiene<\/a>) for the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/healthsciences\/\">School of Health Sciences<\/a>; and Scotty Poitras (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/rpn-practical-nursing\/\">Practical Nursing<\/a>) for the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/\">\u00a0Myhal School of Nursing<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<style type=\"text\/css\">\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 {\n\t\t\t\tmargin: auto;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-item {\n\t\t\t\tfloat: left;\n\t\t\t\tmargin-top: 10px;\n\t\t\t\ttext-align: center;\n\t\t\t\twidth: 50%;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 img {\n\t\t\t\tborder: 2px solid #cfcfcf;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t#gallery-1 .gallery-caption {\n\t\t\t\tmargin-left: 0;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\/* see gallery_shortcode() in wp-includes\/media.php *\/\n\t\t<\/style>\n\t\t<div data-carousel-extra='{\"blog_id\":53,\"permalink\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.niagaracollege.ca\\\/insidenc\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/08\\\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\\\/\"}' id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-1627145 gallery-columns-2 gallery-size-large'><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/june-8\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1627150\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8.webp\" data-orig-size=\"825,550\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}\" data-image-title=\"June 8\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-300x200.webp\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8.webp\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1627150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8.webp 825w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-540x360.webp 540w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-338x225.webp 338w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-180x120.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-810x540.webp 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1627150'>\n\t\t\t\tNC celebrates graduates from the School of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences and School of Academic and Liberal Studies at the morning ceremony.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/june-8-vp\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1627149\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP.webp\" data-orig-size=\"825,550\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}\" data-image-title=\"June 8 VP\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-300x200.webp\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP.webp\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1627149\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP.webp 825w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-540x360.webp 540w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-338x225.webp 338w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-180x120.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-VP-810x540.webp 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1627149'>\n\t\t\t\tNC Vice-President Academic Dr. Fay Lim-Lambie applauds the new graduates from the podium, joined by the platform party.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/tara-gray\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1627151\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray.webp\" data-orig-size=\"825,550\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}\" data-image-title=\"Tara Gray\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-300x200.webp\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray.webp\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1627151\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray.webp 825w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-540x360.webp 540w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-338x225.webp 338w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-180x120.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Tara-Gray-810x540.webp 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1627151'>\n\t\t\t\tTara Gray is presented with the Dean’s Award from the School of Academic and Liberal Studies\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><dl class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<dt class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/june-8-president\/'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"1627148\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President.webp\" data-orig-size=\"825,550\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0","keywords":[]}\" data-image-title=\"June 8 President\" data-image-description=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-300x200.webp\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President.webp\" width=\"660\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President.webp\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" aria-describedby=\"gallery-1-1627148\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President.webp 825w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-300x200.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-768x512.webp 768w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-800x533.webp 800w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-540x360.webp 540w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-338x225.webp 338w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-180x120.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/June-8-President-810x540.webp 810w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 660px) 100vw, 660px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/dt>\n\t\t\t\t<dd class='wp-caption-text gallery-caption' id='gallery-1-1627148'>\n\t\t\t\t NC President Sean Kennedy addresses the Class of 2026 on day one of NC\u2019s Spring Convocation Ceremonies.\n\t\t\t\t<\/dd><\/dl><br style=\"clear: both\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>By the time Spring Convocation concludes on June13, NC will have conferred credentials on approximately 7,000 new graduates. Ceremonies will continue daily with ceremonies at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the Simplii Financial Centre at the Welland Campus.<\/p>\n<p>Highly anticipated for the week ahead include the presentation of the <strong>Governor General’s Bronze Academic Medal<\/strong> to Welland resident Alleeya Guthro (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/communityservices\/program\/recreation-therapy\/\">Recreation Therapy<\/a>) on June 9 (3 p.m. ceremony), and the <strong>Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal<\/strong> to St. Catharines resident Nashwa Higazy (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/business\/program\/ba-hons-human-resources\/\">Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources<\/a>) on June 12 (3 p.m. ceremony) – for the highest average in a diploma and degree program, respectively.<\/p>\n<p>On June 12 (3 p.m. ceremony) the College will present a <strong>Distinguished Alumni Award<\/strong> to Toronto resident Celeste Anderson, CEO and Co-founder of Digital Sports Administration Inc. Anderson is a graduate of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/hospitalityandtourism\/program\/tourism-management\/\">Tourism Management – Business Development<\/a>\u00a0program (class of 2020)<\/p>\n<p>On June 12 (10 a.m. ceremony), Lincoln resident Bob Martin, former General Manager of Martin Farms Ltd., will be presented with <strong>an Honorary Diploma in Environment and Horticulture<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>All ceremonies will be livestreamed and available for viewing on the College’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/enrolmentservices\/convocation\/\">Convocation website<\/a>. For a detailed list of programs graduating within each school and the full schedule, please visit the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/enrolmentservices\/convocation\/\">w.niagaracollege.ca\/enrolmentservices\/convocation<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h4><strong>Related:<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/blog\/2026\/06\/04\/six-days-7000-grads-nc-hosts-spring-convocation-june-8-13\/\">Six days, 7,000 grads: NC hosts Spring Convocation June 8-13<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The future of healthcare received a significant boost on June 8 as Niagara College launched its Spring Convocation. Hundreds of students crossed the stage to mark their transition from the classroom to the frontline of patient care. The morning ceremony celebrated 650 grads from School of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, and School of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":1627146,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8,296,15,22,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-update","category-my-college","category-myhal-school-of-nursing","category-school-of-academic-liberal-studies","category-school-of-allied-health","category-school-of-nursing-and-psw"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Future healthcare heroes take the stage as NC kicks off Spring Convocation | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Future healthcare heroes take the stage as NC kicks off Spring Convocation | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The future of healthcare received a significant boost on June 8 as Niagara College launched its Spring Convocation. Hundreds of students crossed the stage to mark their transition from the classroom to the frontline of patient care. The morning ceremony celebrated 650 grads from School of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, and School of […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/future-healthcare-heroes-take-the-stage-as-niagara-college-kicks-off-spring-convocation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/niagaracollege\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-08T20:08:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-08T20:31:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Monday-a.m.