Two Durham College (DC) students are packing their suitcases after qualifying for this month’s Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Championship in Orlando, Florida.

Ryanna Law (Accounting – Business) and Blake Dawson (Marketing – Business Administration) competed in the MOS Canadian Championship in June. Students who excel in their MOS exams (which are embedded into a number of DC’s Faculty of Business programs) can compete in the virtual event to showcase their skills and knowledge.

Both DC students were tasked with using Word or Excel to create a new document or presentation. That was followed by a quiz on the finer points of their respective program.

“I was a little bit nervous because I wasn’t fully sure what to expect going into it,” explained Law. “It just seemed like something fun to do.”

Dawson had a similar approach to the competition.

“It wasn’t too stressful for me, since I didn’t really think I would win anything from it and entered with low expectations,” he said.

Both were pleasantly surprised. Law finished first in the PowerPoint 2019 category while Dawson was second in Word 2019. All first-place finishers earned a trip to the upcoming World Championship, July 30 – August 2. The winner of the Word category bowed out, paving the way for Dawson to join the trip.

“It’s an extremely cool opportunity that I didn’t think I’d be able to have, so I’m extremely thankful and excited,” said Law.

The success of the DC pair came as no surprise to their professors.

“As a professor, you can predict those who will excel in the course. Ryanna was one such student who exhibited dedication and commitment to the class,” said Jacqueline Russell, who taught Law in Business Computer Applications 1.

Muhammad Rashid taught Blake in the same course.

“I am proud and highly excited to hear of Blake’s success in the Canadian Championship,” he said.

Students who excel in their MOS exams have an edge in the job market, with recruiters and prospective employers looking for students who have an aptitude for Microsoft Office. That’s why DC prioritizes it, according to Jennifer Souch, a professor in the Faculty of Business.

“MOS certifications are highly valuable and offer numerous benefits. Recognized globally, they showcase essential skills and improve job prospects,” she said. “MOS certifications give students a competitive edge, enabling efficient communication, data analysis, and presentation creation. Ultimately, they enhance professional development, leading the way for success in the job market.”

But first, Law and Dawson will proudly represent DC in Florida later this month.

Durham College (DC) is proud to partner with Johnson Controls to help meet the growing need for skilled technology workers in Ontario by providing Electromechanical Engineering Technology students with financial support as well as mentorship opportunities.

DC has been approved for a grant from Johnson Controls that will provide:

• Annual entrance bursaries valued at $2,000 each to five students who demonstrate financial need and belong to an equity-deserving group entering their first semester of studies in the Electromechanical Engineering Technology program.
• Opportunities for students to be mentored and connect on and off campus with Johnson Controls employees to gain additional insight into their future careers.
• New equipment that will support DC’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology curriculum and the establishment of a new building automation lab.
• Opportunities to share the benefits of this program with new prospective students.

The college will receive $95,000 this year, plus $5,000 in equipment, with the total $100,000 commitment renewable for three more years.

“We are grateful for this partnership with Johnson Controls and its generous support to further strengthen our Electromechancial Engineering Technology program and its students,” said Don Lovisa, Durham College president. “With this gift, we will continue to lead the way by developing knowledgeable and experienced graduates who are able to step into rewarding technical careers that can make a difference in our communities.”

Local Johnson Controls employees – many of whom are graduates from DC’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program – will work with the college to mentor students in this automation program. Through relationship building with industry professionals, students will gain insight into their future career paths. “Not only are we investing in the next generation of workforce leaders, but the mentoring associated with this initiative reminds our employees why we do what we do,” said Julie Brandt, president of Building Solutions North America at Johnson Controls. “We’re looking at our future and through partnership with these colleges we’re all contributing to a better-supported trades industry.”

DC’s three-year Electromechanical Engineering Technology program combines electronics design, mechanical technologies and industrial automation. Students receive access to our world-class Integrated Manufacturing Centre, where they can engage with real-world controllers, robotics and more. This hands-on experience prepares them for successful careers as they gain the skills needed to design and troubleshoot automated systems used in various technical industries.

Since 2021, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has distributed $1 million annually across 10 community colleges in North America, focusing on vocational programs to inspire the next generation of workers. Grant recipients have the opportunity to receive a renewed grant for up to three years, creating long-term opportunities for program development. Each college has the option to receive the grants in full monetary value or to receive partial monetary funds along with technical equipment donated by Johnson Controls. Durham College is the only Canadian institution to receive funding this year and just the second in the program’s history.

 First-year students beginning DC’s Electromechanical Engineering Technology program in September 2023 can apply for the Johnson Controls entrance bursary online.

