Archive for the ‘Students’ Category
Holland College student wins Atlantic Journalism Award
By Wayne Young
Alison Jenkins, a student in the Journalism program at Holland College, has earned an Atlantic Journalism Award for her outstanding work in class and in three Maritime newsrooms.
The Brookvale, P.E.I., resident graduates May 18 but she has already been hired by Brunswick News to work as a summer intern at The Telegraph-Journal newspaper in Saint John. She completed a four-week practicum at that newspaper in March.
In her first year, Jenkins interned at CBC Charlottetown and last fall, she was one of two students in her class to take part in day internships at The Guardian in Charlottetown.
The Journalism program instructors are Rick MacLean, Wayne Young, and Lindsay Carroll. MacLean said it was obvious from very early on that Alison’s maturity would serve her well in this program.
“She was determined to learn as much as she possibly could, working tremendously hard to learn how to tell a story and how to use video to do that.
“As expected, when she went to her second-year, four-week internship she so impressed her supervisors at the Telegraph Journal they asked her to accept a summer spot immediately after.”
The student winners will be presented with awards in their home provinces in May.
The AJA’s gala dinner and awards show will take place on April 28 at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax, N.S.
Culinary Youth Team Canada brings home gold and silver from Nations Cup
Culinary Youth Team Canada members Isabelle Chevarie and Tracy Wildrick participated in three days of intense competition at the 2017 Nations Cup in Grand Rapids Michigan recently, and were rewarded with four gold, including a Best of Show award for their appetizer, and three silver medals for their efforts.
Isabelle is no stranger to competition, she was part of the team Holland College’s Culinary Institute of Canada (CIC) sent to Erfurt, Germany last fall; but for Tracy Wildrick, the Nations Cup was an eye-opener.
I realized that it doesn’t matter how amazing a cook you are, it’s the team and instructors that win these kinds of things, not an individual,” he said.
The young chefs trained under the watchful eye of Chef Instructor Hans Anderegg for weeks in Team Canada’s new training kitchen in the Tourism and Culinary Centre on the Charlottetown waterfront to prepare for this high profile black box competition, but there are some circumstances for which you can never be prepared – like when you’re handed a bucket of live trout.
“We had a hard time getting them out of the bucket,” Isabelle laughed, “the first one slipped out of my hands and under a table.”
All’s well that ends well, though, and the trout ended up pan seared and served with a potato pavé that featured a layer of blue potatoes, earning the team a gold medal.
The students competed against teams from the U.S.A., Barbados, Mexico, Italy, and Scotland. Chef Hans said that culinary competitions such as the Nation’s Cup bear little resemblance to the cut-throat approach so familiar to fans of reality TV cooking shows. Isabelle agreed.
“There’s a lot of pressure, but there’s a lot of camaraderie, too,” she explained. “We may not speak the same language, but we still manage to communicate through food.”
Students from CIC will represent the country at international competitions as National Culinary Youth Team Canada. The CIC was awarded the honour following their exceptional performance at the 2016 Culinary Olympics in Erfurt. Rather than representing the country and competing against other junior chefs, they competed against experienced professional chefs as Regional Team PEI, bringing home two gold medals and placing fourth overall out of 57 teams. In 2012, the team brought home a gold and silver medal as Regional Team PEI.
As the team adds members, practices will ramp up. Right now, they are practicing about 14 hours a week, but by the time January rolls around, they’ll be in the kitchens at least 40 hours a week, sometimes more. Over the next couple of years, they will represent Canada in several competitions all over the world, leading up to the ultimate competition, the Culinary Olympics, in Stuttgart, Germany in February of 2020.
Team Canada Results
Fish/ Shellfish: Gold
Game: Gold
Appetizer: Gold (Best of Show)
National Dish: Gold
Pasta: Silver
Poultry: Silver
Dessert: Silver
Overall Results
Team USA 6 Gold 1 Silver Winner 2017 Nations Cup
Team Canada 4 Gold 3 Silver
Team Barbados 4 Gold 3 Silver
Team Mexico 3 Gold 4 Silver
Team Italy 2 Gold 3 Silver 2 Bronze
Team Scotland 2 Gold 2 Silver 3 Bronze
Welding students create memorial tree for Lorne Valley Cemetery
Students in Holland College’s Welding Fabrication program have worked on a variety of projects over the years, some functional, and others more artistic. Most recently they created a unique memorial piece at the request of a group of local residents.
The memorial, a large aluminum tree, is intended to remember loved ones who are buried off-Island.
Debbie MacDonald explained what the group was looking for.
