Graduation season is in full swing across Grande Prairie and Northwestern Polytechnic celebrated hundreds of Class of 2023-24 graduates over the past week in the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre.
The two-day affair saw more than 200 students cheered on by NWP faculty and staff along with hundreds of friends, family, and supporters,
During the ceremonies, the Paul J. Evaskevich Valedictorian Award was presented to Melborne Baiting.
The Valedictorian received the award thanks to his highest grade point average among his classmates. Baiting travelled from the Phillippines to pursue a Business Administration Diploma as an international student. During his speech, he offered a piece of advice to his fellow students.
“Success, as I learned, relies heavily on well-defined goals and mental well-being. As the saying goes, failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”
Nkeiruka Odoh, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing student received the Beth Sheehan Salutatorian Award. Another international student, Odoh moved from Nigeria in 2019 and managed her education during the COVID-19 pandemic all while being a new mother.
Both she and her husband, another nursing student, describe their rigorous study routine as waking up and studying from 1:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. before catching a few more hours of sleep. Odoh says her routine shows that anything is possible through hard work and dedication.
“This award shows that with determination and persistence, I can achieve anything I set my mind to.”
NWP President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Sheane offered her congratulations to the award recipients and their fellow graduates, highlighting their commitment throughout their studies.
