Convocation 2018

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

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• Lloydminster Convocation 2018 
• Vermilion Convocation 2018 morning ceremonies
• Vermilion Convocation 2018 ​afternoon ceremonies
• Vermilion Class of 2018 on Flickr

 Check out the 2018 Vermilion Convocation program.

Check out the 2018 Lloydminster Convocation program.

Jonathan Kuzek

Richard Kuzek was the 2018 Lloydminster campus president's medal winner.

Graham Letts

Graham Letts, the 2018 Vermilion president's medal winner, also received a generatiion alumni pin. His grandfather, Park Letts (right), was in the Vermilion School of Agriculture's Class of 1955.

Mandy Davediuk, Interior Design Technology, Vermilion was presented with the Governor General's academic medal after convoction ceremonies.

Sean Lessard, Class of 1994

Dr. Sean Lessard is an Indigenous education champion. He’s dedicated his life’s work to improving the lives and experiences of Indigenous youth.

Sean was born on the Montreal Lake Cree Nation and later adopted by a family in North Battleford, Sask. He graduated from Lakeland’s Rehabilitation Services program in 1994 and was a member of the Rustlers men’s volleyball program.

He later studied at the University of Alberta, earning a Bachelor of Education in 2000, a Master of Educational Psychology in 2009, and a Doctorate of Elementary Education and Teaching in 2012.

Outside of his education, he focused on the education and wellness of Indigenous youth. Sean worked as a respite worker, social worker, teacher, counsellor and consultant focusing on Indigenous education.

He’s also had faculty positions at the University of Regina in Education and the University of Alberta in Teacher Education. While at the U of R, Sean helped establish the Growing Young Movers After-School program, an award-winning intergenerational wellness program for Indigenous youth.

While Lessard currently shares his love of learning as a professor in the U of A’s Faculty of Education’s Department of Secondary Education, his passion for Indigenous youth takes him across the country for research, speaking engagements and program development.

He’s also the CEO of his own company – Name to Place Educational and Community Consulting. Sean’s commitment to Indigenous youth has earned him the Canadian Education Association’s Pat Clifford Award and the Myer Horowitz Outstanding Dissertation Award. He co-authored Engaging in Narrative Inquiries with Children and Youth (2016), and The Relational Ethics of Narrative Inquiry (2018).

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Sean Lessard, Class of ‘94, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction.

Photos: Top - Lessard (right) with former volleyball teammate, Ken Rutherford (left), currently a Lakeland instructor. Middle - Lessard posing for photo after receiving the distinguished alumni award from Lakeland VP Georgina Altman. Bottom - Lessard in front of the Alumni Wall of Distinction.

 

Gary Moses, Class of 1967

For Gary Moses, Class of ‘67, the limelight was never something he sought.

“To me, good leadership is achieved by working hard, behind the scenes, on any given project.”

When Gary wasn’t running an 8,000 acre family farm in the Vermilion area, he was making an impact in the community. He was president of the Vermilion Agricultural Society from 1983-85, as well as a committee head of the society’s machinery display.

Gary was a regional director on the provincial board of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies and received the award for Outstanding Supporter of Agriculture in 2015. Gary was president of the Western Canada Fairs Association in 1985, and received an honorary life membership in 2000.

In 2005, he was one of 8,000 Albertans to receive the Alberta Centennial Medal. Gary was also a UFA delegate, and served a term as Exalted Ruler of the Elks.

The agriculture technology - farm management major alumnus has a long-standing history with Lakeland. The Moses family has been neighbours with Lakeland for over 100 years.

Gary was vice-chair for Lakeland’s Board of Governors from 2011-17. He was also a member of the crop technology program’s advisory committee and was involved in the founding of the Student-Managed Farm – Powered by New Holland. Being a part of the advisory committee, he says, is one of his biggestaccomplishments.

Gary was considered the go-to person for almost anything. If someone described Gary, they would say he works hard and doesn’t give up.

It is with great honour that Lakeland College inducts Gary Moses, Class of‘67, to the Alumni Wall of Distinction.

