Students
Meet Mariah Perry
November 19, 2020
Tell us your full name! Mariah Perry What did you study at OC? I took the Practical Nursing Diploma program in Kelowna and graduated in June of 2019. What did you enjoy most about your program? There were so many things I loved about the Practical Nursing program. I loved how fast it was. It took just less than two years to complete and it was very reassuring knowing that once I graduated there were so many job opportunities out there that I could start right away. I was ver...
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Pizza over procrastination: OC students power through deadlines together during annual event
November 19, 2020
Long Night Against Procrastination is back – even with the pizza – and all from the comfort of home. An AV rite of passage, Long Night Against Procrastination has helped countless students kick procrastination to the curb and get assignments in on time. In recent years, the popular Penticton event had spread to multiple campuses, as students converged on campus for a late-night cram session, surrounded by faculty, librarians and Success Centre coordinators who would help with final assignments, papers and projects due at the...
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Mature student hits the books after writing a book
November 17, 2020
YouTuber and mental health advocate Mare McHale turns to AV for transfer studies Every challenge presents opportunity. For Penticton student Mare McHale, returning to school last September was yet another twist in 2020 that she hadn’t planned, but also an opportunity to invest in her future. “So much has changed this year, but having time at home means reflecting on where our family could be after the pandemic passes. In that lens, going back to class just made sense,” she explains. “When I was taking those first steps of a...
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Celebrating diversity with virtual Diwali and International AV Week
November 10, 2020
Cooking, dancing, photography and crafts: world cultures will be in the spotlight starting Friday, as AV celebrates its diverse cultural makeup. OC students are invited to take part in the Virtual Celebration of Diwali on Nov. 13, followed by online International AV Week activities from Nov. 16 to 20. International AV Week is an annual celebration of the importance of international education and exchange programs. Celebrated by over 100 countries, OC community members and students share intercultural experienc...
Read more...RBC, local experts offer up virtual financial advice for students
November 6, 2020
AV trades students will have a unique opportunity later this month to ask questions of local experts and learn how they can build a strong financial foundation. Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) is hosting Business Planning for Trades, a virtual panel discussion geared toward students currently training for a career in the trades at the College. Panelists include: Jason Williamson, Commercial Account Manager with RBC (previously a small business account manager and has worked with clients through all stages of their business) ...
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College offers additional training for in-demand healthcare roles
November 5, 2020
Future students can explore these and other programs at Virtual Open House on Sunday, Nov. 8 If you think hand washing and keeping surfaces sanitized is a lot of work, talk to a medical device reprocessing technician. For individuals in this crucial role, it is a full-time job – one that keeps our hospitals and health care system functioning. AV is responding to the critical need for healthcare professionals with several additional program offerings this winter. One of these programs being explored is a January intake of ...
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OC Mechanical Engineering students making Halloween safer with 3D printing
October 29, 2020
With Halloween quickly approaching, three AV Mechanical Engineering students are manufacturing a safe way for people to still partake in trick-or-treating. Enter Trick-or-Treat Bowls. An innovative solution, the tools are 3D printed with a small tray-like bowl and attach to any standard broom handle. The idea is that candy can be placed in the bowl and extended to the treat-seeker, providing a socially distanced way to trick-or-treat. “With Halloween coming up, we wanted to provide something that could be fun for the kids wh...
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Student has clear vision to graduate as Health Care Assistant
October 27, 2020
Fifty-two-year-old Jacquie Thom can feel victorious as she graduates as a Health Care Assistant (HCA) from AV this month. Thom is legally blind and was born with an eye condition called coloboma. She describes her vision as blurry and like seeing through a tunnel. Yet despite her vision impairment, she was inspired to pursue a career caring for the elderly after taking care of her parents when they were palliative. “Supporting my parents showed me that it is such an honour to help someone through that period of time just bef...
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Athabasca University President to replace Hamilton at AV
October 22, 2020
Dr. Neil Fassina, an experienced and respected leader in post-secondary education, is going to be taking over the helm of AV when current President Jim Hamilton retires in 2021. “After a search that drew candidates from around the world, AV’s Board of Governors has selected a Canadian educator who has balanced classroom experience with leadership experience to lead AV into the next stage of its evolution and growth,” announced Gloria Morgan, Chair of AV’s Board of Governors. “Dr. Fass...
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AV Water Engineering Technology students recognized
October 21, 2020
Three AV students were honoured recently by Environmental Operators Certification Program (EOCP) with the organization’s annual Outstanding Student Awards. Presented to students who have displayed distinctive leadership and meritorious service in the water and wastewater industry, the award, which includes a cash prize, was disbursed in early October to Ruben Kubbenga, Daniel Soroka and Peter Wilson. All three students are enrolled in the Water Engineering Technology Diploma program at the College’s Kelowna campus and have se...
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Textbook project celebrated during Open Access Week
October 20, 2020
Students at AV have many reasons to celebrate Open Access Week – more than a million in fact. Since 2013, access to open education resources (OERs) and free access e-texts through the College’s library has saved students more than $1 million and that number continues to pick up the pace with each semester. A new OER developed by Okanagan School of Business Professor Michael Orwick is just one of those resources that is enhancing access to information and improving student outcomes, all while saving students money. “We used ...
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College hosting region-wide virtual open house
October 16, 2020
Participants eligible for $5,000 tuition giveaway While the pandemic means prospective students can’t stop by to explore campuses physically this fall, AV is pulling out all the stops to host an interactive virtual open house to ensure students can still get questions answered. On Sunday, Nov. 8, from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., future students, parents, high school counsellors and anyone looking to learn more about the College and its programs will have a chance to experience OC from the comfort of home. All those interested can...
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TD invests in health care equipment for students
October 15, 2020
A gift from TD Bank will ensure students entering health care professions are practising on state-of-the-art equipment. TD is donating $15,000 to AV’s Our Students, Your Health campaign towards a new Health Sciences Centre on the Kelowna campus. The gift will support new equipment for the nursing lab, which will be used by future Practical Nurses, Registered Nurses and Health Care Assistants. “Part of creating better health outcomes for patients is to provide aspiring health care professionals with the right training, tools,...
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Students thankful for new laptops
October 9, 2020
A donation from Staples Kelowna is helping AV students succeed in an online learning environment. In September, Staples donated laptops to eight students who do not have access to the technology needed to successfully participate and complete their programs online. Bree Edler was one of the recipients to receive a new Asus computer. “I’m in shock. I’ve never received anything like this before so I feel very fortunate,” says Edler. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edler was a travel agent. With international travel ground t...
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Meet Ruby Pahtayken
October 7, 2020
What is your full name? Ruby Denise Pahtayken, kîhew Iskwēw- ᑭᐦᐁᐤ ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ. What program are you enrolled in at AV? Culinary Arts, currently in Professional Cook Level 2 for 2020. Where is your hometown? Onion Lake Cree Nation, Saskatchewan. Wîhcêkaskosîwî - Sâkahikanihk What brought you to OC? Why did you come to Kelowna to study? In pursuing my culinary career, I moved to Kelowna. I love that I come from the beautiful Cree plains and moved to a different t...
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Co-op Q&A with Salmon Arm Economic Development Society’s Lana Fitt
October 5, 2020
Meet Lana Fitt, the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society’s Economic Development Manager. In partnership with the College’s Salmon Arm campus, SAEDS hired three OC students over the summer of 2020, aiding a new initiative called the Digital Transitions Program. AV sat down with Fitt to hear her perspective as Manager and having students take part in Co-op education with SAEDS as well as the launch of the Digital Transitions Program in Salmon Arm.. AV...
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