Graduating with my Social Service Worker diploma while working full time at the college. The energy on campus when we held the fundraiser for The Power of Pink for Breast Cancer. The recent return of campus wide PD day in June.  The speakers and sessions were very inspiring and the lunch was incredible.  I have worked at Convocation as a volunteer for many, many years.  It is the most exciting time for students and I love seeing all the students who have been successful.  I also get many hugs that day from students I have worked with.  Truly an amazing time.

I met some lifelong friends during my time as a student and staff member at Durham College.

There were so many incredible events but I always cherished the Awards and Graduation ceremonies. It was always an incredible honour to shake the hand of each and every graduate in attendance knowing that they worked diligently with the support of friends and family to meet the very high standards of Durham College faculty. I loved watching students hugging their professors as they exited the stage, huge smiles on faces and a genuine care and concern for every student’s success was always evident. The bag pipes being played were always such a lovely touch.

I was vice-president of the founding board and participated in getting things started. Setting up an office, buying the present site from Mr. E P Taylor, hiring the first president, Gordon Wiley, buying the mobile classrooms for the first year; etc.

The grand opening of recent building additions, such as the Student Centre, Whitby Phase 2 and 3, and the W. Galen Weston Centre for Food.

Playing sports with my classmates on class breaks. Football anywhere outside, baseball on the diamond, volleyball in the gym, a few of us even made a dodgeball team for intramurals. Other best memories are the Mandarin lunches when we’d get out of class early and drive to the Mandarin restaurant for a long lunch and try all the different foods. My fondest memories though are the people. Being in sports management, most of us had been jocks in high school (not me), so we were all cocky and confident and always trying to out-do each other, but we were the best of friends.

As a student of the Food and Drug Technology program from 1976 through 1979, the college was much smaller in size. I would consider that the smaller atmosphere made for smaller classes and a closer, tighter knit group. Great rapport within our classes, with teachers, and with others throughout the college. It was great to participate in a work program during the break week and literally have a career upon graduation.

As part of the initial 200 students in 1967 I remember those three years as some of the best years of my life. The bed races, the Par 3 (and Par 4) performances in the student lounge, the tie burnings, and some of the best professors you could ask for. Frank Benn and James T. Walker come to mind as my favourites.

Working in Outreach Services, walking and talking with my professor after class, staying up late in the computer lab then taking a nap and then finishing my assignments…

Although a mature student, my time at Durham College was when I felt I grew the most. Not only did I gain knowledge in my chosen field of study, but I learned about myself.  Durham College afforded me the opportunity to develop my leadership skills and contribute to society as a whole.