Oshawa’s PulsePoint partners welcomed over 80 members of the community to Durham College (DC) on June 22 to learn CPR and other life-saving skills.

Student volunteers from the DC/Ontario Tech University Campus Emergency Response Team (CERT) led the training, sharing their expertise on how to properly perform CPR as well as how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED). They also touched on important topics like naloxone, epinephrine, and infant and child CPR.

As a partner in the PulsePoint initiative (which also includes Oshawa Fire Services, General Motors, Ontario Tech University, Lakeridge Health and the Durham Region Critical Incident Stress Support Team), DC was an ideal host for the event.

“At Durham College, we care about the health and well-being of our campus and broader community and we are committed to providing teaching and learning opportunities that support that,” said Don Lovisa, president, Durham College. “As a leader in technology-enhanced solutions, we are proud to join the PulsePoint partners on this initiative to offer life-saving CPR technology.”

The event provided essential training while promoting the PulsePoint mobile apps that are free to download in Oshawa and the surrounding area (Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge).

The PulsePoint Respond app alerts users when someone nearby is in need of CPR, and locates the nearest AED. The Pulsepoint AED app includes a registry of potentially life-saving tools like AEDs, bleeding control kits, naloxone and epinephrine.

For more information on the PulsePoint apps, visit this website.

December 2023 Update: Thanks to DC’s superior welding, Space Concordia recently completed its first successful full-scale test to validate the rockets engine control systems, ground control systems, telecommunications and propulsion system. The team is thrilled with the results and will continue to make improvements and optimizations for future tests to prepare for launch in 2024.

Experts from Durham College’s welding program helped achieve a significant milestone in the pursuit of space exploration with Space Concordia.

A number of DC’s expert welding faculty worked collaboratively for a year to design, test, build and weld the fuel propulsion system for a Base 11 challenge rocket named Starsailor. The space-capable rocket was transported and assembled at Concordia’s Loyola campus and was successfully mounted and raised on the launch tower, making it Canada’s largest and the world’s most powerful student-built rocket.

“DC’s welding program has an excellent reputation, which is why Space Concordia initially contacted me in 2019 about this project,” said Gregg Peel, DC welding professor, who facilitated the project. “We met every standard the Concordia engineers set for us, and the rocket set an amateur record for producing 35kN of thrust during a test fire, making it the most powerful student-built rocket ever created.”

DC is leading the way in skilled trades, and its Welding Engineering Technician program is sure to play an integral role in the projected growth of the aerospace industry in Canada. Brian Glen, one of DC’s welding professors who helped build the rocket, says DC is aligned with the evolution of the industry.

“The welding industry is advancing with the use of robotics and computer automation, which is why we use innovative equipment and current procedures. We also have strong industry partnerships that help teach and prepare students with what they need to be career-ready post-graduation.”

Space Concordia is preparing Starsailor for flight next summer as it continues its journey toward the stars.

Two students from the Horticulture – Technician program made Durham College (DC) proud at the Skills Canada National Competition in Winnipeg last month.

Competing in the Horticulture and Landscape (Team of 2) category, Abigayle Hamilton and Emma Pace brought home silver medals.

Falling just short of the gold didn’t dampen the experience for the pair, according to Pace.

“Although it wasn’t what we were striving for, I can honestly say that this has been the most empowering, exciting and fulfilling part of my young adult life,” she said, crediting her partner as well as DC professor Shane Jones for making it possible. “With a fantastic teammate and a dedicated and passionate coach, we worked together to build something we were proud of and I will always cherish this memory.”

The journey to Winnipeg was a long and rewarding one for the team, who excelled in their studies at DC and earned gold at the 2023 Skills Ontario Competition to qualify for Nationals.

For Hamilton, teaming up with her friend was the best part of the experience.

“Competing in this competition with Emma is really a gift because it has formed a bond between us that is everlasting. It’s so special to have shared this experience with her,” she said. “I am so proud of us and so honored to have been given the chance to hopefully inspire young women, and anyone else, to pursue a career in the skilled trades. I hope that seeing Emma and I compete helps them push past any fear they may have towards trying anything new in their lives.”

Serving as a role model for other students is an added benefit for the pair, and Hamilton encourages anyone with a passion for horticulture or another trade to expand their education and put their skills to the test.

“I highly recommend participating in the skills competition if you have the opportunity to. It’s really a rare experience that opens doors that you would never have imagined,” she said.

“Thank you Durham College, Skills Ontario and Skills Canada for the opportunity to represent, and for the awesome experiences.”