Posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2022
As we prepare for the upcoming Fall Convocation, we are pleased to introduce our valedictorians who
will be speaking to their respective classes during their ceremonies.
Today, we feature Dana Zeyl — graduate of the Algonquin Centre for Construction Excellence’s Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Technician program.
What is your favourite memory from your time at Algonquin College?
My favourite memory from my time at Algonquin College was being given the opportunity to assist in installing a new furnace in the lab to gain some extra experience outside of class. My professors were always willing to give students who were eager to learn opportunities to expand their knowledge in their trade.
How did COVID-19 impact your life and/or studies during your time as a student?
Luckily, because of the hands-on nature of my program, a lot of my courses were still in person despite COVID-19. My classmates and I were still able to get a semi-traditional college experience: I was able to make friends and connections with other people passionate about their studies and the HVAC trade, people that I can remain in touch with over the years and support and encourage in their careers. Read more >
Posted on Friday, October 14th, 2022
On Wednesday, Oct. 12, several students from Algonquin College attended the finals of the first-ever Discover Technata Hacks. Over the course of three weeks, students from the University of Ottawa, Carleton University and Algonquin College went head-to-head in a competition aimed at leveraging the talent our learners bring to solve real-world problems.
For the inaugural event, Ericsson, a world leader in information and communication technology, challenged student teams to find ways to reduce water and electricity waste using the power of smart devices and 5G technology.
Algonquin College was well represented by students from across the College in programs such as Computer Programming, Electrical Engineering Technician, and Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Centred Design. “Events like this that create opportunities for our students to engage with industry are so important to our program,” said Jed Looker, Program Coordinator for Interdisciplinary Studies in Human-Centred Design. “They really help students make first-hand, tangible connections between what we teach and what the industry needs. It’s also so important to see industry partners actively engaging with our learners in a forum that allows them see our students’ skills put to work.”
The evening opened with an address from Terry Matthews, founder of Mitel and chairman of Wesley Clover who spoke at length about the importance of building a strong team and creating a culture where every member of the team can make a meaningful contribution. This sentiment was echoed by David Cronier, a member of the second-place finishing team, Hello World. “Before we started this challenge, I believed that I had to learn everything myself and to be good at every part of a project for it to be successful. Thanks to this experience, I’ve learned that I can work with a team like this one to share the load. I think I’ve found a great team and I’m really looking forward to doing more with them in the future.”
Representing Algonquin College on the judging panel was Katherine Root, Acting Dean for the School of Business. “I am very impressed to see what our learners were able to do in such a short period of time. Teams had only three weeks in which to come up with a creative solution to a real-world problem, develop a proposal and pitch their concept to a room full of industry professionals and academic leaders. They represented their programs and the college very well. “ Katherine also commented on the connections these students were able to make at the competition. “It was great to see representatives from companies like Nokia reaching out to our learners to offer guidance and mentorship. Algonquin is pleased to be part of the Hub350 ecosystem.”
After a well-contested final pitch session, a team made up of four first-year Computer Programming students took second place and an inter-institutional team including two students from Algonquin College came in third. Both teams proposed solutions to the water waste issue involving smart sensors that could be placed along water intake lines and would send real-time data to a connected app, alerting users to their water consumption and suggest ways to reduce intake.
Posted on Wednesday, October 12th, 2022
As we prepare for the upcoming Fall Convocation, we are pleased to highlight our valedictorians who will
be speaking to their respective classes during their ceremonies.
Today, we feature Koralie Beaudoin — graduate of the School of Hospitality and Tourism’s Esthetician program,
What is your favourite memory from your time at Algonquin College?
I have a lot of dear memories from my time at the College, but my favorite one is of the friendships I built and developed with my now four best friends. If not for this program, I would not have met these four wonderful women. It was uplifting to find this group of individuals who loved the program as much as I did. We supported each other in our studies and shared many activities in and outside of the program. This made my experience at Algonquin College that much better.
How did COVID-19 impact your life and/or studies during your time as a student?
I think I speak for everyone when I say that COVID-19 was a challenge for everyone at Algonquin College. During our first two semesters we had our labs in-person, while wearing full PPE to protect each other — not the best learning situation. Our industry is about caring for others and being able to treat and touch others. That was very difficult to do at times when we had to keep masks on for facials and all other treatments. Our theory classes were all over Zoom, but our professors did their absolute best to ensure our learning outcomes were met. It definitely impacted our first two terms. But for our last term, we got lucky and everything was in-person and we got to experience some form of normalcy before leaving Algonquin College. It was difficult at times but we made the best of it.
What made your experience at Algonquin College authentic?
What made my experience at Algonquin College authentic were the dynamics shared between myself, the other students and the professors. The students in the labs were all nice individuals, which definitely made the learning process easier to go through as we all really became good friends throughout the semester. It was evident that everyone wanted the best for everyone and the teachers only wanted all of us to succeed. The teachers were very supportive and really wanted us to succeed as professionals out in the industry.
Did a professor or facilitator have an extraordinarily positive impact on your studies, or even your life?
All my teachers had a positive impact on my studies. During the last two terms, in labs and also theory courses I had the opportunity to be taught by Professor Christina Hunter — Christina really is the teacher that grew my love for esthetics, specifically skincare. She let us have control over our learnings and the treatments we provided to our clients and classmates. Christina was very honest with us and she let us really be creative and did the most to achieve our learning outcomes, I was very lucky to have her as a teacher.
What does being named Valedictorian mean to you?
For me, being Valedictorian is truly an honour. It confirms that my hard work paid off during my studies, and that I am on the right path when it comes to my career. I am the type of student that needs to love what I am learning to be invested in my studies. And this was definitely confirmed during my time in the esthetics program as I truly enjoyed all the classes.
What advice do you have for your fellow graduates?
My advice would be to never stop learning and to not be afraid to take risks. Taking risks is what often makes a successful career. Staying in your comfort zone will only hold you back from what could be something so rewarding not only for your personal life but also for your career path. My advice would also be to stay in touch with each other. Esthetics is an ever evolving industry and we can learn so much from each other. Definitely keep in touch!
What advice do you have for future students?
My advice for future students is to work hard, but also, to enjoy your time as a student at the College. Algonquin College has so much to offer. My advice is to make the connections from the start with your teachers. They are there to look out for you and they do have your best interest at heart. Be open with them, ask them for help when you need it and I promise that this will help you develop your abilities to become the most productive and successful professional that you can be for your industry.
More information about the Algonquin College Fall 2022 Convocation ceremonies can be found here.
will be speaking to their respective classes during their ceremonies. 