Confederation College Graduates Over 2100 Students in 2021

THUNDER BAY, ON, June 4, 2021 – Through a Virtual Convocation ceremony held Friday, Confederation College celebrated over 2100 graduates from the Class of 2021 who received certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas. The ceremony also honoured the Class of 2020, which included over 1800 graduates. 

Like the College’s standard Convocation ceremony, the virtual event provided an opportunity for graduates and their families and friends, alongside Confederation College faculty, staff and community partners, to gather in recognition of this significant educational milestone.

Confederation College President Kathleen Lynch, presided over the ceremony. “While we wish we could honour our graduates’ success in person, with ongoing restrictions, replacing our in-person ceremony for both graduating classes with a Virtual Convocation was the next best thing,” said Lynch. “Our graduates have overcome significant challenges to finish their program and earn their credential and we are incredibly proud of the courage and resolve they have demonstrated to arrive at this important day. We know their collective impact will be long-lasting and are honoured to have a played a role in their journeys.”

Graduates demonstrating leadership, resiliency, impressive character and/or academic excellence, who have made a contribution to the College community, were selected across Confederation’s campuses and three academic schools. These graduates are examples of student success, proudly representing the Class of 2021 (see backgrounder).

The Governor General’s Academic Medal recipient was announced during the virtual ceremony, awarded to the student who has achieved the highest academic standing at the College in the final year of a diploma level post-secondary program earning an average of 80% or better.  

The recipient of the Governor General’s Award for 2021 is Shaun Martin, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA from the two-year Business – Accounting program. Martin was also awarded the Academic Award of Excellence for his program, the President’s Award of Excellence for the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts, and the Derek and Joan Burney Award of Excellence.

The SUCCI/OASA Student Leadership Award was presented to Luisa Di Biagio, a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, is a positive role model and has effected change. Di Biagio graduated from the two-year Developmental Services Worker program (see backgrounder).

Other top award recipients include:

• Stella Idogho, International Business Management – Board of Governors’ Achievement Award for the School of Business, Hospitality and Media Arts (see backgrounder)
• Monika Makinen, Forestry Technician: Ecosystem Management – President’s Award of Excellence for the School of Engineering Technology, Trades and Aviation
• Katie Robinson, Early Childhood Education – President’s Award of Excellence for the School of Health, Negahneewin and Community Services
• Ngyen Nhu Phuong (Fiona) Vo, Developmental Services Worker – Board of Governors’ Achievement Award for the School of Health, Negahneewin and Community Services
• Matthew Yaschuk, Welding Techniques – Board of Governors’ Achievement Award for the School of Engineering Technology, Trades and Aviation

The Virtual Convocation ceremony and full list of graduates can be viewed at www.confederationcollege.ca/convocation.

An on-campus media opportunity was provided following COVID-19 safety protocols. Photos from that event are below:

-30-

Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has eight regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout, Red Lake and Wawa, as well as a growing Distance Education division. 

Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 7,000 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $707.3 million annually.

For more information, please contact:

Katherine Brooks, Communications Officer
Cell: (807) 632-5680, E-mail: [email protected]