Photos: Top- Moses shakes hands with board chair Darrell Howell as president Alice Wainwright-Stewart looks on. Middle- Moses speaks to the graduating class. Bottom- Moses poses with his distinguished alumni award with Wainwright-Stewart (left) and Howell (right).

Alexandra Cooke, Heavy Oil Power Engineering (left) Father: Leonard Cooke, Class of 1996

Shayna Naistus, Health Care Aide
Mother: Patricia Naistus, Class of 2011

Morning Ceremony

Quinn Hlus, Environmental Conservation and Reclamation
Mother: Leanne (Pickett) Hlus, Class of 1986 Father: Darrel Hlus, Class of 1987
Edna Kulczycki (second from right), Child and Youth Care with her Father: Jason Boorse (right), Class of 1998, Grandfather: David Boorse (left), Class of 1969 Grandmother: Sharon Clark), Class of 1969 Great Grandmother: Elizabeth Laird, Class of 1941 (in the photo Edna is holding).
Mary Joanne Roberts, Early Learning and Child Care Certificate Mother: Kim (Ironside) Roberts, Class of 1990
Ashton Stieb, Early Learning and Child Care Certficate
Mother: Kimberley (Barnett) Stieb, Class of 1990
Marina Veenstra, Early Interior Design, Mother: Holly (Buttery) Veenstra,  Class of 1987

4th generation keeps Lakeland legacy alive

When Edna Kulczycki became a Lakeland College alumna she also became the fifth member of her family to graduate from the college.

A graduate of the child and youth care diploma program, Kulczycki celebrated with her family and fellow Lakeland alumni on June 1.

“I think it’s awesome to be at the same school that they were at and to experience it all,” she said following the morning convocation ceremony at the Vermilion campus.

Kulczycki followed in the footsteps of several family generations: her great grandmother Elizabeth Laird, Class of 1941 home economics; grandmother Sharon Boorse (née Clarke), Class of 1969 business education; grandfather David Boorse, Class of 1969 general agriculture; and father Jason Boorse, Class of 1998 university transfer.

“It was nice that Edna was able to be here at the Vermilion campus because that is where my grandma and parents came. It’s a legacy,” said Jason, of Elk Point, Alta. “We’re all proud of her. There were a lot of choices but Lakeland just fell within her needs. It was local for us and a really good school.”

Jason started his bachelor of commerce degree at the Lloydminster campus. “It worked well for me because Lakeland offers smaller class sizes, is more local and provides that bridge from a smaller school to a university,” he said.

For David and Sharon, Lakeland College is not only where they earned their credentials, but also where they met. “I had a great time when I was here at college and met a lot of friends for life,” said Sharon. “I grew up in Vermilion so it’s always nice to come back, and I’m very happy to have my granddaughter attend this college.”

Proud to have his family’s Lakeland tradition continue with his granddaughter, David’s been an active college alumnus over the years. He served as vice president of Lakeland’s Alumni Association from 1983 to 1987, and as president from 1987 to 1988.

With several other grandchildren still years away from starting their postsecondary education journey, David said his family’s Lakeland legacy likely isn’t over yet. “There is the possibility that more will be coming to the college,” he said with a laugh.

Photos: (Top-Bottom) 1. David and Sharon Boorse, Edna Kulczycki and Jason Boorse are all proud Lakeland alumni. 2. A photo of Elizabeth Laird from the 1941 yearbook. 3. Jason graduated from the university transfer program in 1998. 4. A snapshot from David and Sharon’s graduation celebration in 1969. 

Afternoon Ceremony

Alex Antos, Animal Health Technology
Father: Darren Antos, Class of 1988
Kyle Dodgson, Animal Science Technology
Grandfather: Rick Dodgson, Class of 1967
Graham Letts, Crop Technology
Grandfather: Park Letts, Class of 1955
Kaitlin Nichol, Veterinary Medical Assistant
Father: Jason Nichol, Class of 1991
Denver Prior (centre), Crop Technology
Mother: Mary-Lee (Armitage) Prior (right), Class of 1986 Father: Blake Prior (left), Class of 1984
Grandfather: William Armitage, Class of 1953
Chloe Samycia, Animal Health Technology
Grandfather: James Carson, Class of 1951
Liam Speers, Crop Technology
Grandfather: Martin Krupa, Class of 1955
Brittany Trynchuk, Agribusiness
Mother: Tracy (Poliakiwski) Trynchuk, Class of 1992
Jadeene Wolfe, Animal Health Technology
Great Grandfather: George Sexty, Class of 1952
Lisa White, Agri-Business
Grandfather: Charlie White, Class of 1959

