Andrew Neary, a dedicated and passionate journalism student at Durham College (DC), has recently been recognized with three impressive awards, spanning from national recognition for his dedication to work-integrated learning to campus acknowledgment of his academic success. The recognitions include the 2023 as Experiential & Work-Integrated Learning Ontario (EWO) Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) Student of the Year for the College category, the Co-operative Education & Work-Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada Emery-Dufault Student of the Year 2023 Award, as well as DC’s Alumni Association Scholarship for Academic Excellence for his first year of study in DC’s Journalism – Mass Media program.

Neary was notified of all three awards within the span of a week while finishing a Faculty-led Classroom Abroad trip in Guatemala.

“We had a seven hour bus ride into the mountains and halfway through we stopped at a restaurant, and right before we were getting back on the bus, Danielle (Harder), got an email saying that I had gotten the EWO WIL Student of the Year award – and that was wild – and then on our last day in the community she got another email saying I had gotten the CEWIL Student of the Year award,” Neary recalls. “It was just this amazing vibe, and as soon as I got home, I found out I had gotten the Alumni Scholarship as well for my program, and I just thought to myself, what is happening right now?”

Neary’s recognition as EWO WIL Student of the Year is a testament to his outstanding performance and commitment to work-integrated learning through his dedication and achievements in blending theoretical knowledge with practical experience. And for those who know him, it comes as no surprise that Andrew’s significant contributions to experiential learning initiatives within the local community and his commitment to professional growth and development landed him the CEWIL Emery-Dufault Student of the Year Award.

Neary shared how DC’s Journalism – Mass Media program taught him about photography, which led to many of these opportunities.

“My CEWIL experience over the summer last year was doing a lot of photo and video work, and before starting the program I hadn’t even touched a DSLR camera before,” he says. “And because of that, I started a personal photo-video company that I received a grant for last summer that has helped me work on and pay for things for school and my personal life, all because of the skillset developed in my program but also because of these work-integrated learning opportunities.”

Neary’s active involvement in three work-integrated learning initiatives provided him the opportunity to film and document City of Oshawa firefighter trainings.

The first was a MITACS project through DC’s Experiential Learning Hub and in collaboration with the Social Impact Hub, that created a virtual reality simulation to safely train firefighters under extreme search and rescue circumstances. Plus, two simultaneous CEWIL projects with the same group members that included documenting the impact breathing control exercises have on trauma recovery for firefighters, as well as highlighting the recovery time after a firefighter undergoes strenuous activities by monitoring body responses such as heart rate.

Neary also worked on EnactusDC’s Founders Drive, a CEWIL project led by Danielle Harder, a Professor and Program Coordinator for DC’s Faculty of Media, Art and Design. She commended Andrew’s commitment to embracing every opportunity offered to him.

“Andrew has made college happen for him rather than to him. He is first and foremost a kind and caring person, whether he is supporting a classmate or just being a good global citizen concerned with amplifying the voices of those who need uplifting,” she says.

Having the ability to use his photography skills all summer as a work-study student, and working on the CEWIL projects is how Neary said he learned the skills to be a photographer. He also credits the hands-on experience he gained to helping him secure an upcoming internship.

“I’m about to do an internship with the CBC in two weeks and I think it’s because of what I learned at DC through these experiences,” he says. “They asked if I could go out and do my own photos and videos, and I can because of the extra-curricular training I received through work-integrated learning.”

But Neary’s dedication is just as strong inside the classroom. DC’s Alumni Scholarship for Academic Excellence recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and leadership potential throughout their studies.

“On top of that, he brings a worldly and constructive approach to every role he takes on, whether it’s as the creator of the Founders Drive podcast, as a communications intern on a research project, or as a leader on the recent Faculty-led Classroom Abroad to Guatemala,” added Harder.

The recognition of Andrew’s achievements underscores DC’s commitment to fostering an inclusive campus environment that nurtures student success. Through the college’s emphasis on hands-on learning and immersive experiences, DC empowers students like Andrew to excel academically, make meaningful contributions to their communities, and make tangible impacts in their chosen fields.

Neary says those thinking of entering the journalism field have endless opportunities to get involved at DC, sharing “Don’t let college happen to you, take every opportunity you can and if there’s ever an opportunity to do experiential learning, it can make a huge difference. It builds on what you learn in the classroom and exposes you to things you never thought possible.”

Three Durham College (DC) students successfully reimagined a famous snack food package, earning a third-place finish at the Packaging Association of Canada’s (PAC) Global Student Packaging Competition.

The event invited post-secondary students from around the world to redesign the iconic Pringles can with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility. Three students from DC’s Graphic Design program were up to the challenge. With guidance from Professor Rhian Moore, the team of Ina Jablonski, Megan Scott and Nicole Tracey created the Accordi-Can.