-lineup.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"825\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"550\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" 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Grad Success Story: Dean’s Award recipient Andie Gordon, Pharmacy Technician program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Born and raised in St. Catharines, Andie Gordon is graduating from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/healthsciences\/program\/pharmacy-technician\/\">Niagara College’s Pharmacy Technician program<\/a> as the Dean’s Award recipient for the School of Health Sciences with a 92.73 per cent average.<\/p>\n<p>After discovering a passion for pharmacology and the science behind medications, Andie decided to pursue a new career path in healthcare. Through classroom learning, community placements, and hands-on experience in a hospital setting, she developed the knowledge and skills needed to enter the profession.<\/p>\n<p>Today, she is working at the hospital where she completed her placement after successfully passing her licensing examinations. As she prepares celebrates convocation on June 8, Andie looks forward to continuing her career as a a hospital pharmacy technician while exploring the many opportunities available within her field.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What were you doing before attending NC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before NC, I graduated with my BscH of Geological Sciences from Queen’s University.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What led you to study at NC and to your program of study?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I drastically changed the trajectory of my career path due to taking pharmacology courses as electives during my time at Queen’s. These were some of my favourite courses and I knew it was something I wanted to be more involved with moving forward as it piqued my interest. Once graduating Queen’s, I remember logging onto my computer and scrolling through the NC program website. Once I saw the Pharmacy Technician program, I knew I had to apply for the upcoming fall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What interests you in \/ why are you passionate about your field of study?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am passionate about my field of study because it plays an important role in helping people feel better, no matter what their needs or circumstances. I am happy to play a part in their road to recovery. I also find medications and their mechanism of actions fascinating. I’ve always loved science and the human body, and being able to work in a field that highlights both feels so surreal. This deep interest and passion for pharmacy is the reason why I did so well in all my courses throughout my program. It made learning so easy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program. Did it change since you started?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When I first enrolled in my program, I only expected to be working in a community pharmacy setting, but since graduating, I have realized that there are so many different career opportunities I can take. I have yet to really explore these different options as I am still so new to working in this field, but I am glad to know they exist.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you find your program experience – any highlights?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My program experience was lovely. After coming from a university setting where class sizes were very large, it was nice coming to classes made up of 25-30 people. It made my learning experience better and allowed me to feel more confident in asking & answering questions. I also had a wonderful group of educators who ran the program and who played a huge role in my growing passion for this career.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did you work a placement or co-op as part of your program?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I did work in a few community placements, as well as a hospital placement during my program.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you feel your NC experience has helped prepare you for the future? (if so, please tell us how)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I strongly believe that my NC program experience prepared me for my future. They provided me with all of the tools, experience, and scenarios that I may encounter in my career, and I fully believe that this played a large role in me passing my licensing exams and getting hired from my placement<\/p>\n<p><strong>What have you been doing since you completed your studies at NC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since completing my studies, I wrote and completed all of my licensing exams and have become a Registered Pharmacy Technician.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What’s next for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I am currently working a job in my field. I got hired where I did my hospital placement. I worked as an intern while I waited for the results of my licensing exams and was eventually hired when I passed.<\/p>\n<p>I thoroughly enjoy my role as a hospital pharmacy technician, but I am open to exploring other job opportunities and roles that a pharmacy technician can work.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Born and raised in St. Catharines, Andie Gordon is graduating from Niagara College’s Pharmacy Technician program as the Dean’s Award recipient for the School of Health Sciences with a 92.73 per cent average. After discovering a passion for pharmacology and the science behind medications, Andie decided to pursue a new career path in healthcare. Through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627080,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,7,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627079","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation","category-my-people","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC Grad Success Story: Dean's Award recipient Andie Gordon, Pharmacy Technician program | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/nc-grad-success-story-deans-award-recipient-andie-gordon-pharmacy-technician-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC Grad Success Story: Dean's Award recipient Andie Gordon, Pharmacy Technician program | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Born and raised in St. Catharines, Andie Gordon is graduating from Niagara College’s Pharmacy Technician program as the Dean’s Award recipient for the School of Health Sciences with a 92.73 per cent average. 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Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean’s Award\u00a0recipient Scotty Poitras, Practical Nursing program\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A lifelong Niagara resident, Scotty\u00a0Poitras\u00a0is the Dean’s Award recipient for Niagara College’s\u00a0Myhal\u00a0School of Nursing, graduating with an impressive 93.56 per cent average. Before entering the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/rpn-practical-nursing\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Practical Nursing program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, he graduated from NC’s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/justiceandfitness\/program\/police-foundations\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Police Foundations program,<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0worked at a rehabilitation\u00a0facility, and\u00a0spent several years volunteering on a support line.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Inspired by a long-standing interest in biology and the natural world, Scotty pursued nursing\u00a0as a way to\u00a0combine his passion for science with a career dedicated to caring for others. Today, he is already working in the nursing field and continues to support patients at a rehabilitation facility, applying the knowledge and skills he gained through the program.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&A with Scotty Poitras<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What led you to study\u00a0at\u00a0NC and to your program of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I’ve\u00a0always been interested in biology and the natural world, and nursing felt like a good fit. Having previously attended NC, it was my first choice for the program.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How did you find your program experience? Any highlights?