“So many Islanders leave the province never to return, but still feel a close connection. I felt the tree is a way for them to be remembered if they were not buried here. When the idea arose, a relative suggested Holland College could probably make it. The instructor, Craig Boudreau, and his students were open to the challenge and did a superb job. They were most accessible for any of us who wanted to see the tree as it was being manufactured,” she said.
Welding Fabrication instructor Craig Boudreau said manufacturing the tree gave his students the opportunity to hone their skills while working on an unconventional project.
“The students enjoy working on projects that present challenges, and this was certainly in that category,” he said. “There were so many interesting angles and the project required a great deal of precision.”
The tree was installed in the spring when an inaugural ceremony was held. There are several plaques on the tree now, each bearing the name and dates for Islanders buried elsewhere. There will be a service once a year to recognize the people whose names have been added over the previous 12 months.
Debbie MacDonald is grateful for the work the welding students undertook to make the tree, which will be a lasting legacy in the cemetery.
“We wish the Welding Fabrication students the best as they go forward with their future endeavours, and thank each of the students for their participation in this project. The Memorial Tree means a lot to all the families represented there now, and will continue to provide a place for families to pay tribute to their loved ones in the future. Thank you so much!”
Mini Burger Love at the Early Learning Centre
At Holland College’s Early Learning Centre, educators design activities based on the children’s interests. Lately, the youngsters have been all abuzz about the annual PEI Burger Love campaign that seems to gridlock Island restaurants for the month of April.
Some of the children have heard their parents and siblings talking about the campaign, while others have shared burgers with their parents (a good thing, because some of the 84 burgers on offer this year probably weigh more than some of the children!). It’s pretty safe to say that PEI Burger Love has become, for some families, an annual tradition.
Together, the children and educators organized a Holland College Early Learning Centre Burger Love Day. Educators asked children to suggest ingredients for the HCELC Burger, so it was a concoction constructed by a committee of tiny food critics!
The children went for a balance of healthy toppings such as lettuce, tomato, cucumber, onion, pickle, and cheese, and added a few unusual toppings such as potato chips, gummy worms, marshmallows, chocolate chips, and sprinkles.
They were thrilled with the result and enjoyed the burger they created…which wasn’t that different from a few that are being offered in the real PEI Burger Love campaign. Want a side order of smiley fries with that?
Local chef provides students with hands-on restaurant experience through Transitions program
Summerside, PE – Chef Craig O’Neill at Brothers Two restaurant in Summerside has been a strong supporter of Holland College’s Transitions program for the past two years. The Transitions program’s main objective is to help senior high school students make informed decisions about their post-secondary education. Transitions mentors seek experiential learning opportunities for students in a wide variety of workplaces.
Chef Craig has been an enthusiastic partner, helping students and sharing his passion for his trade. He brings students into the restaurant, giving them hands-on learning opportunities.
He sees the value to giving high school students the opportunity to find out more about potential career paths.
“I truly feel the Transitions program is important for a lot of students, and if I had a program like this when I was younger maybe I would have fallen in love with my chosen career much sooner,” he said. The students always have an amazing time and find it to be one of their favorite experiences during the program.
Chef Craig is no ordinary cook. Not only is he an amazing chef, but when you meet him you can see how much he cares about his community. He is currently working toward his Red Seal as an apprentice at Brothers Two restaurant, and his genuine commitment to his culinary career is always appreciated by the students and has sparked the interest of some to pursue the culinary program after graduation. Chef Craig always encourages students to be the best they can be, regardless what career path they follow.
Joan Diamond, Transitions program coordinator says Chef Craig’s enthusiasm, work ethic, and desire to share his knowledge with others are exemplary.
“Craig O’Neill is a perfect example of how one person can influence many. In this day and age, with so many careers possibilities, Craig’s contribution and that of Brothers Two Restaurant in Summerside make the world of difference to our students.”
For more information about the Transitions program, visit http://www.hollandcollege.com/transitions, or call Joan Diamond at (902) 629-4248. – Submitted by Jillian Jeffrey, Transitions mentor.
Want to keep in touch with Holland College? There’s an app for that!
By Trish Johnston
The Office of Alumni Relations recently launched Holland College’s first mobile app. The app was designed to keep more than 35,000 alumni connected to the college and to each other.
The app, which was developed by students from the Computer Information Systems (CIS) program, provides alumni with regular updates from the college and connections to other alumni through social media. Accessing Benchmark, the Holland College Foundation magazine, staying current on the Hurricanes Athletics news, and even making a gift to the school, are now easier than ever. Alumni can also register through the app for an electronic version of their alumni card – a card that every graduate should have as the benefits continue to grow.