“It’s a tubular package that expands at the sides when in use to allow the consumer to easily access the chips inside,” explained Tracey, noting that shoppers consistently cite the difficulty of reaching inside the standard Pringles can. “We started with generating several ideas for how the can would be different without losing the integrity of the shape. We knew we wanted to keep the shape of the can as that is what Pringles is recognized for, and the packaging is revolutionary to the snack market.”

Over the course of the fall semester, the team continued to make improvements to their design in preparation for the competition.

“Our design went through many stages throughout the process as we developed the most feasible, realistic, and innovative choice,” said Scott.

The result is a package that is both recognizable and creative.

Although graphic design work is inherently visual, the Accordi-Can was more than just a rendering. The team created a real mock-up of their concept using a poster mailing tube, cardstock and glue.

“They worked very hard to come up with both their structural and graphic solutions to meet the needs of the product,” said Moore. “They represented the college in a very professional manner and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Taking part in the competition was a unique and valuable experiential learning opportunity for the three students. In addition to being an important facet of their Portfolio Studies course, they worked on a famous brand and developed a product that is sure to impress potential employers.

“I have learned to think critically about every detail that goes into a design,” said Tracey. “It helps to really think about the choices you make and doing the research on the target market and what their needs are is also very important.”

For Scott, representing DC in the competition was a positive experience that helped her build confidence as she prepares to graduate and enter the workforce.

“My biggest lesson from this experience is to try things that make you nervous and not let self-doubt prevent you from participating,” said Scott. “I’ve learned what it takes to be a team and how important it is to surround yourself with hard-working, like-minded, kind people.”

More than 600 high school students from across the province gathered at Durham College’s (DC) Oshawa campus to put their engineering skills and student-designed robots to the test by participating in sport-like games at the 2024 FIRST® Robotics Durham College District Competition, this past weekend.

More than 20 challenge teams used sophisticated technology to build and program industrial-sized 120lb robots and compete in an action-packed, alliance-based game on a themed field. With the guidance of industry professionals, students used their knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) to operate their robots and used problem-solving skills that apply to real-world situations.

As one of Canada’s leading colleges, DC was the perfect backdrop for the district competition, which encouraged participants to consider a future education in the in-demand STEM fields.

“We’re proud to once again be sponsoring and hosting the annual FIRST® Robotics Durham College District Competition this weekend,” said Tony Doyle, Executive Dean, Faculty of Science, Engineering, and Information Technology, and interim Executive Dean, Faculty of Business, DC, at the competition on Saturday. “This event is always an exciting time for us since we get to see the bright, young, STEM enthusiasts using their imagination, engineering and teamwork skills in an exciting new way.”

This year’s arts-inspired game theme – CRESCENDO – provided a unique twist for challenge teams by encouraging students to raise funds, hone teamwork skills, and advance respect and appreciation for STEM education within the local community through the development of outreach events, marketing plans, and even fundraising initiatives.

“We know that the skills they learn during this competition are the building blocks for success in post-secondary learning and lead to rewarding careers in STEM and skilled trades,” added Doyle.

At the end of the exhilarating weekend, three teams were crowned as the FIRST Robotics Durham College District Competition Champions: Team 1241 “Theory6” and Team 1285 “The Biggest Birds” both from Rick Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga, and Team 9621 “Payload” a community team from Whitby. In addition to their champion title, Team 1241 “Theory6” also received FIRST‘s highest honour, the FIRST Impact Award.

A full list of FIRST Robotics award winners can be found online.

For the second year in a row, Enactus Durham College (DC) has been declared one of the Central Regional Champions for its Founders Drive podcast project. This year, the team competed in the Desjardins Youth Empowerment Challenge, a national competition empowering post-secondary students to deliver projects that make social impact through entrepreneurial skills. 

“It’s so exciting to see our students achieve success through an approach of collaboration and co-creation with a focus on building authentic relationships with Indigenous entrepreneurs to tell their stories,” said Danielle Harder, EnactusDC faculty advisor for Founders Drive. “Not only did our students enhance the skills they have learned in the classroom, they also benefitted from a cross-cultural exchange they might not have had otherwise. Enactus gives students opportunity and agency to become changemakers.”

DC competed against 21 schools in the youth empowerment category and presented Founders Drive: Season Two, a global podcast aimed at inspiring young Indigenous entrepreneurs to overcome barriers and become their own bosses.

Meanwhile, a new project, Just Dandy, was a runner-up in the Canadian Tire Environmental Sustainability Challenge. Just Dandy aims to foster a supportive community at DC by promoting financially and environmentally sustainable practices.

“Witnessing our students (from across programs) “touch the stage,” recognized for their collective efforts and placing in two categories, brought us to tears as it marked such a life-changing moment, showcasing the true power of teamwork and dedication,” shared Sara Mercier-Priebe, EnactusDC faculty advisor for Just Dandy. “EnactusDC has become an experience that etches itself into your very being, allowing you to see what our students are truly capable of achieving – together.”