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I found the program to be\u00a0demanding,\u00a0however I really enjoyed it. Some of the most memorable moments were practicing skills with my peers and learning from professors who shared their clinical experiences.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Did you face and overcome any challenges to graduate?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes, gaining admission to the program was the biggest challenge.\u00a0I stepped away from high school for\u00a0a period of time, which affected my academic record.\u00a0After completing upgrading, I was accepted into the Practical Nursing program and performed well in my studies.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Did you\u00a0work\u00a0a placement or co-op as part of your program?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes, there were several clinical placements and one consolidating term. These were\u00a0very valuable\u00a0and helped bring together the skills learned throughout the program.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What have you been doing since you completed your studies at NC?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Since completing my studies, I have been working in the field of nursing and continue to work at a rehabilitation facility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A lifelong Niagara resident, Scotty\u00a0Poitras\u00a0is the Dean’s Award recipient for Niagara College’s\u00a0Myhal\u00a0School of Nursing, graduating with an impressive 93.56 per cent average. Before entering the\u00a0Practical Nursing program, he graduated from NC’s\u00a0Police Foundations program,\u00a0worked at a rehabilitation\u00a0facility, and\u00a0spent several years volunteering on a support line.\u00a0 Inspired by a long-standing interest in biology and the natural world, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627024,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[214,7,296,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627023","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation-spring-convocation-2022","category-my-people","category-myhal-school-of-nursing","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean's Award\u00a0recipient Scotty Poitras, Practical Nursing program\u00a0 | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/nc-grad-success-story-deans-award-recipient-scotty-poitras-practical-nursing-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean's Award\u00a0recipient Scotty Poitras, Practical Nursing program\u00a0 | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"A lifelong Niagara resident, Scotty\u00a0Poitras\u00a0is the Dean’s Award recipient for Niagara College’s\u00a0Myhal\u00a0School of Nursing, graduating with an impressive 93.56 per cent average. 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by family to pursue a new career in healthcare and helping others\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">St. Catharines resident Adrian Vicentini enrolled in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/psw-personal-support-worker\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Personal Support Worker (PSW)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0program at age 43, motivated by his wife’s experience following a severe car accident.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I decided to learn about how to care for others so that I could better care for my family,” he said. “I am passionate about my field of study because I can positively impact the lives of other people and help improve their quality of life.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vicentini’s placement in a long-term care home proved to be a turning point.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“When I went to my placement, I felt I could rely on the knowledge taught to me throughout the program to succeed. I was able to care for every resident in my unit with confidence while making a positive impact on their lives. I could not ask for a better PSW program; I felt over-prepared if anything,” he said<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I had many residents of the LTC home saying how much I would be missed and that they hoped I would be back to see them again … I knew right then that I had finally found my place in this world, and I knew I made the right decision to go back to school and pursue this career path.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Vicentini has already enrolled in the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/parttimestudies\/online\/programs\/nti\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Personal Support Worker to Practical Nursing Bridge<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0program – a new Nursing Transformation Initiative for working PSWs who wish to continue their studies toward qualifying to practice in Ontario as a Practical Nurse.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“Going back to school at 43 was a major decision, and I was incredibly nervous – I wasn’t sure what to expect or if I was still capable,” he said.” But with all the support, guidance, and encouragement I received, I’ve learned that anything is possible if you just try.”<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{"134233118":false,"201341983":0,"335559739":160,"335559740":276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Returning to school was about more than starting a new career, it was about supporting the people he loves.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">After his wife was seriously injured in a car accident and suffered extensive neck and back injuries, Adrian wanted to learn how to better care for his family. At 43 years old, he made the courageous decision to return to school and enroll in NC’s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/psw-personal-support-worker\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Personal Support Worker\u00a0(PSW)\u00a0program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What began\u00a0as a way to\u00a0better support his wife\u00a0quickly\u00a0evolved into something more. Through classroom learning, placements, and meaningful connections with residents, Adrian discovered a genuine passion for healthcare and helping others.\u00a0During his NC journey,\u00a0he\u00a0found a new sense of purpose\u00a0and realized he had found his place in the world.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now graduating from the PSW\u00a0program, Adrian has already enrolled in\u00a0NC’s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/psw%20to%20practical%20nursing%20bridge%20program\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">PSW to Practical Nursing bridge program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. His goal is to become a Registered Practical Nurse and potentially continue his studies toward becoming a Registered Nurse, allowing him to\u00a0further evolve his passion in the healthcare profession and\u00a0expand the support he can provide to others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“Going back to school at 43 was a major decision, and I was incredibly nervous\u00a0–\u00a0I wasn’t sure what to expect or if I was still capable,” said Adrian. “But with all the support, guidance, and encouragement I received,\u00a0I’ve\u00a0learned that anything is possible if you just try. Taking one step forward is\u00a0literally all\u00a0it took, and now I am miles away from where I started.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Adrian is grateful to his family and professors who helped him get to where he is today. He looks forward to celebrating his convocation on June 8 alongside his wife,\u00a0daughter\u00a0and\u00a0mother whose support made this achievement possible.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&A with Adrian Vicentini<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How do you feel about your upcoming convocation day and what does\u00a0it personally\u00a0mean to you?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Overall, I am filled with a sense of accomplishment and gratitude. I would not be graduating today without the unwavering support of my wife, Alicia, my mother, my college\u00a0professors\u00a0and peers. This achievement is a direct reflection of their encouragement, and I am sincerely grateful to all who contributed to my success.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What led you to study at Niagara College and your program of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">My wife was involved in a car accident.\u00a0She suffered extensive neck and back injuries, and I decided to learn about how to care for others so that I could better care for my family. I chose the Personal Support Worker program because\u00a0I felt that\u00a0best fit my responsibilities as a husband and a father.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What interests you in, or why are you passionate about, your field of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am passionate about my field of study because I can positively\u00a0impact\u00a0the lives of other people and help improve their quality of life.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Did you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program? Did it change since you started?