Richard Klinger

Starting in oilfield service work with one pumper truck, oilfield pioneer Richard Klinger grew Klinger’s Oilfield Services into a nationally respected company.

Born and raised in Lashburn, Sask., Richard planned to take over his family’s grain farm. With only a high school credential, he bought the farmland to do so.

However a few years into the oilfield sector with Husky Energy, Richard started working with trucks, which piqued his interest, and he veered from farming.

It didn’t take long for Richard to go on his own and start Klinger’s in 1976. Richard grew Klinger’s into a major company with operations in Lloydminster, Bonnyville, Vermilion, Edmonton, Lashburn, Macklin and the Northwest Territories.

Under Klinger’s leadership, his business pioneered many innovations such as a stinging process for removal of sand from cold heavy oil production tanks, a dry sand transport vehicle and master driver certification program.

The company also held alliances with Imperial Oil’s Cold Lake operation and Husky Energy’s Lloydminster operation. The company held those contracts long after Richard sold Klinger’s to Flint Energy Services in 2001, the same year the Lloydminster Chamber of Commerce recognized Klinger’s as the Business of the Year.

When Klinger’s was sold, the company was operating with more than 300 employees and 150 service trucks. Richard remains active in the community. He’s the past president of the local Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Constituency Association, a major donor and supporter of the Lashburn Community Hall, and the founding and major donor to Project Sunrise through the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.

It is with great respect that Lakeland College recognizes Richard Klinger of Lloydminster as a Distinguished Citizen and awards him an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Business Degree.

Photos: Top - Klinger in front of his plaque on the wall of distinction. Bottom - Klinger accepting his honorary degree from Alice Wainwright-Stewart (left), Lakeland's president, and Darrell Howell (left), chair of the college's board of governors.

Judy Woyewitka

Distinguished Citizen 2018

Judy Woyewitka is never one to sit back and wait for life to happen.

When she decides something is worth doing it’s done and done well. Whether as the first female mayor of Vermilion or Lakeland College’s first registrar, that’s an approach that’s guided her in many different roles.

Since 1969, Judy has championed the Town of Vermilion and Lakeland College. At Lakeland, Judy was an accounts clerk, switchboard operator, Continuing Education secretary, registrar, academic advisor, and Marketing and Communications manager. She was also a member of Academic Council and Lakeland’s Board of Governors.

In Vermilion, she was a town councilor and then mayor. She was, and still is to some, a member of several committees and organization including the Vermilion Heritage Park Committee, Vermilion Seniors’ Centre executive, and a trustee at Faith Lutheran Church.

You’d think she’d done it all, but that’s just breaking the surface. She also spearheaded the Vermilion Regional Centre development, assisted in the Vermilion Senior Citizen’s Centre upgrade, and was integral to various infrastructure projects. She’s received numerous accolades such as Vermilion’s Woman of the Year, the Alberta Centennial Medal, Staff Appreciation Award from Lakeland students, and Outstanding Student Service Award from the Colleges and Universities of Alberta.

Judy always says, “To be a leader you have to have a vision, put it into practice and, most importantly, you have to get people to follow your vision. If no one thinks your vision is worthy then you're not a leader, you're taking a walk.”

It is with great respect that Lakeland College recognizes Judy Woyewitka of Vermilion as a Distinguished Citizen and awards her an Honorary Bachelor of Applied Business Degree.

Photos: Top - Woyewitka in front of the Distinguished wall on the Vermilion campus. Bottom: Accepting the honorary degree from Alice Wainwright-Stewart (left), Lakeland's president, and Darrell Howell (right), chair of the Lakeland board of governors.