Niagara College celebrates record 7,000 graduates

Niagara College celebrated approximately 7,000 graduates last week as the institution concluded the largest Spring Convocation in its history.

The six-day event wrapped up Saturday, June 13, after 12 ceremonies at the Simplii Financial Athletic Centre on the College’s Welland Campus.

Graduates from programs spanning health care, community services, business, media, technology, skilled trades, hospitality and horticulture joined Niagara College’s global alumni community of more than 150,000.

Saturday’s final ceremonies recognized more than 1,600 graduates from the School of Business and Management and Niagara College Toronto.

Niagara College President Sean Kennedy encouraged the Class of 2026 to approach the future with passion and remain open to changing direction.

“Graduates, your ‘wild and precious life’ is yours to design. You had a plan when you came to NC, an interest that informed your program choice, that has hopefully grown into a passion upon which you will build a career,” said Kennedy. “Your plan may have changed since you started, and it may change many more times as you build the life you wish to live.”

Among the week’s top academic honourees was Welland resident Alleeya Guthro, who received the Governor General’s Bronze Academic Medal after earning a 98.37 per cent average in the Recreation Therapy program.

The medal is awarded to the graduating diploma student with the highest academic standing.

“The level of hands-on learning I experienced at Niagara College was truly unparalleled,” said Guthro. “Overall, my experience at Niagara College has been truly life changing.”

Guthro also received the Dean’s Academic Award for the School of Community Services.

On June 11, more than 1,115 graduates from the Schools of Media, Trades and Technology crossed the stage.

Brett Gilliam, a Mechanical Engineering Technology (Co-op) graduate, received the School of Technology Dean’s Award after earning a 96.6 per cent average.

Gilliam returned to school after seven years as a Computer Numerical Control programmer and completed his advanced diploma part-time while getting married and welcoming his first child.

“Being able to experience so many potential career paths within the field of mechanical engineering was invaluable to my education and my future career path,” said Gilliam.

He now works as a Mechanical Engineering Technologist at Reynold Stokes Engineering Inc. in St. Catharines.

Jeonghwan Oh, a Computer Programming graduate living in Port Colborne, received the School of Media Dean’s Award with a 96.95 per cent average.

Originally from South Korea, Oh studied contemporary music and worked as a guitar teacher before pursuing programming.

“I wanted to change my direction and felt that programming could be a great fit, even though I had absolutely no prior experience,” said Oh.

Welland resident Destiny Paquin was also among the Class of 2026 graduates.

The Acting for Film and Digital Media graduate was a Niagara Knights basketball athlete, Indigenous student leader and participant in College promotional campaigns.

“My program was incredible,” said Paquin. “The people, the lessons and teachings, everything that I experienced in my two years I will take with me forever.”

Other convocation highlights included the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal, awarded to St. Catharines resident Nashwa Higazy for achieving the highest average in a degree program.

Toronto resident Celeste Anderson, CEO and co-founder of Digital Sports Administration Inc., received the Distinguished Alumni Award, while Lincoln resident Bob Martin was presented with an Honorary Diploma in Environment and Horticulture.

All 12 convocation ceremonies were livestreamed and remain available through Niagara College’s convocation website.