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">My goal was to graduate as a Personal Support Worker, however, I did not realize how much I would enjoy the program and so I decided to enroll in the PSW to Practical Nurse\u00a0bridge course to further my studies in healthcare. My current goal is to become\u00a0an\u00a0Registered Practical Nurse (RPN), and then possibly bridge into\u00a0a Registered Nurse (RN).<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How did you find your program experience? Any highlights?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I loved all of it. A big highlight for me would be the professors who are incredibly supportive and want to see you succeed. I am truly thankful for everything they do.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What did you find rewarding about your program and area of study? Does something stand out to you that you will never forget about your time\u00a0at\u00a0NC?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The most rewarding part of the program was during my last day of consolidation. I had many residents of the\u00a0long-term care\u00a0home saying how much I would be missed and that they hoped I would be back to see them again.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It was a very emotional day for me because I knew right then that I had finally found my place in this world, and I knew I\u00a0made\u00a0the right decision to go back to school and pursue this career path.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you feel your NC experience has helped prepare you for the future?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I feel my NC experience has helped prepare me for the future. I thought the course was extensive, incredibly\u00a0detailed\u00a0and well-rounded. When I went to my\u00a0placement\u00a0I felt I could rely on the knowledge taught to me throughout the program to succeed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I was able to care for every resident in my unit with confidence while making a positive impact on their lives. I could not ask for a better PSW program. I felt over-prepared if\u00a0anything.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>St. Catharines resident Adrian Vicentini enrolled in the Personal Support Worker (PSW)\u00a0program at age 43, motivated by his wife’s experience following a severe car accident.\u00a0 “I decided to learn about how to care for others so that I could better care for my family,” he said. “I am passionate about my field of study because […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627022,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,7,296,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation","category-my-people","category-myhal-school-of-nursing","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is 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Grad Success Story: Marissa Matthews,\u00a0Personal Support Worker\u00a0program\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For Marissa Matthews, graduating from Niagara\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/nursing\/programs\/psw-personal-support-worker\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">College’s Personal Support Worker\u00a0(PSW)\u00a0program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0marks the beginning of a new chapter.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">After graduating from university in her early\u00a0twenties, Marissa found herself struggling with mental health challenges that changed the course of her life.\u00a0Returning to school years later required courage, determination, and\u00a0a belief\u00a0in herself. Through support from\u00a0the\u00a0government’s\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ontario.ca\/page\/better-jobs-ontario\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Better Jobs\u00a0Ontario\u00a0program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0and the welcoming environment she found at Niagara College, Marissa rediscovered her confidence and a passion for helping others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Throughout the program, she was drawn to the compassion-centered nature of personal support work and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. Her experiences, particularly in end-of-life care, have inspired\u00a0her\u00a0future\u00a0aspirations\u00a0of working in palliative care and one day becoming a death doula.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now graduating\u00a0on June 8, Marissa is proud of how far she has come and is eager to begin her career as a\u00a0PSW.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">“Graduating is recognition to myself that I’m capable of accomplishing hard things in life,” said Marissa.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&A with Marissa Matthews<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How do you feel about your upcoming\u00a0convocation\u00a0day? What does\u00a0it personally\u00a0mean to you?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It personally means a lot to me.\u00a0I’ve\u00a0overcome so much in my personal life and\u00a0with\u00a0my mental health to be here,\u00a0and\u00a0I’m\u00a0so\u00a0very proud\u00a0of myself\u00a0to be\u00a0able to graduate.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What were you doing before attending NC?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before this, in my early\u00a0twenties,\u00a0I graduated from Carleton\u00a0University,\u00a0but I landed\u00a0in\u00a0a deep depression and mental health spiral that lasted\u00a0for a while. Completing this\u00a0program is a part of\u00a0a\u00a0new chapter in my life where\u00a0I’m\u00a0strong and capable.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What led you to study\u00a0at\u00a0NC and to your program of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unemployment and the opportunity to take part in the\u00a0Better Jobs Ontario\u00a0program offered through the government is what got me here\u00a0and made it possible to afford school.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What interests you in \/ why are you passionate about your field of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am passionate about this field of work because I\u00a0truly believe\u00a0everyone deserves a certain level of care and dignity when\u00a0they’re\u00a0being treated. Even just cleaning someone up\u00a0properly and talking to them like they are\u00a0a human being\u00a0can change their\u00a0experience,\u00a0and I hope I can offer that going forward in my future jobs.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program? Did it change since you started?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">After\u00a0taking\u00a0an\u00a0End-of-Life\u00a0course, my perspectives have shifted and I hope to work in palliative care at some point in\u00a0the\u00a0future. Death is a very taboo subject in our society, and\u00a0not many\u00a0people are ready for the end, which is why I believe my compassion and skillset could be valuable\u00a0to people\u00a0during these\u00a0difficult times.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How did you find your program experience – any highlights?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">My program experience was wonderful.\u00a0Many\u00a0of my professors were a joy to\u00a0be taught\u00a0by\u00a0and I learned a lot from them even outside the classroom.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What did you find rewarding about your program \/ area of study? Does something stand out to you that you will never forget about your time\u00a0at\u00a0NC?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I believe that the level of care and compassion that our professors instilled in us will stay with me personally.\u00a0Learning to have a sense of\u00a0humour\u00a0was an important lesson\u00a0as well. I recall\u00a0in clinical lab,\u00a0Professor Powell would always make sure we were having fun while we were learning so that we\u00a0could\u00a0remember what\u00a0we’ve\u00a0practiced.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you feel your NC experience has helped prepare you for the future?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I believe the school\u00a0as a whole is\u00a0a very welcoming environment, and that the professors did\u00a0a great job at\u00a0keeping it real when it comes to our\u00a0profession,\u00a0which has helped prepare me for the future.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What have you been doing since you completed your studies at NC?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have been spending time with friends and family, celebrating my graduation, and before graduation I am taking a trip to Nova Scotia to visit some family to commemorate my accomplishments.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What’s\u00a0next for you?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I plan to have a job lined up for June, so I can start my PSW career as soon as possible!\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any other info you feel is important and would like to share?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the long term, one of my goals is to work for Hospice Niagara or in palliative care in some capacity. I would also like to take a death doula course and eventually open my own\u00a0business as a death doula so I can help people\u00a0maintain\u00a0dignity, comfort, and support during the final months of their lives.