Winter 2026 Convocation and Commencement Ceremony - Kelowna

MASTER OF CEREMONIES 

Samantha Lenci, EdD (Calgary), Provost and Vice President Academic

READING DEAN

James Coble, EdD (Calgary), Dean of Students

PRESENTING FACULTY

Communications, Culture, and Journalism Studies

• Marlo Edwards, PhD (McMaster University)

International Development Diploma

• Ayla Kilic, PhD (Bolgazici University)

Associate of Arts

• Shona Harrison, PhD (UBC)

Early Education Infants and Toddlers Certificate
Early Childhood Education Certificate
Early Childhood Education Diploma

• Andrea Thiessen, M.Sc. (University of Southern Mississippi)
• Karin Potgeiter, M.Ed. (Athabasca University)

Practical Nursing Diploma

• Lori Hildebrandt, MSN (Athabasca University)

Culinary Arts Certificate

• Kelsey Oudendag, Culinary Arts Diploma (SAIT)

Pastry Arts Certificate

• Stephanie Long, Red Seal Baker (VCC)

Bookkeeping/Accounting Technician
Office Assistant

• Brenda Ridgeley-Ketchell, MA (Royal Roads)

Computer Information Systems Diploma
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems

• Youry Khmelevsky, PhD (Ukraine) 

Civil Engineering Technology

• Robert Scherer, PhD (UBC)

Mechanical Engineering Technology

• Jonathan Laumer, PhD (UBCO)

Water Engineering Technology

• Allison O'Neill, M.Ed. (Gonzaga University)

Business Administration Diploma 

• Manik Dhir, MM (UBCO)

Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Human Resource Management

• Roger Wheeler, M.Sc. (Queen's University)

Bachelor of Business Administration

• David Knapp, MA (Royal Roads)
• Kyleen Myrah, EdD (UBC)

Inga Wheeler, EdD (UWO) - Registrar

Curtis Morcom, BBA Hons (OUC) - College Financial Officer and Vice President Corporate Services

Jenn Goodwin, MEB (Waterloo) - Vice President, Enrolment and College Relations

Mary Kline, BA (SFU) - Director, Continuing Studies and Corporate Training

Caitlin Hartigan, MBA (VIU) - Dean, Trades and Apprenticeship

Judith Anderson, PhD (U of A) - Dean, Arts and Foundational

Joanne Gibbons-Smyth, M.Ed. (SFU) - Interim Dean, Health and Social Development

Terri-Lynn Russell, MSW (UBCO) - Interim Associate Dean, Health and Social Development

Halia Valladares, PhD (Burgos) -  Dean, Science and Technology

Steven Crema, MA (Yorkville) - Associate Dean, Science and Technology

Joe Baker, M.Ed. (U of T) - Dean, School of Business

Aggie Weighill, PhD (U of A)- Associate Dean, School of Business

Paul Martin, PhD (U of A) - Dean, Teaching and Learning Innovations

Roen Janyk, MLIS (UBC) - Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning Innovations

Ginny Manning - Member, Okanagan College Foundation

Zach Webster, BBA (OC) - President, Okanagan College Alumni Association

Gord Ficke, ELEN (OUC) - Okanagan College Alumni Association

MARSHAL 

Todd Gillick - Parade Marshal

Okanagan College draws on a rich heritage of post-secondary education and training in the region that can be traced to the early 1960s when the B.C. Vocational School was established in Kelowna. Growth, changes and mergers led to the development of Okanagan College and by 1968, the first university and career transfer students were registered in a full complement of academic and vocational programs. 

Okanagan College began to offer third- and fourth-year university courses in cooperation with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria in 1989. By 1992 it had received its new mandate and was named Okanagan University College (OUC). 

OUC offered joint degrees with UBC and UVic until 1995 when new legislation enabled university colleges to grant their own baccalaureate degrees. OUC conferred its first degrees on 123 grads at the Spring Convocation in 1998. At OUC’s last convocation ceremonies 900 degrees and diplomas were conferred. 

On July 1, 2005, OUC evolved to become two new institutions, Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan. Okanagan College offers a broad array of diploma and certificate programs and two degree programs. 

With campuses in Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon, and Salmon Arm, Okanagan College is the largest college in the interior. It is an institution that serves the education and training needs of the region – stretching south to Osoyoos, west to Princeton, to Mica Creek in the north, and Revelstoke in the east. 

Okanagan College has become a vital and integral component of the social and economic fabric of B.C.’s interior. It serves not only this region, but also the world through its programs, services, community activities and enterprises. 

Okanagan College is dedicated to providing learning opportunities for people at every stage of life and educational experience. The College offers programs that lead to a full range of credentials, from basic literacy skills to bachelor’s degrees, and that cover a broad spectrum of subject matter, career opportunities and interests. Okanagan College transforms lives and communities.

As part of the Indigenous OC initiative, Okanagan College is gifting Indigenous graduates with commemorative convocation stoles designed with pictographs from both the Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc nations. 

Indigenous Services collaborated with local Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc Knowledge Keeper and Artist, Les Louis, to create beautiful Indigenous-designed stoles. With family lineage to both Lower Similkameen, and Bonaparte Indian Bands, Louis says “My creativity stems from many influences, but none so important as my culture, language, traditions, and mother nature.” Respectively, these stoles were created with local Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc designs, including pictographs of a canoe family and three eagles. 

