There’s no time like the present when it comes to accomplishing your goals.

For Jon Albert, that meant returning to Lakeland College. 

Previously, he completed academic upgrading, took university transfer courses and played for the Rustlers men’s basketball team. In 2016, he obtained a Journeyperson Gasfitter (A) ticket but his Lakeland journey wasn’t over yet.

He returned to Lakeland to complete the heavy oil operations technician program. He graduated in 2022. Currently, he is enrolled in process and power engineering.

“To become a power engineer is something I always wanted to achieve. The thing that surprised me the most was being able to transfer my work ethic from the field to the classroom,” says Jon, who’s originally from Sweetgrass First Nation.

With support from Lakeland’s award-winning learning success strategist, Karen Harris, Jon discovered new study techniques and leaned on his strengths. His hard work paid off. Jon was inducted into the 2022 President’s Circle and he landed on the dean’s list, which opened many paths to receiving scholarships and bursaries.

“Achieving a 3.5 GPA and making the dean’s list was exciting. I will forever be proud of seeing my name on that list, as I am a 42-year-old student who was also a former high school dropout.”

Outside of the Energy Centre, Jon’s college experience included being a member of Lakeland’s Indigenous Student Council. Together, they organized a walk for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and raised a teepee on campus to share traditional teachings with the campus community, among other initiatives.

Photo: John Albert in the power engineering lab.