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For Marissa Matthews, graduating from Niagara\u00a0College’s Personal Support Worker\u00a0(PSW)\u00a0program\u00a0marks the beginning of a new chapter.\u00a0 After graduating from university in her early\u00a0twenties, Marissa found herself struggling with mental health challenges that changed the course of her life.\u00a0Returning to school years later required courage, determination, and\u00a0a belief\u00a0in herself. Through support from\u00a0the\u00a0government’s\u00a0Better Jobs\u00a0Ontario\u00a0program\u00a0and the welcoming environment she […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627020,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,7,296,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation","category-my-people","category-myhal-school-of-nursing","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC Grad Success Story: Marissa Matthews,\u00a0Personal Support Worker\u00a0program\u00a0 | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/nc-grad-success-story-marissa-matthews-personal-support-worker-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC Grad Success Story: Marissa Matthews,\u00a0Personal Support Worker\u00a0program\u00a0 | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"For Marissa Matthews, graduating from Niagara\u00a0College’s Personal Support Worker\u00a0(PSW)\u00a0program\u00a0marks the beginning of a new chapter.\u00a0 After graduating from university in her early\u00a0twenties, Marissa found herself struggling with mental health challenges that changed the course of her life.\u00a0Returning to school years later required courage, determination, and\u00a0a belief\u00a0in herself. 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Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean’s Award recipient\u00a0Tara Gray, General\u00a0Arts\u00a0and Science program\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NC graduate Tara Gray initially returned school to advance her career. After more than 15 years working in healthcare administration, she enrolled at NC to gain new skills and expand her opportunities. Along the way, she discovered a genuine passion for learning.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Originally from Niagara Falls, Tara has completed several programs at NC, including\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nc%20grad%20success%20story:%20Amna%20Ahmed\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Business<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/liberal\/program\/pre-community-services\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Pre-Community Services<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, and\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/business\/program\/office-administration-general\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Office Administration<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. Most recently, she pursued the\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/liberal\/program\/general-arts\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">General Arts and Science program<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, where she excelled academically and earned the Dean’s Award\u00a0for the School of Academic and Liberal Studies\u00a0with an exceptional 97.13 per cent average\u00a0for this Spring Convocation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">During her final semester, Tara welcomed a new baby while continuing her studies and maintaining outstanding grades, making her academic achievement even more admirable as she balanced her studies and motherhood.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As she prepares to celebrate convocation on June 8 alongside her fianc\u00e9, daughter and son, Tara reflects on her NC journey driven by curiosity, perseverance and a love of lifelong learning. This fall, she will continue her NC journey in the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/business\/program\/project-management\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Project Management graduate certificate program.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Q&A with Tara Gray<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">How do you feel about your upcoming convocation day, and what does\u00a0it personally\u00a0mean to you?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am looking forward to\u00a0convocation. It will be a meaningful opportunity to celebrate this accomplishment and reflect on everything that went into reaching this milestone.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do you have any guests in the audience who will be cheering you on?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes. My fianc\u00e9, daughter and son will be in the audience cheering me on. Their support has meant everything to me throughout my educational journey, and I truly could not have\u00a0accomplished\u00a0this without them.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What were you doing before attending Niagara College?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have worked in healthcare administration for more than 15 years. My\u00a0initial\u00a0goal in returning to school was to further my career by gaining\u00a0additional\u00a0education and skills. Over time, however, I discovered a genuine passion for learning and continued pursuing new educational opportunities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Prior to this program, I completed several programs at Niagara College, including Business, Pre-Community\u00a0Services\u00a0and Office Administration.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What led you to study at Niagara College and choose the General Arts and Science program?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I chose the General Arts and Science program because it gave me the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects that genuinely interested me. There were many courses and topics I wanted to learn about that were not tied to a specific career-focused program, and General Arts and Science allowed me the flexibility to pursue those interests.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I have always enjoyed learning, and this program gave me the chance to broaden my knowledge while continuing to challenge myself academically.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What interests you in, or why are you passionate about, your field of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What I enjoy most about learning is the opportunity to continuously grow and challenge myself. I find it incredibly rewarding to work hard, gain new\u00a0knowledge\u00a0and achieve strong results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Education has become something I genuinely love, and I am passionate about exploring different subjects and expanding my understanding of the world around me.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What did you find rewarding about your program and area of study?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One of the most rewarding aspects of the program was having the opportunity to explore a wide variety of subjects and topics that interested me. The flexibility of the program allowed me to learn for the sake of learning and continue expanding my knowledge.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Did you face and overcome any challenges to graduate?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Yes. One of my biggest challenges was balancing school with family responsibilities.\u00a0During my final semester, I gave birth and\u00a0was caring\u00a0for a newborn while completing my studies.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Although it was a demanding time, I\u00a0remained\u00a0committed to my education and continued working toward my goals. Being able to\u00a0maintain\u00a0excellent grades while managing these responsibilities is something I am extremely proud of, and it makes receiving this award even more meaningful.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What’s\u00a0next for you? Are you working toward a career goal or planning to pursue further education?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This September, I will be returning to Niagara College to begin the Project Management graduate certificate program.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I chose project management because I enjoy solving problems,\u00a0staying\u00a0organized\u00a0and helping things run smoothly. I like working toward clear goals and finding solutions when challenges arise. I believe the program will allow me to build on my business background while developing leadership and project coordination skills that can be applied across many industries.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">My goal is to build a fulfilling career in project management and apply the knowledge,\u00a0skills\u00a0and experiences I have gained throughout my education and professional career.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Any\u00a0final thoughts\u00a0you would like to share?<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">I am incredibly\u00a0honoured\u00a0to receive this award and grateful for the support I have received throughout my time at Niagara College. I look forward to continuing my educational journey and applying what I have learned to future opportunities.