First-time faculty advisor at the Enactus Canada Regional Exposition, K. Jennifer Bedford, also had the opportunity to witness the coming together of student, academic, and industry leaders to celebrate the impactful projects and ventures crafted by Canada’s future entrepreneurs.

“This event not only showcases innovation and community leadership, but also fosters collaboration, encouraging excellence among the next generation of leaders,” she said.

The victories mark a significant milestone for the Founders Drive team, which will now move on to the National Exposition in Toronto in May. Founders Drive will compete in the Desjardins Youth Empowerment Challenge against the League B and League C champions, as well as the Desjardins Youth Empowerment champions from the Atlantic and Western regions. Just Dandy will also compete again in the overall category.

For more information about Enactus Durham College, Founders Drive and Just Dandy, please visit www.enactusdc.com.

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Photo Credit: Ayomide Kuye, DC Video Production student and a member of EnactusDC.

Durham College (DC) is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day. The success we have achieved over the last 57 years would not have been possible without the remarkable achievements of countless women – students, faculty, staff and administrators.

DC has ushered in a new era with the appointment of Dr. Elaine Popp as President. In recognition of International Women’s Day, Dr. Popp spoke to us about the women who have made a difference in her life, the lessons she has learned along her career path, her passion for higher education and more.

Who have been your female role models in your life and career?

I can think of a few women who have helped shape me and made me grow.

Dr. Marla Sokolowski would be one. She was my professor in the second year of my undergrad. She was the only female professor at that point in my academic journey, and she was the first person who truly served as a role model and made me think, “You know what? I could do what she’s doing.” I could stay in school, earn my Ph.D. like her, and teach.

When I was doing my Ph.D., Dr. Sokolowski’s lab was next to the lab I worked in, and her research studied fruit fly behaviour. She was the first scientist to show that behaviour can be linked to genetics – it could be linked to an allele in a gene.

I have also found inspiration from women who have blazed trails for other women to follow. Like Kathrine Switzer, who in 1967 ran the Boston Marathon – the first woman to run a marathon.

What inspired you to pursue a career in higher education?

I am passionate about teaching and learning. Having witnessed the transformative power education plays for both individuals and society, I was motivated to start my career in post-secondary 24 years ago knowing that this was an impactful way to make a difference – to help others realize their potential.

At its core, teaching has an overwhelmingly positive influence on the lives of others. When done well, it can help set someone on the path to success, which can last for the rest of their lives. And seeing the development and growth in others is so personally rewarding.

To this day, it thrills me when former students of mine reach out to me and share what they are up to now – the new job they have secured or the further education they have completed.

How would you describe the career path that has led you to your role as president of DC?

I’ve been fortunate to have a fulfilling and progressive career and have had many supportive colleagues and supervisors who have encouraged and challenged me to continue growing.

Bosses I had early on in my career believed in my talents and abilities and invested in me. They encouraged and supported me to pursue various leadership trainings, and pursue positions that I did not have on my radar as being achievable by me. I am so fortunate to have had these strong mentors and champions as I began my career.

I am sure I wouldn’t be here today – in this role – if it had not been for those very people who pushed me to better myself and supported me in doing so.

Perhaps this is why I am so supportive of mentorship models and ensuring everyone feels they have access to the professional development they need to be able to realize their full potential.

What does being DC’s president mean to you?

I’m feeling lots of emotions – I’m honoured, I’m excited, I’m humbled.

I’m so proud of our students. They are really doing incredible things. On a daily basis, they show up, engaging in their classes with their faculty members and learning new skills to prepare them for their futures. Many have outside obligations, like work and family commitments, which can make finding time for their studies difficult – but they still persevere.

And our students are successful because of our amazing staff and faculty members, who are hard-working and dedicated. Our faculty are invested in their professional practice and work hard to create quality learning experiences for our students. DC’s staff is unparalleled in their drive to deliver quality service to our students.

I am committed to DC, our students, our faculty, our staff and our community.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

I can think of a few pieces of advice I continue to draw on.

Perhaps I will start by sharing one piece of advice that has become somewhat of a mantra for me. “You always have time for the things you put first.” I remind myself of this when I am finding myself not sticking to my priorities.

Another piece of advice I have taken to heart is: “If you want to know what other people really think, make sure you aren’t the first to speak.” Listen first. I try to follow this advice as much as possible, whenever possible.

One other piece I will share is: “When something scares you, ask yourself, what is the worst thing that can happen?” It usually isn’t all that bad.

During your career in higher education, what changes have you seen related to gender equality and what work still needs to be done?

There is an increased representation of women in leadership positions within post-secondary academic institutions, reflecting a positive shift towards gender parity in decision-making.

