CNC's Career Technical Centre program celebrated its 11th graduation ceremony Thursday evening at Vanier Hall.
The class is comprised of 63 Grade 12 students from School Districts 57 and School District 91, who have completed their first year of trades technical training in six different programs. They will earn their high school diplomas in June.
"The greatest reward for me is to see the change in the students," said Tim Power, CTC co-ordinator. "They start off thinking, 'how does the world fit me' and end up realizing 'how do I fit in the world.'"
Several awards were handed out during the celebration at Prince George Secondary School (PGSS).
Katrina Bowers received the Carole Caldwell Bursary Memorial Trades bursary from Canadian Federation of University Women president Maureen Fotos. The D.P. Todd student is in the automotive service-autobody collision repair program.
Amy Goetz received the Democratic Unison Award from Benchmark Automotive Services. The Kelly Road student is in the automotive service-autobody collision repair program.
Wolftek Industries presented awards to several students in the welder fitting skills program: Damon Thibaudeau of PGSS received an achievement award. Giovanni Rizzo of D.P. Todd received the most improved student award.
Harrison Close of Duchess Park received the leadership award. Connor Adrian received the academic excellence award. Kieran Thomas of Duchess Park received the practical exellence award.
Canfor Pulp Ltd. Partnership awarded the second half of their work experience bursary to three carpentry students, four electrical students, four heavy duty mechanic students and four welding students and one industrial mechanic student.
The carpentry students were Cheyenne Hartley of PGSS, Brody Mann of College Heights and Alexander Webber of Duchess Park.
The electrical students were Aaron Baekhave of Duchess Park, Andrew Johnson of the community alternative program, Nathan Maidment of Duchess Park and Curtis Vos of College Heights.
The heavy duty mechanic students were Chad Leslie of PGSS, Aaron Ottalagana of Duchess Park, Tyler Salewski of DP Todd and Dustin Tisdale of Kelly Road.
The welding students were Adrian, Thibaudeau and Thomas and Marc Howard of Duchess Park.
And the industrial mechanic student was Mike McConnachie of Duchess Park.
The other achievement award winners were Connor Ferch of Kelly Road (automotive service), Levi Seymour of Duchess Park (carpentry-joinery), Andrew Johnson of community alternative program (electrical-electronics) and Jamie Elmquist of Kelly Road (heavy duty-commercial transport).
The other most improved student award winners were Nick Soares of Duchess Park (automotive service-autobody collision repair), Kodie Tinling of Duchess Park (carpentry-joinery), Nathan Maidment of Duchess Park (electrical-electronics) and Aaron Ottalagana of Duchess Park (heavy duty-commercial transport).
Excellence awards went to Ryan Sharpe of Kelly Road (automotive service-autobody collision repair), Cheyenne Hartley of PGSS (carpentry-joinery), Dustin Steiniger of Duchess Park (electrical-electronics) and Dustin Tisdale of Kelly Road (heavy duty-commercial transport).
The other leadership award winners were Joseph Rich of McBride Secondary School (automotive service-autobody collision repair), Lee Davis of Kelly Road, (carpentry-joinery), Curtis Vos of College Heights (electrical-electronics) and Chad Leslie of (heavy duty-commercial transport).
CTC has been in place for more than a decade and has given many students the unique opportunity to gain employment in the trades directly out of high school. More information is available at www.cnc.bc.ca/ctc.
