Over a period of six decades, Kenneth Jenkins has taken a number of Continuing Education classes at Durham College to support his career goals and in some cases, just because the topic interested him on a personal level.

“Initially I enrolled to expand my opportunities, to move ahead in the company I worked for and to expand my qualifications in the job market,” said Jenkins. “I realized much of what I was taking was enlightening, rewarding and enjoyable for life outside my job.”

One particular area that interested Jenkins was a French language course, which ultimately proved to be difficult for him due to the onset of severely deteriorated hearing. Although he successfully completed the course, Jenkins resigned himself to the possibility that it could be his last opportunity for enrolment in a continuing education program.

Rather than give up on his journey of learning, Jenkins decided to try a new approach by taking advantage of one of the many online courses offered at Durham College.

“I decided to try online learning and enrolled in a Political Geography course,” he said. “Online courses have expanded the opportunities for me to continue learning.”

Although he was intimidated by the technology, Jenkins found that he was able to quickly adjust and succeed in the class due to the academic and technical supports provided to him at the college.

“I felt somewhat apprehensive coping with this new learning venue,” he said. “But the availability of online assistance and the quality of technical support I received helped me to overcome my apprehensions and I was able to enjoy the course.”

Jenkins continues to be impressed with Durham College and the diversity of its curriculum and delivery methods.

“DC has expanded its curriculum over time, there are many courses available to satisfy ones interest or to stimulate new interests,” he said. “The courses I’ve taken have exceeded my expectations.”

Durham College announced today that John Davidson, a photography professor with the School of Media, Art & Design (MAD), has won the 2013 Beaches International Jazz Festival’s Annual Juried Photography Exhibition.

The fourth annual exhibition, which took place at the end of July, tasked participants with capturing images that display the essence of jazz music, jazz musicians and the audience who supports them with Davidson winning for his submissions titled Tab’s Guitar and Havana Guitar.

“The Jazz in Motion photography exhibition is a real marriage of two of my passions – jazz and photography,” said Davidson. “There were many wonderful entries and I feel very fortunate to have placed first.”

As the first-place winner he will have his work and biography displayed on the Beaches International Jazz Festival website and will be invited to return to next year’s competition as a juror.

Davidson, a part-time professor who has been with the college since 2006, teaches within in a variety of programs under the School of MAD including Pre-Media, Interactive Media Design, Advertising and Marketing Communications and Digital Photography.

“On behalf of the entire Durham College community I extend my sincere congratulations to John on this wonderful recognition,” said Greg Murphy, dean, School of MAD. “In addition to being a true testament to his talent, this award is a great example of our faculty’s commitment to continuing to gain real-world experience they can bring into the classroom and share directly with students.”

In addition to his teaching duties, Davidson also helped with the creation and implementation of the college’s History of Photography course. He continues to maintain his photographic work with both corporate and private clients.

“It is important to explore many of your interests as it will allow you to bring more to the classroom,” added Davidson.

Amanda de Souza is living proof that anything is possible if you set your goals high and work hard to obtain them.

A 2007 Advertising and Marketing Communications Management (formerly Advertising) program graduate, de Souza is a successful graphic designer and artist living and working in New York City (NYC).

Although she has learned much and evolved in her career, she still remembers and values the lessons she learned while a student at Durham College.

“The classes I took and projects I worked on in my program were very similar to the kind of work I’ve done in the real world,” de Souza said. “We had also focused on portfolio development and interviewing skills, so by the time I was interviewing for jobs I was extremely confident.”

Prior to graduation, she completed a field placement that allowed her to work as a writer/producer for three years at a Toronto-based digital agency post-graduation. The position furthered her marketing and advertising skills while fostering her natural love of art.

She then moved to NYC and worked for a number of agencies in various roles including as an executive account assistant, a graphic designer and a community manager.

Today she works as a senior designer at W Magazine with Condé Nast with an impressive client roster including Proctor & Gamble, Universal, Starbucks and Panasonic. In addition, she shows and sells her art in galleries in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

De Souza was also selected as a 2013 artist for Sing for Hope Pianos, a public art project that saw a piano she painted displayed in Central Park, included in a concert at Lincoln Center and featured in the New York Times.

“It was surreal to be selected and I was overjoyed. I was so surprised at how much of a reaction it received from visitors and New Yorkers alike,” said de Souza.

She credits her success to hard work, a positive outlook and a willingness to tackle new challenges, qualities she feels current students can benefit from as she did.

“If you are passionate about what you want to do and put in everything you have, opportunities will open up to you. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and encourage you. Have courage,” she said. “Each time I reached a milestone, getting an internship, my first job, a promotion, moving to Toronto, moving to New York, I always kept thinking, what’s my next challenge? I’ve realized there is no limit, anything is possible.”

Being a role model for children with disabilities wasn’t Scott Bremner’s goal when he started his career, but it’s something he is proud of and hopes to continue to be.

Bremner, a Journalism – Print and Broadcast alumnus is host and community producer of DurAbility, a television show that endeavours to improve the lives of people with disabilities by helping them navigate the challenges and opportunities they face every day.

“I got a call from a parent who thanked me for what I was doing because now she can tell her son with a disability to go out and follow his dreams,” Bremner said.

In addition to his TV show, Bremner is also a motivational speaker sharing his personal experiences and the obstacles he has overcome to connect with his audience.

“I talk a lot about bullying, the different types you encounter when you have a disability,” said Bremner. “And about finding the drive in yourself to keep going and the steps you need to take to benefit yourself.”

Bremner credits his professors at Durham College for helping him get to where he is today and he appreciates the lessons he learned in the Journalism program that have helped him to become a good professional.

“The instructors taught me the type of person you need to be to do this work,” said Bremner. “And they taught me you can still be a good person while asking those tough questions.”

Bremner plans to continue to be an advocate and role model for people with disabilities and to contribute positively to the people he comes in contact with.

“It’s great that I’ve been able to do this on my own while still helping my community,” he said. “Attending Durham College helped me a lot.”

Durham College’s International office was pleased to recognize the achievements of Dipika Sharma, an international student in the Human Resources Management graduate certificate program on July 11, awarding her a $500 scholarship.

The scholarship was available to a new international student in either the International Business Management or Human Resources (HR) Management program who attained a 3.0 GPA or higher in the 2013 winter semester. Sharma far exceeded this requirement by achieving a 4.32 GPA.

“I was just totally shocked when I saw the email,” said Sharma. “I was sitting with my friend and he knew what my facial expression was exactly, it was completely shocked and happy too.”

Prior to attending Durham College, Sharma achieved a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Rajasthan in Jaipur, India. Upon the recommendation of friends, she researched post-graduate programs including Durham College’s offerings.

“When I looked on the website it was the ‘Success Matters’ logo that really interested me to go through and research it,” said Sharma. “I was very interested in the HR field out of all the business fields so I pursued the (Human Resources Management) program.”

Sharma attributed her success as an international student to multiple factors including her extracurricular activities that helped her achieve a Canadian experience which included volunteering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Ajax-Pickering, Denise House in Oshawa and the Indo-Canadian Culture Association at Durham College. As well, she praised her home stay family and program faculty for providing immeasurable amounts of support.

“It has been a lot different from my Indian experience,” said Sharma. “It has been more interesting and I think that is why I was able to score a high GPA. I was a good student in India to but I felt it was more interesting giving presentations, doing research and making projects, I just love all that.”

Sharma plans on extending her time in Canada as she looks to pursue another HR program either with the college or the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).

The International Office currently assists approximately 300 international students and will be offering textbook scholarships for the fall 2013 semester for new international students with exceptional International English Language Testing System scores.