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NC graduate Tara Gray initially returned school to advance her career. After more than 15 years working in healthcare administration, she enrolled at NC to gain new skills and expand her opportunities. Along the way, she discovered a genuine passion for learning.\u00a0 Originally from Niagara Falls, Tara has completed several programs at NC, including\u00a0Business,\u00a0Pre-Community Services, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627018,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,7,15,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627017","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation","category-my-people","category-school-of-academic-liberal-studies","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean's Award recipient\u00a0Tara Gray, General\u00a0Arts\u00a0and Science program\u00a0 | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/nc-grad-success-story-deans-award-recipient-tara-gray-general-arts-and-science-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC Grad Success Story:\u00a0Dean's Award recipient\u00a0Tara Gray, General\u00a0Arts\u00a0and Science program\u00a0 | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"NC graduate Tara Gray initially returned school to advance her career. 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Grad Success Story: Amna Ahmed, Dental Hygiene Advanced Diploma program"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Amna Ahmed’s desire to work closely with people and make a meaningful impact in healthcare is what led her to NC and ultimately to a career in dental hygiene. After first completing NC’s Dental Assisting program, she returned to pursue the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/alliedhealth\/program\/dental-hygiene\/\">Dental Hygiene Advanced Diploma program<\/a>, building on the foundation that first introduced her to the dental world.<\/p>\n<p>From long clinic days and comprehensive evaluations to community outreach initiatives and leadership opportunities, she developed not only strong clinical skills but also a passion for patient education, oral health advocacy, and building meaningful connections with clients.<\/p>\n<p>Now working as a Registered Dental Hygienist in London, where she was born and raised, after successfully passing her board exam on her first attempt, Amna is continuing her educational journey. This fall, she will begin a Bachelor of Science program specializing in Dental Hygiene while continuing to grow professionally in the field she loves.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1627016 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651.webp\" alt=\"\" width=\"473\" height=\"355\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651.webp 733w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651-480x360.webp 480w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651-128x96.webp 128w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651-180x135.webp 180w, https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/IMG_6651-720x540.webp 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 473px) 100vw, 473px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>During her time at NC, Amna was also recognized with the Hu-Friedy Golden Scaler Award, a prestigious honour presented annually to one graduating student who demonstrates outstanding clinical skill, professionalism, attention to detail, and excellence in client care throughout the program.<\/p>\n<p>“It was a very proud moment for me and my family,” she said.<\/p>\n<p>Selection for the award is based on ongoing evaluations by faculty and clinical supervisors and recognizes students who consistently demonstrate a high level of competency in both clinical performance and patient care.<\/p>\n<p>“My experience at Niagara College has been truly meaningful and has played a major role in shaping both my personal and professional growth,” said Ahmed. “I am very grateful for the support I received from faculty, classmates, and the wider program community throughout my time there.<\/p>\n<p>As she prepares to celebrate convocation on June 8 alongside her family and friends, Amna reflects on a journey marked by perseverance, personal growth, and the support of the people who helped her reach this milestone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Q&A with Amna Ahmed<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>How do you feel about your upcoming convocation day, and what does it personally mean to you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Convocation feels incredibly meaningful to me because it represents years of hard work, personal growth, and perseverance. Dental hygiene school pushed me in so many ways academically, professionally, and personally.<\/p>\n<p>There were long clinic days, stressful exams, late nights studying, and moments where balancing everything felt overwhelming, but those experiences shaped me into a stronger and more confident person. This milestone means even more because of the journey behind it and the people who supported me along the way.<\/p>\n<p>Looking back at where I started compared to where I am now, I feel proud not only of graduating, but of the growth that happened throughout the entire experience.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you have any guests in the audience who will be cheering you on?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I’ll be celebrating this milestone with my mom, family, and closest friends, who have all supported me throughout this journey. My mom especially has always been there for me through every challenge and achievement, and I truly would not be where I am today without her support.<\/p>\n<p>It means so much to have the people closest to me there to celebrate this moment, and I’m also grateful that my family back home will be watching the livestream and sharing this special day with me.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What were you doing before attending Niagara College?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Before attending Niagara College, I had just graduated high school and was exploring my career options within healthcare. I knew I wanted a path where I could work closely with people and make a meaningful impact.<\/p>\n<p>I enrolled at Niagara College shortly after high school and began in the Dental Assisting program, which is what first introduced me to the dental field.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What led you to study at Niagara College and your program of study?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What first led me to Niagara College was my interest in healthcare and wanting a career where I could work closely with people and make a real difference. I originally enrolled in the Dental Assisting program, and I genuinely enjoyed my experience there.<\/p>\n<p>It was my first real introduction to the dental field, and I really appreciated the hands-on learning, the supportive environment, and the relationships I started building during that time.<\/p>\n<p>Coming back to Niagara College for Dental Hygiene felt like a natural next step for me. My experience in Dental Assisting confirmed that I wanted to stay in the dental field and continue growing. I enjoyed the environment, the people I met, and the foundation I had already started, which is what led me to return and further my education in Dental Hygiene.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What interests you in, or why are you passionate about, your field of study?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What I love most about dental hygiene is the balance between clinical care and meaningful client connection. It’s not just about treatment, but also about education, prevention, and helping people feel more confident in their oral health.<\/p>\n<p>Over time, I’ve become especially passionate about the patient interaction side of the profession. I really value being able to build trust with clients, help ease anxiety, and make dental visits a more positive experience for them.<\/p>\n<p>I’m also very interested in oral health education and the role dental hygienists play in overall health. Through my experiences at Niagara College, I’ve developed a stronger appreciation for community outreach and helping improve access to care and knowledge, especially for clients who may not have had the best dental experiences before.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How did you find your program experience? Any highlights?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>My program experience was definitely challenging, but also one of the most rewarding and important periods of my life. There was a lot to balance between clinic, coursework, exams, and personal life, but it pushed me to grow in ways I didn’t expect.<\/p>\n<p>One of the biggest highlights for me was the clinic, especially being able to finally apply what we were learning in a real client setting. I really enjoyed building relationships with patients over time and seeing the impact of client education and care in real-life situations.<\/p>\n<p>Another highlight was the people I met throughout the program. I built strong friendships with classmates that became such an important support system, especially during stressful times. I’m also very grateful for the faculty, who were incredibly supportive, knowledgeable, and truly invested in our success. Their guidance made a big difference in my experience and growth.