BJ MacLean, Learning Manager for the CIS program, headed the project in partnership with the Office of Alumni Relations.
(Left – Right) CIS instructor B.J. MacLean discussing the app with CIS students Kyle Newcombe and Chris Signouin.
“There was a lot of learning involved, but it provided a great opportunity for us to explore this specific technology and go through the software development lifecycle,” said MacLean.
Second-year CIS students Kyle Newcombe and Chris Signouin took on the project under the guidance of MacLean.
“The technology that we used allowed us to develop the app quickly. That said, it was new to us, so we had to do a lot of research, and it didn’t always go smoothly,” said Newcombe. This project has taught me a lot of things, but mainly how important communication is,” said MacLean, noting that Kyle and Chris were highly self-motivated and were able to take on the project as a challenge.
“I was impressed with their ability to learn what was needed to successfully develop a product that met the Office of Alumni Relations’ needs. I am sure they will have ideas to improve and grow the app, which could lead to an enhancement release for students to work on next year,” said MacLean.
“Now that they’ve graduated, Kyle and Chris are moving ahead with their careers as developers, but there will be new students who will benefit from the challenge going forward.”
Sigouin added, “I hope that other students will take the opportunity to build on the app. It was a great experience to work as a team and create something that will benefit others. And, as a new alumnus myself, I appreciate having quicker access to information as well as the convenience of having the alumni card at my fingertips!”
Although developed primarily for alumni, the Office of Alumni Relations encourages anyone who would like to stay connected with Holland College to download the app which is available free of charge on both iOS (iPhone operating system) and Android platforms by searching “Holland College Alumni”
Raymond Loo Memorial Garden gives Holland College students and staff a place to learn and reflect
A barren patch of land on Holland College’s Prince of Wales Campus has been turned into an organic garden and Plein air classroom where students and staff can rediscover the therapeutic benefits of nature and take applied learning to a whole new level.
The Raymond Loo Memorial Garden is named after one of the most prominent organic farmers in Prince Edward Island. For more than 10 years, Mr. Loo welcomed students from Holland College’s Transitions program, a career exploration program for high school students, to his farm to learn more about organic farming. When Mr. Loo died of cancer two years ago, Transitions staff wanted to pay tribute to his work and vision for P.E.I. youth by providing students with an outdoor classroom where they could learn about sustainability firsthand by designing, building, planting, maintaining and harvesting an on-campus organic garden.
“Our overall goal is to remember Raymond by carrying on what he started – encouraging students to think about where their food comes from, getting them out in nature and learning what it takes to build and maintain a garden,” said Joan Diamond, Transitions coordinator for the college. “The students’ participation in these activities confirmed our hunch that students really do enjoy learning in nature, despite the fact that they don’t often get the opportunity. Even the students who started out thinking it was ‘lame’, said that they had learned a lot and felt a real sense of contributing in a meaningful way to the community.”
As the project evolved over the spring and summer months, the Transitions team realized that the garden was having a noticeable effect on the campus community as a whole. Students and staff began eating their lunches there, and the college’s youngest students, the children in the college’s Early Learning Centre, began visiting it, too.
The Transitions staff worked with instructors in the Early Learning Centre to facilitate experiential learning with the students in the garden. Joan Diamond went into the class to talk about sustainability and the importance of knowing where one’s food comes from, and the youngsters planted seedlings indoors to transplant to the garden later. The children had three planting beds, and the excitement was palpable as they watched their seeds grow. Eventually, they were able harvest and eat them. They continue to enjoy their afternoon visits to what they refer to as “The Secret Garden”, where they can pick and eat strawberries, blueberries and raspberries.
As the campus community began to use the garden more, Diamond noticed a growing trend of instructors taking their classes out to the garden, and the Transitions team decided to create an outdoor learning space complete with seating, stage and podium.
This garden presents endless opportunities to educate and model environmental stewardship. One garden bed is filled with plants that attract the endangered Monarch butterfly. This year, the Holland College library partnered with the Bedeque Bay Environmental Management team to facilitate a Monarch butterfly release in the garden. It was a huge success. Diamond believes that the best way to encourage a sustainable campus is by creating a sustainable culture through engaging students and staff in activities such as these.
“We want to change the way students think about food and nature, and hope to create and maintain a creative space on each of our main campuses that will allow us to continue this work as part of our Transitions environmental rotation, thus enhancing our program content and at the same time enhancing the experience for all students at each of the campuses,” she said.