Pictographs have been created by Syilx Okanagan and Secwépemc peoples for thousands of years and are found throughout the region. Each pictograph’s meaning is specifically relevant to the place that it is in. The depictions of pictographs range from being a representation of specific ceremonies and protocols, to practical maps as to where to find certain resources, to acknowledging social and societal structures as well as important sites. Many pictographs provide insight as to how and when to utilize certain resources and many traditional knowledge keepers are able to decipher and share this knowledge today. The pictographs chosen for the convocation stoles carry traditional meanings, however, have been slightly modified for our use and carry symbolic meaning to Okanagan College. 

The three people in the canoe are symbolic of the three Okanagan College campuses that exist on the traditional and unceded territory of the Syilx Okanagan people. These three campuses, Penticton, Kelowna and Vernon are connected by Okanagan Lake. The canoe family illustrates the collaboration and connection of faculty, staff and students at all campuses, paddling together on an educational journey. The three eagles are a Secwépemc design, representative of the Salmon Arm Campus residing on the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc nation. The three eagles carry a special significance as eagles, and their feathers, are honored and revered with the utmost respect. Eagles are also considered messengers, bridging a sacred and spiritual connection to the Creator. 

For all Okanagan College convocation ceremonies, students and employees with Indigenous ancestry may choose to wear their traditional Indigenous regalia, in lieu of a gown and hood. Traditional regalia refers to the traditional and sacred clothing, accessories and pieces worn or carried by Indigenous peoples during various ceremonies, such as powwows, celebrations and pan-national gatherings. As regalia are personal and sacred outfits, it is appropriate to approach and inquire, however, please refrain from touching without consent. 

To learn more about Indigenous convocation stoles and the meaning of the pictographs, please visit okanagan.bc.ca/indigenization.

In September 2018, at the 10th Annual Youth Exhibition Powwow, Okanagan College was presented with a ceremonial Eagle Staff, created by Elder Richard Jackson of the Lower Nicola Indian Band. Jackson, along with Noel Ferguson of the Canoe Creek Nation, gave the staff to Okanagan College as a symbol of respect recognizing the College’s efforts to embrace Indigenous culture and values in supporting Indigenous learners. 

Many Indigenous peoples consider the eagle to be the most honoured and respected animal in the natural world. The eagle relays prayers to the creator and often represents the voice of the people. The use of eagle feathers on the staff establish it as a sacred item of reverence. The staff is also adorned with jingle bells. They symbolize the jingle dress and the healing potential of the dance of the same name. The medicine wheels and four directions on the staff represent the multitude of teachings in holism, interconnectedness, and living in balance. 

This ceremonial Eagle Staff plays a prominent role in Okanagan College commencement and convocation ceremonies. Signifying the respectful assembly of all nations gathering in unity to celebrate, the Eagle Staff is carried at the front of the Platform Party in the graduation procession. The staff is drummed into the ceremony with an Honour Song. When the procession reaches the platform, the staff is placed in the flag stand alongside the nation and institution flags. The role of the bearer is an honour bestowed on someone who is recognized as living in a good way. 

The Okanagan College Eagle Staff joins the traditions of pipers, gowns, speeches and formalities which are the hallmarks of commencement and convocation ceremonies at Okanagan College. The staff has taken its place as an integral part of an institutional culture which recognizes the value of inclusion, respect and an appreciation of diversity in ways of knowing.

Jillian Garrett (Chair), Faculty, Arts 

Morgan Martin (Vice Chair), Faculty, Science and Technology

Brenda Ridgeley, Faculty, Business 

Christopher Torrie, Faculty, Foundational Programs 

Kelly Brochu, Faculty, Trades and Apprenticeship

Wendy Wheeler, Faculty, South Okanagan Similkameen

Claude Hurtubise, Faculty, Central Okanagan

Leanne Mallory, Faculty, North Okanagan 

Bryan White, Faculty, Shuswap Revelstoke

Vivian Moretti, Staff, Support Staff 

Michelle Somerville, Staff, Support Staff 

Samantha Lenci, Educational Administrator, Provost and Vice President, Academic 

Paul Martin, Dean, Teaching and Learning Innovations

Chris Newitt, Associate Dean, Arts and Foundational 

Joan Ragsdale, Educational Administrator, 
Special Advisor to the President (in-community program design) 

Danny Marques, Educational Administrator, Associate Dean, Trades and Apprenticeship 

Shirelle Nickoli, Student, North Okanagan

Malachi Gossen, Shuswap Revelstoke 

Chelsey Simmons, Student, Central Okanagan

Sara Delgado Soto, Student, South Okanagan Similkameen

Dustyn Baulkham, Chair 

Andrea Alexander, Vice Chair 

Ben Harris 

Cindy Battersby 

Dale Safinuk

Emmarith Balili

Gurjit Chand 

Jillian Garrett 

JoAnn Fowler 

Kevin Fukishima 

Roger Wheeler 

Sheri Hamilton 

Okanagan College keeps in touch with its graduates via E-News, an electronic newsletter, the Alumni Association Facebook page, the Alumni Association LinkedIn page and the online community. Alumni are encouraged to stay in touch by notifying the Alumni Office of address and name changes, degrees from other universities and other important news that could be published in the newsletter.

To keep a connection with the Okanagan College Alumni Association contact us: 

Okanagan College Alumni Association
1000 KLO Road 
Kelowna, BC V1Y 4X8 
Telephone: 250-762-5445, ext. 4214
Email: alumni@okanagan.bc.ca

Visit our website at okanagancollege.ca/alumni

For more information, please contact:

Okanagan College Foundation 
okanagancollegefoundation.ca 
Telephone: 250-762-5445, ext. 4775
Toll Free: 1-888-650-6968