Durham College celebrated the graduating class of 2010 at its annual fall convocation ceremony on October 21.

October 25, 2010

More than 350 students, along with their family and friends joined Durham College President Don Lovisa; members of the college’s leadership team and board of governors; college faculty and staff; and special guest speaker Jay Onrait, co-host of SportsCentre’s late evening/morning loop edition, on October 21 to celebrate their convocation.

More than 750 students graduated in total this fall, receiving diplomas and certificates from the schools of Applied Sciences, Apprenticeship, Skilled Trades & Technology; Business, IT & Management; Career Development & Continuing Education; Communication, Language & General Studies; Health & Community Services; Justice & Emergency Services; and Media, Art & Design.

Onrait’s inspiring address to graduates included a glimpse into his personal life experiences and career journey including various references to today’s pop culture icons and some sage advice about the value of working hard and being nice to people.

In addition, retired Professor Kathy Rhodes was appointed faculty emeritus, a status granted to retired faculty and staff members who demonstrated exemplary service during their time on campus and recognizes their outstanding contributions post-retirement. Before retiring in 2008, Rhodes dedicated more than 25 years to ensuring that the student experience came first at Durham College, joining the college as a professor in 1983 and continuing to teach until she retired.

Along with designing, developing and delivering curriculum to students, Rhodes worked with four partner school boards and four other post-secondary institutions to develop and deliver activities and programs that would raise awareness of Durham College as a high-quality post-secondary destination.

Under her guidance, the Centre for Success initiative was also launched in 2006 to provide secondary school students at risk of not graduating from high school with an opportunity to earn their diploma while attending high school classes at the Durham College campus.

Whether our newest graduates choose to move into the working world or pursue further education, they have now officially joined the ranks of the college’s more than 52,000 alumni and are wished all the best as they take the next steps in their lives.