The Raymond Loo Memorial Garden was created with assistance from the college’s President’s Innovation Fund.
Holland College Educational Joint Venture in China: partners sharing knowledge and best practices
More than 15 years ago, the college began developing a concept based on delivering training programs in China in partnership with local Chinese colleges. Chinese colleges recognized the need and value of implementing a hands-on training model that was very different from the traditional teaching model.
By January 2001, a formal agreement and key components of the Educational Joint Venture (EJV) had been reached with the six colleges. Formal agreements were signed in early February of 2001 as part of the Team Canada Trade Mission to China led by Prime Minister Jean Chretien.
The EJV between Holland College and the Chinese partner colleges utilizes a “3+0 in-China” delivery model whereby Chinese students who complete their three years of study in China obtain dual diplomas from their participating Chinese college and Holland College. Individual Chinese students interested in studying overseas may choose to study at Holland College after one year or two years.
Senior Administration
The commitment of the college’s management team to supporting the EJV programs has been key to the success of the partnership. Administrators from Holland College and the Chinese partner colleges visit each other regularly to share best program management practices. Face to face meetings between senior management in Canada and China help to develop an understanding of business practices and cultures, and enhance friendships, thereby ensuring ongoing development and sustainability for the EJV programs.
Holland College Instructors and Teachers in China
As an essential element of the EJV programs, each year Holland College instructors travel to partner institutions in China to deliver core courses to the students. The EJV courses are delivered in English by the Holland College instructors, which gives the students the opportunity to improve both their general and industry-specific English skills. The instructors use competency-based methodologies to familiarize students with the hands-on, skills-based educational model used in Canada.
Reviewing the Programs
Holland College’s commitment to programming and teaching excellence in Canada and China is supported by ISO policies and procedures. A Holland College curriculum consultant team visits Chinese partner colleges every year to conduct program reviews. The review includes campus and learning environment tours, observance program delivery, and meeting with students, faculty, and administration. The annual reviews, along with ongoing communication, enable Holland College and the Chinese partners to learn from each other and address areas for program improvement and modification.
EJV Best Practices Forums
Since not all Chinese instructors have the opportunity to receive training at Holland College, the college provides teacher-training in China regularly. Since 2004, the college has hosted best practice symposiums on partner campuses in China. The symposia create networking opportunities for the EJV instructors and administrators, giving them the chance to exchange their management experiences and best teaching practices.
Canada-China EJV Scholarships
In 2009, Holland College established the Canada-China EJV Scholarship to award to students for outstanding academic performance and community-mindedness. Since its inception, more than 150 students in China have earned this award.
EJV English Competition
All EJV programs start with an English preparatory year to ready students to study in English. In 2010, Holland College and the Chinese partners held the inaugural EJV English Speaking Competitions. The competition encourages students to improve their English; enhances their competency and research skills; creates networking opportunities for Chinese instructors and students; and facilitates the exchange of best practices in English between institutions. Each Chinese college selects two EJV students to participate in the competition.
Plans for the Future
Currently, there are close to 1,520 students enrolled in the Accounting Technology, Automotive Technology, Business Administration Business Manager Profile, Computer Information Systems, Computer Networking Technology, Early Childhood Care and Education, Electromechanical Technology, Golf Club Management, International Hospitality Management, and Marketing and Advertising Management programs in Chengdu Technological University, Zhenjiang College, Hainan College of Vocation and Technique, Xuchang University, Anyang Normal University, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology Nanchang Campus, Shangrao Normal University, Guiyang Vocational and Technical College and Chongqing Zuxia Software Training Institution.
Holland College looks forward to expanding its program offerings with its EJV partners, and forging new relationships with other institutions in China in the coming years. Plans are being developed to add programs such as Energy Systems Engineering Technology, Human Services, Graphic Design, Culinary Arts, and Construction Technology and Management to the EJV list of offerings.
FAST FACTS
Between 2001 and 2016:
- 33 Holland College senior management staff and administrators visited China
- 130 Chinese partner colleges’ senior management staff and administrators visited Holland College
- 70 Holland College faculty taught in China, 25% are from industry
- 95 Chinese instructors received instructional training at Holland College in Prince Edward Island
- 300 Chinese faculty participated in the best practice symposiums held in China
- 180 Chinese students received Canada-China Educational Joint Venture Scholarship from Holland College
- In total, 5, 148 Chinese students have been enrolled in 10 different programs at 11 Chinese institutions since 2001
- All of the students have employment by the time they graduate
Holland College student trades hockey stick for paint brush
Three years ago, Dylan McQuaid’s résumé would have led one to expect that the 20-year-old would pursue a career in business or sports. After several years of playing hockey, the last three in the Maritime Junior A Hockey League and the Island Junior Hockey League, he seemed destined to follow the path of many other former hockey players into the business side of sports. But a combination of circumstances changed his path.
