Convocation 2015

Every graduate's photo was taken after they crossed the stage. They were posted on our Alumni Facebook Page and also uploaded to Lakeland's flickr account. There are also an assortment of pre- and post-ceremony photos.

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“Your parchment is like a magic carpet. It will take you wherever you want it to take you.”

That’s what Wendy Plandowski told Lloydminster campus graduates during the convocation ceremony on Friday, June 5. Plandowski, a member of Lakeland’s Class of 1991, received the Distinguished Alumni award for the Lloydminster campus and was inducted onto the college’s Alumni Wall of Distinction.

She also told grads that there will be times when they fall off their magic carpet and hit the ground. “Pick yourself back up and remember that the learning lives within you. From that experience, make sure that magic carpet takes you higher than it had taken you before,” she said.

Originally from Marwayne, Alta., Plandowski completed a year of studies in the university transfer program at the Lloydminster campus then transferred to the University of Alberta where she earned a Bachelor of Arts (English) degree. She then returned to Lakeland College where she worked until 1996 and again from 2004 to 2013 in a variety of leadership roles. Today she is the chief executive officer at the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.

“When I worked (at Lakeland) I was passionate about the fact that as a team we made sure we graduated students who were ready for the workforce. That’s one of the greatest things about a college education,” Plandowski told the Class of 2015.

In addition to her successful career, Plandowski has always been very active in the community as a member of local service groups plus chairing volunteer organizations.

More information on Plandowski and all of the distinguished alumni is available on our distingused alumni page.

Lakeland provided strong foundation for alumnus

At the heart of Albert Miller’s success as an avid farmer and accomplished businessman, is his strong sense of community and service.

After completing Grade 11, he enrolled in the Vermilion School of Agriculture and graduated in 1949.

According to the college’s ‘49 yearbook, it was Miller’s ambition to one day own a farm in the Westlock, Alberta district. His hard work and innovation paid off. Miller continues to farm near Westlock today – 66 years after he graduated from college.

In addition to farming, he owned a successful John Deere dealership in Westlock for 29 years. In that time his entrepreneurial success was recognized on several occasions when his dealership was lauded as one of Canada’s Top 15 dealerships.

His Chrysler dealership and service centre store in Barrhead, Alberta also reaped the rewards of his strong business acumen.

Through his volunteerism with the Rotary Club of Westlock, Miller was instrumental in creating positive change in his community. As a charter member of the club, he served as president for two years.

Local projects he championed include the Rotary walking trails in Westlock and several capital projects such as the local tractor museum and community theatre. With Rotary, he also served as the district governor leading 59 clubs in Alberta, as well as parts of British Columbia and Saskatchewan. In honour of his community service and accomplishments,

Miller was presented with the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2005. The medal recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society.

Giving back to students is a priority for Miller. He does so by fostering an interest in agriculture and mechanics through scholarships.

“I have been pretty lucky in my life. I have had good people working with me and I think it’s our duty to support as many others as you can in turn,” he says.

Dedicated community builder, successful enterpreneur recognized

Highly successful entrepreneur and dedicated community builder are just a few of the ways one could describe Bill Musgrave.

In 1978 Bill Musgrave arrived in Lloydminster, ready to plant roots in the community and continue his real estate and land development business.

As owner of Musgrave Agencies – a family run and operated business – Bill Musgrave’s corporate philosophy is one of building and investing in neighbourhoods, not projects.

“You don’t want to just design an area for housing, you want to design a neighbourhood that is going to accommodate families for quite a long time,” he says.

For more than 37 years, Musgrave Agencies has demonstrated innovation and leadership in the development of large-scale residential neighbourhoods, multi-family dwellings, adult communities and commercial developments.

Giving back to the community he has been instrumental in building continues to be a top priority for Bill Musgrave. From Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster to the Vic Juba Community Theatre, Streetscapes and the Twinkle Tour, a long list of organizations and events have benefited from the support of Bill Musgrave and Musgrave Agencies.

For their achievements and commitment to community, Musgrave Agencies received the Business of the Year award from the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce in 2006 and was honoured with the Donna Moore Community Spirit award in 2012.

In 2013, the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce recognized Bill Musgrave for his work in the community with a Lifetime Achievement Award. “Community is just terribly important,” says Bill Musgrave. “Park developments and neighbourhoods for families to grow in are so important for our city. We do what we can to make Lloydminster a happy place to live.”

Former college president named distinguished citizen

How will this affect students?

That’s a question Glenn Charlesworth, Lakeland College’s seventh president and chief executive officer, asked himself and challenged others to consider when making decisions.

When he became president in 2006, he said his fundamental goal was to make Lakeland College a student-focused organization. He also stressed the importance of fiscal sustainability and the need to secure funding for capital projects.

By December 2013, at the end of his seven year tenure as president, we had achieved many of those objectives. Focus on students and their Lakeland College experience helped increase enrolment and retention. Construction of the Bill Kondro Wing and a new Student Centre, modernization of the Applied Engineering Building, and extensive renovations to student residences were completed. Strong fiscal management enabled the college to direct funds to high priority areas including purchasing 580 hectares of agricultural land and a yard that borders the Vermilion campus. That yard is now home to the Lakeland College Centre for Sustainable Innovation.

Glenn Charlesworth’s career with Lakeland College began in 1982 as an instructor in the business department. He taught business courses for 21 years.

Well-liked by students, he received the Staff Appreciation Award in 1995. Before becoming president, he served as the vice president, finance and operations at Lakeland College for three years.

He was often heard saying, “Lakeland College is not a good college. Lakeland College is a great college.” This statement rings true today in large part because of his outstanding leadership.