Graduates of all Selkirk College programs came together on the Castlegar Campus in late-May to celebrate and take bold steps forward into the future.
Convocation 2024 included two different ceremonies with 355 graduates crossing the stage to the enthusiastic cheers of family and friends. In total, 1,033 students received a credential this year in programs that range from arts to trades, health care to business and university transfer to hospitality.
“My message to all of you today is to take what you’ve learned at Selkirk College and use it to help create a better future for all of us and the natural world that we live in,” said Class of 2024 co-valedictorian Holly Macris, a graduate of the Recreation, Fish & Wildlife Technology Program. “We have come together from a range of backgrounds to learn on this land and are now heading out into the world with the opportunity to share what it has taught us.”
Macris addressed students in the afternoon ceremony, while Contemporary Music & Technology Program Jay Porteous held the honour of sending off the Class of 2024 in the morning event. The co-valedictorian’s speech included a terrific ode to her time at college that was told through an original song accompanied by her guitar chops.
Graduates in both ceremonies were led into the Castlegar Campus gymnasium venue by Indigenous drummers who represented both Selkirk College and community members.
“This is the moment where all of your dedication and perseverance come together,” Selkirk College President Maggie Matear told assembled graduates. “You’ve studied and researched and practiced and pushed the boundaries of your comfort zones to learn and apply new ideas. You, and often your families, have made sacrifices to be here, overcoming challenges that have enabled you to become the accomplished person you are today. You should all be so very proud of yourselves.”
Selkirk College offers more than 80 nationally recognized programs, small class sizes, affordable tuition, hands-on learning, extensive transfer agreements and comprehensive services. A foundation of regional post-secondary education, the college first opened its doors in 1966 and has been graduating career-ready learners into the workforce ever since.
Margaret Sutherland, chair of the Selkirk College Board of Governors, added her congratulations on the outstanding achievement at Convocation 2024.
“Graduates of every program represented today make integral contributions in every corner of our communities,” Sutherland said. “The individual stories all of you hold, add vital depth to the narrative we all go through together. We are bound by what this place gives and what you all take with you into the future.”
The event was made possible through months of planning and the 75 Convocation Ambassadors from all different areas of the college who volunteered their time to make the day special for the Class of 2024.
Now Selkirk College alumni, the graduates will utilize their post-secondary knowledge and training in a wide variety of sectors.
“You are the future leaders, innovators and change-makers that we need in our world,” said President Matear. “I encourage you to use your education and your talents to make a positive impact on your community. Whether you've chosen a career in the arts, in welding, forestry, healthcare or any other field, you have the power to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. You’ve grown both intellectually and personally, and I have no doubt that you’re ready to take on the world.”