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What did you find rewarding about your program and area of study? Does something stand out that you will never forget about your time at NC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the most rewarding parts of the program was seeing the real impact of patient care and education. Being able to help someone feel more confident about their oral health, or watching their progress over time, made everything we were learning feel really meaningful.<\/p>\n<p>What stands out most when I think back on my time at Niagara College is the relationships I built and how much I grew throughout the program. The friendships with classmates, the support from faculty, and even the really challenging moments all played a big role in shaping me.<\/p>\n<p>I don’t think I’ll ever forget the comprehensive evaluations in the first two terms. They were stressful at the time, but they really pushed us and set the tone for the rest of the program. Along with clinic days and exams, those experiences are what made everything eventually start to come together.<\/p>\n<p>It was a very intense journey, but one I look back on with a lot of gratitude.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Did you complete a placement as part of your program?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The program included extensive clinical placements that were a key part of our learning. Through these experiences, I had the opportunity to provide direct client care in a supervised clinical setting, allowing me to apply what I learned in the classroom to real-life situations.<\/p>\n<p>These placements were very valuable in helping me build my clinical skills, confidence, and professional communication. They also taught me how to adapt to different clients and situations, and how to provide patient-tailored care to each client’s needs while working in a fast-paced clinical environment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Were you involved in any clubs, teams, or extracurricular activities during your time at NC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>During my time at Niagara College, I was actively involved in community outreach and oral health promotion initiatives within the dental hygiene program.<\/p>\n<p>One of the main events I helped organize was a bowling fundraiser, which brought students together in a fun and competitive setting while supporting a meaningful cause.<\/p>\n<p>I also participated in activities for National Dental Hygienists Week, where we helped promote awareness about oral health and the important role dental hygienists play in prevention and overall health.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, I served as a class representative, which gave me the opportunity to act as a voice for my peers. In this role, I helped communicate feedback, raise student concerns, and work collaboratively with faculty to support a positive and productive learning environment.<\/p>\n<p>Overall, these experiences were very meaningful to me because they allowed me to be involved beyond the clinical setting and strengthened my interest in leadership, teamwork, and oral health advocacy in a practical and impactful way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Do you feel your NC experience has helped prepare you for the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Absolutely. My experience at Niagara College has played a major role in preparing me for my future as a dental hygienist. Beyond developing my clinical skills, it helped me build confidence, professionalism, and strong communication skills that are essential in practice.<\/p>\n<p>The program really taught me how to manage time effectively, stay organized under pressure, and adapt to different clinical situations while maintaining a client-centered approach. I also learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration, both with peers and faculty, which closely reflects real working environments.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What have you been doing since completing your studies at NC?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since completing my studies at Niagara College, I successfully wrote and passed my board exam on my first attempt in September and became registered by November.<\/p>\n<p>While waiting for my results, I had already secured a position and began working shortly after becoming registered with the CDHO. I have been working as a Registered Dental Hygienist in London, Ontario, and have really been enjoying my experience so far.<\/p>\n<p>It has been rewarding to finally apply the skills I developed during my studies in a real clinical setting and continue growing in the profession.<\/p>\n<p>More recently, I took some time to visit my family in Dubai and Egypt, as I had not seen them in quite a while, which was very meaningful for me. I have since returned to work and am continuing to build my experience as a dental hygienist.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What’s next for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue growing within the dental hygiene profession and further develop my clinical skills and experience in practice.<\/p>\n<p>I’ve also been accepted into a Bachelor of Science program specializing in Dental Hygiene, which I will be starting this fall. I’m really looking forward to continuing my education, expanding my knowledge, and building on the foundation I gained at Niagara College.<\/p>\n<p>My long-term goal is to keep growing both clinically and professionally, while staying involved in areas like client education and preventive care, which I’m very passionate about.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amna Ahmed’s desire to work closely with people and make a meaningful impact in healthcare is what led her to NC and ultimately to a career in dental hygiene. After first completing NC’s Dental Assisting program, she returned to pursue the Dental Hygiene Advanced Diploma program, building on the foundation that first introduced her to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1627015,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[198,7,22,300],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1627014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-convocation","category-my-people","category-school-of-allied-health","category-spring-2026-convocation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC Grad Success Story: Amna Ahmed, Dental Hygiene Advanced Diploma program | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/08\/nc-grad-success-story-amna-ahmed-dental-hygiene-advanced-diploma-program\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC Grad Success Story: Amna Ahmed, Dental Hygiene Advanced Diploma program | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Amna Ahmed’s desire to work closely with people and make a meaningful impact in healthcare is what led her to NC and ultimately to a career in dental hygiene. 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strengthens EV safety training for first responders, fire investigators"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Office of the Fire Marshal, and Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario took part in specialized electric vehicle (EV) safety training at Niagara College this spring.<\/p>\n<p>NC’s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/trades\/ev-training\/\">Alternative Fuel Safety<\/a> training program equips first responders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to safely respond to incidents involving electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered vehicles. The program, launched in 2025 thanks to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/blog\/2025\/08\/20\/rbc-foundation-helps-power-electric-vehicle-first-responders-training-program-at-niagara-college-with-450000-pledged-donation\/\">$450,000 commitment from RBC Foundation<\/a>, continues to strengthen emergency response preparedness across Ontario.<\/p>\n<p>NC’s Andrew Troyan, Motive Power Technologist, developed and led a customized, hands-on training course tailored to first responders and fire investigators to help them safely respond to EV-related incidents involving battery fires and toxic gases at collision scenes. The two-day training course helped responders understand the unique hazards associated with high-voltage EV systems.<\/p>\n<p>“Participants learned how to safely remove high-voltage batteries on a pickup truck and smaller passenger vehicle, identifying disconnect points and understanding how battery locations vary between vehicle models,” explained Troyan.<\/p>\n<p>Troyan had the help of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/trades\/program\/motive-power-automotive\/\">Motive Power<\/a> program student Bailey Melnychuk, who has been doing her co-op with NC. Melnychuk demonstrated a variety of scan tools for participants that are commonly used within the automotive industry to diagnose vehicle issues and view live data – tools her professors have strong emphasized in the classroom.<\/p>\n<p>“Diagnostic tools are especially important for first responders who need to quickly assess the status of the batteries when arriving at a scene involving an electric or hybrid vehicle,” said Melnychuk.<\/p>\n<p>Using knowledge from her electrical and scan tool courses, she answered first responders’ questions about how vehicles communicate with diagnostic tools.