“I started drawing again to distract from the stresses of hockey, which shifted my focus as my hockey career was winding down. At the same time, I noticed that something wasn’t right with my health, including rapid weight loss and fatigue, along with other symptoms,” he recalls.
Following a series of tests, Dylan was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The diagnosis further sharpened his focus.
“It put things into perspective for me. I thought, nothing’s a given, so I should go after what I want,” he says.
“My aunt was a graphic designer, and she suggested I check out the Graphic Design program at Holland College.”
After investigating his options, he decided to take the college’s one-year Fundamental Arts program before going into the two-year Graphic Design program.
“I didn’t have much confidence,” he explains, “so the Fundamental Arts program helped me to prepare for the Graphic Design program, including helping me develop an understanding of industry terminology.”
Over his three years at Holland College, he demonstrated the characteristics that lead to a successful college experience, and a successful career, and earned him the Governor General’s medal when he graduated last spring.
In addition to his exemplary work ethic and keen design sense, Dylan has a strong belief in community involvement. He participated in many worthwhile causes during his time at Holland College, and even garnered Most Dedicated Player and Hurricanes Scholar-Athlete awards for his role in the Holland College Hurricanes Men’s Baseball team.
Recently, he was named the regional winner in BMO’s Invitational Student Art Competition, winning $5,000 and a trip to Toronto for the opening of a display of the winning works from across the country.
He did his on the job training at Carta Worldwide, a payments processing company, and now has a full-time job as a graphic designer in their Charlottetown office.
“I enjoy working at Carta Worldwide, and I’m strengthening my skills there. Eventually, I’d like to move elsewhere and work at a design firm and continue to learn and improve my design skills.”
Holland College Paramedicine students participate in one of a kind applied research project
There’s an 11-vehicle pile-up on the old runway. A body is sprawled across the ground next to a crushed motorcycle as a wisp of smoke spirals upward. A cable snakes away from a downed power pole. People with injuries ranging from broken bones to head wounds sit in the twisted wreckage or wander around as though dazed. Propane tanks are scattered on the ground. The smell of diesel fuel hangs in the air.
The only sound is the buzz of a UAV, or drone, as it hovers over the scene.
A voice cuts through the buzzing, coming from a built-in speaker onboard the UAV.
“If you can walk, please wave your hand.”
Two of the injured wave their hands.
“Move toward the grass,” the voice instructs them. The two men move away from the wreckage onto the grass that fringes the runway.
“If you are conscious, but can’t get out of your car, please wave,” the voice continues. A few more of the injured signal that they have heard and can respond to the request.
The UAV turns and flies toward a tent some metres away, softly landing on a concrete pad as a paramedicine student accompanied by a preceptor and an adjudicator walks confidently toward the wreckage.
This is a simulation of a mass casualty incident held on an unused runway at Slemon Park, part of a unique applied research project.
Dr. Trevor Jain, medical director of the Holland College paramedicine programs, program director for the new Bachelor of Science in Paramedicine program at UPEI, and chief researcher for the project, explains why it is unique.
“There is anecdotal information about people using UAVs during mass casualty incidents and natural disasters to see what’s going on, but there hasn’t been any research done on the efficacy of using UAV technology as an assessment tool. This is the first applied research in this field in the world,” he says.
The project, which is being led by Holland College’s applied research department, includes UPEI, the Canadian Armed Forces, Island EMS, industry partner Skymetro and some 70 people.
Students from both first and second year Primary Care Paramedicine program were given three tasks. First, to assess the scene to identify potential hazards, second, to triage the injured, and third, to allocate resources. Half of the students performed these tasks the usual way, by walking around the scene; the other half assessed the scene using information collected by the UAV piloted by a trained technician. In the case of the triage exercise, the students using the information from the UAV would then proceed to the site to finish triaging and to allocate resources. These exercises were conducted in daylight and at night to gather as much data as possible.
By using UAVs to do the initial site assessment, first responders are not exposed to hazardous materials, unstable structures such as overturned cars, potentially explosive materials, or armed assailants. The purpose of the research is to determine whether first responders using UAV technology could accurately assess situations remotely in the same amount of time or less than they do by walking through a site.
When the research is complete, first responders will be able to determine whether the addition of a UAV and trained technician to their mass casualty incident team would be beneficial for their team, and for the injured.
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