Awareness of gender biases and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging continues to grow in higher education. In addition to a positive shift in hiring practices, this awareness is being integrated into our curricula, ensuring the next generation of professionals will continue working toward gender equality.

More and more, we are promoting programs focused on trades, science, technology and engineering to women and young girls. By encouraging these non-traditional career paths, we are working to make them realistic, achievable and desirable goals for women. The Expand the Possibilities 5.0: Young Women in Science, Technology and Trades Conference, scheduled for April 25 and 26, is just one way we move the needle in these traditionally male occupations.

We are also seeing more women entrepreneurs. Some of the biggest start-up success stories from FastStart, our entrepreneurial support centre, are from women.

I think there is always work to be done. Despite women having more education (according to Statistics Canada), as of January 2023, only 10 per cent of Fortune 500 companies were led by women (according to Forbes).

This is a clear indicator that transparent and equitable hiring and promotion practices must continue to be fostered alongside mentorship opportunities and career advancement education for women. Looking to the future, as we see more retirements, there are real opportunities to elevate more women into a broader range of leadership positions, increasing equality in these organizations.

Here at DC, while I am proud of the work we have done to support gender equality, I know that there are opportunities to do more. I think we need to look at benchmarking where we are today to be able to celebrate the successes we are realizing now and identify how we can leverage our institution to drive gender equality.

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From our new president to dedicated faculty members and accomplished students and graduates, DC is home to remarkable women who are leading the way. In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re sharing just some of their stories. Meet some of the women who make us #DCProud.

Durham College’s (DC) commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs took center stage on Monday at the She Means Business Panel and Networking Event which aimed to celebrate and empower women in business by providing a platform for female student entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and be inspired.

The event was hosted by FastStart, the college’s entrepreneurial resource hub, and the Durham College Student Association. Guests gathered inside DC’s Centre for Innovation and Research to hear from inspiring female leaders who shared their stories, insights, experiences, and advice on succeeding in the business world across a number of industries. The expert panel included Karen Campbell, Canadian Women’s Foundation; Belinda Ginter, Unstoppable; Melanie Pagan, RainSpark Media Group; and Jenna MacInnis, Bombshell Beauty Bar.

“Events like this are so important as they help amplify a range of voices, experiences, and business ideas from women and gender-diverse people in entrepreneurial ecosystems,” says Campbell. “These opportunities also empower feminist entrepreneurs to connect and learn from each other in an environment where supports have typically been designed by and for men.”

DC Journalism and Creative Writing student, Deidra Clarke, agrees and says the benefits of networking on-campus with like-minded women is extremely valuable and hearing from guest panelists like the ones at the event have helped her prepare for the launch of her business, D.I.A. Tribe.

“As a young entrepreneur myself, I felt reassured hearing the panelists speak on their successes, but also touching on some of the trials and tribulations they went through before they got to where they are now,” she said. “I love that we have events like this on campus. Students are already doing a lot and tend to have full schedules. So being able to just pop over to a spot-on campus and take it in was amazing.”

FastStart is committed to helping all DC student entrepreneurs, regardless of their program, with the skills needed to turn innovative ideas into successful ventures. Learn more about FastStart online or check out their Instagram for upcoming events.

 

Photo credit: Josiah Chung

March 1 was a momentous day at Durham College (DC) as we celebrated Employee Appreciation Day and officially welcomed new president, Dr. Elaine Popp.

Scores of DC’s dedicated support staff, faculty and administrative employees filled the Rotary Global Classroom for a day of events that underscored why we’ve been named one of Greater Toronto’s Top Employers a remarkable 13 times.

As she took the reins as president, Dr. Popp greeted the crowd and shared her appreciation of the great work DC’s employees do every day.

“Today is about recognizing you. Each of you plays an integral role in supporting our students by creating an environment where they can learn, grow and thrive,” she said.

As she outlined the themes that will guide conversations and efforts as the college begins the work of developing its next Strategic Plan, Dr. Popp expressed her confidence that the DC community will make the most of the opportunities that the future holds.

“I have been part of the DC family for more than eight years, and I immediately realized that this is the best place to work and learn, supported by a positive and inclusive campus environment and organizational culture,” she said. “I am both proud of all we have accomplished together and energized by the possibilities that lie ahead.”

After hearing from the new president, attendees enjoyed a keynote speech on personal and organizational growth from award-winning advertising writer and creative director Ron Tite.

Commending DC’s many successes, he offered sage advice on how we can continue to lead the way in post-secondary education.

“You are so lucky to have a job within an organization that has a wonderful purpose, helping prepare the leaders of tomorrow,” he told the audience. “You are leading together, and you’re doing more important work than most people have the privilege of doing. I hope you’re proud of that.”

In the afternoon, employees had the opportunity to participate in professional development sessions as well as a mindfulness session.