<\/p>\n<p>For Melnychuk of Airdrie, Alberta, moving to Niagara for school was a big part of the appeal, and her co-op helped her build community in a new place.<\/p>\n<p>“I just wanted to chase a dream I’ve had for a while and see where it takes me,” said Melnyhuk. “What better place than the Niagara Region, home to the unofficial Eighth Wonder of the World?”<\/p>\n<p>Some highlights of the program for Melnychuk have been the support from her instructors and representing women in the trades.<\/p>\n<p>“They treat students like family, and they want nothing but the best for us. No student is ever afraid to ask for help,” she said. “The automotive field is still very male-dominated, but it has been an honour to be part of the small group of women learning in the automotive garage and to help inspire young girls. I’ve had prospective students ask if the program is right for women, and I can honestly say it’s not only welcoming, but a place where you can be yourself.”<\/p>\n<p>While the training focused on emergency response and vehicle safety, Melnychuk has her sights set on a similarly fast-paced environment: a career in motorsports, be it in the pit-lane or behind the wheel of a high-performance vehicle.<\/p>\n<p>“I hope it will allow me to travel and see different parts of the world, that would be an absolute dream,” she said.<\/p>\n<p>Melnychuk says that even in motorsports, high-performance EV’s are beginning to gain traction. Understanding the risks associated with EVs is becoming increasingly important.<\/p>\n<p>“There most certainly is a connection between the two,” said Melnychuk, referring to EV safety and motorsports. “The racing class of F1 has begun to test out all electric formula cars. Understanding how electric vehicles work and the dangers behind them is important not just for mechanics, but for everyone else within the race team, and for those who work on the track, from standby medics, engineers, and even the driver themselves.”<\/p>\n<p>For more on NC’s Alternative Fuel Safety Training, visit:<a href=\"http:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/trades\/ev-training\"> niagaracollege.ca\/trades\/ev-training<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Office of the Fire Marshal, and Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario took part in specialized electric vehicle (EV) safety training at Niagara College this spring. NC’s Alternative Fuel Safety training program equips first responders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to safely respond to incidents involving […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":141,"featured_media":1625402,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,165,36,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1625401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-update","category-community","category-foundation-and-alumni-relations","category-school-of-trades"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>NC strengthens EV safety training for first responders, fire investigators | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/05\/nc-strengthens-ev-safety-training-for-first-responders-fire-investigators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"NC strengthens EV safety training for first responders, fire investigators | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Members of the Ontario Provincial Police, Office of the Fire Marshal, and Office of the Chief Coroner of Ontario took part in specialized electric vehicle (EV) safety training at Niagara College this spring. NC’s Alternative Fuel Safety training program equips first responders with the knowledge and practical skills needed to safely respond to incidents involving […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/05\/nc-strengthens-ev-safety-training-for-first-responders-fire-investigators\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/niagaracollege\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-05T18:14:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-06-05T18:23:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/1774535772341.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"733\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"550\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" 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strengthens EV safety training for first responders, fire investigators"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/","name":"InsideNC","description":"Staff news from Niagara College","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/#\/schema\/person\/caeb94ab08b059c08bb049373f01419d","name":"Jessica Torok"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1625401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/141"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1625401"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1625401\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1625402"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1625401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1625401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1625401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}},{"id":1625335,"date":"2026-06-05T10:30:33","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:30:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/?p=1625335"},"modified":"2026-06-05T10:30:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:30:33","slug":"bruce-trail-conservancy-magazine-nc-alumni-led-bat-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/05\/bruce-trail-conservancy-magazine-nc-alumni-led-bat-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine: NC alumni-led bat research"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"96\" data-end=\"339\"><em data-start=\"96\" data-end=\"130\">Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine<\/em> featured research conducted by NC Ecosystem Restoration alumni, highlighting a year-long project focused on monitoring bat populations on the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"341\" data-end=\"802\">The article profiled alumni Maggie Annett and Topaz Goold, who expanded upon NC’s twelve-year bat monitoring program by studying the use of acoustic monitoring technology to detect and identify bat species in the area. Using specialized recording equipment installed along the Bruce Trail’s Wetland Ridge Side Trail, the project captured ultrasonic bat calls to help researchers better understand the presence and behaviour of local bat populations.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"804\" data-end=\"1192\">The article highlights NC’s commitment to applied environmental learning, providing students with hands-on experience in ecological monitoring while supporting research on endangered species and biodiversity in the region.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1194\" data-end=\"1281\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Read the article in the Spring\/Summer 2026 issue of <em data-start=\"1246\" data-end=\"1280\">Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/Pg-18-ER-Students-Bat-Research-Article-in-Bruce-Trail-Conservancy-Magazine-Spring26-1.pdf\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine featured research conducted by NC Ecosystem Restoration alumni, highlighting a year-long project focused on monitoring bat populations on the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The article profiled alumni Maggie Annett and Topaz Goold, who expanded upon NC’s twelve-year bat monitoring program by studying the use of acoustic monitoring technology […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":229,"featured_media":1625336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1625335","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-media-coverage"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine: NC alumni-led bat research | InsideNC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/05\/bruce-trail-conservancy-magazine-nc-alumni-led-bat-research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine: NC alumni-led bat research | InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Bruce Trail Conservancy Magazine featured research conducted by NC Ecosystem Restoration alumni, highlighting a year-long project focused on monitoring bat populations on the College’s Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The article profiled alumni Maggie Annett and Topaz Goold, who expanded upon NC’s twelve-year bat monitoring program by studying the use of acoustic monitoring technology […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/2026\/06\/05\/bruce-trail-conservancy-magazine-nc-alumni-led-bat-research\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"InsideNC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/niagaracollege\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-06-05T14:30:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.niagaracollege.ca\/insidenc\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/53\/2026\/06\/cropped-logo-copy.webp\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"710\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"177\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/webp\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Alyssa Milana\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" 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