Cool grads! November 2008

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This year's featured cool grads

annika_valedictorianAnnika Johansson-Paquette - Valedictorian

When Annika Johansson-Paquette decided to return to school to pursue a Bachelor of Applied Child Studies, she says there was no question where she would go.

"I chose Mount Royal because I had such a positive experience there before," says Johansson-Paquette, who graduated with a Child and Youth Care Worker diploma from Mount Royal in 2000. "It was just like going back home."

Not only did Johansson-Paquette excel in her studies, she was also instrumental in helping create the Bachelor of Applied Child Studies Society, serving as vice-president in 2006.

Her involvement with the group included fundraising activities such as candy sales, raising donations to fill backpacks for homeless youth in Calgary, and collecting toy donations for the One World Child Development Centre.

Johansson-Paquette had the honour of co-presenting at the first annual Children Matter Symposium, a workshop on advocating for children's rights. She was also one of the first students to ever present at the Faculty of Health's Scholarly Exchange, where she delivered a presentation entitled Squeaking the Wheel: An Understanding of Advocacy.

Now the mother of two can add valedictorian to her list of accomplishments. "My children tell me they're proud of me."

Johansson-Paquette currently works as a parent advocate for the Parent-Child Assistance program at McMan Youth, Family and Community Services. There, she provides support for parents and children affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and assists with community presentations to raise awareness about FASD.

"I'd like to change the world," says Johansson-Paquette. "I know that may sound flaky, but even if it's just a little piece inside my world — whether it's just Calgary — it's about educating, raising awareness and helping people to accept diversity." 

- Jondrea De Ruyter

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christy_valedictorianChristy Poirier - Valedictorian

Moving from Cranbrook B.C. to the big city of Calgary gave Christy Poirier, one of this year's valedictorians, the confidence to go after her dreams.

Poirier's decision to attend Mount Royal in 2006, to carve out a path in the broadcasting industry, marked her first move away from home. She credits living in residence for helping her make that important transition.

"The Residence Life Program at Mount Royal is great," says the 22-year-old. "The independence was incredible. Being able to go from living at home to a much larger city, and still feel like you could conquer the world, was amazing. I grew as a leader and I grew as a person."

While pursuing her Broadcasting diploma, Poirier served as a residence advisor. She oversaw 30 students and won a Resident Advisor of the Year award in 2007/08.

Poirier was also part of the founding committee for the Journalists for Human Rights Society.

Poirier says she has always been drawn to the broad impact that the media has on the lives of others in terms of conveying important information to the masses.

Poirier now works in broadcast radio as a morning news anchor and reporter for CJCY 102.1 FM in Medicine Hat.

"I've always said that I wanted to be an anchor/reporter and I'm doing that straight out of school.

"That just speaks volumes for the education that I received and how prepared the instructors made us." When asked to reflect on being named valedictorian, Poirier says she is honoured. "It is definitely humbling.

To have my peers and instructors support me in that way is huge."

Poirier says she plans to work hard and follow the words of American essayist and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."

- Jondrea De Ruyter

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clayton_rod_coolgradsClayton Benoit & Rod Tremblay
Bachelor of Applied Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership

Clayton Benoit and Rod Tremblay are celebrating the achievement of two major goals — they are both graduating from the Ecotourism and Outdoor Leadership (ETOL) program, and they recently completed a 3,850 kilometre cross-country expedition by bicycle and canoe.

"Our goal was to cross Canada from south to north by human power, and to raise $10,000 for the Lupus Society of Alberta," Tremblay says.

Along with fellow ETOL students Aaron Bezeau and Dave Stimson, Benoit and Tremblay launched the expedition on June 1 by driving to Yahk, BC, a small town southwest of Cranbrook.

They began cycling at the tip of the Idaho Panhandle, then rode 3,128 kilometres north, arriving in Dawson City, Yukon, on Canada Day. From there, they canoed 726 kilometres north along the Blackstone, Peel and Mackenzie Rivers, reaching the Mackenzie River Delta near the town of Inuvik on July 30.

"We were inspired by the completion of our degrees, and by other ETOL grads who have undertaken really cool and meaningful trips in the past. We wanted to follow their example," Tremblay says.

Tremblay and Benoit decided to use the trip as a way to raise money for lupus, an auto-immune disease that affects one in every 2,000 Canadians.

"It is a disease that is often under the radar," Tremblay says. "Clayton's mother Jonanne had a valiant battle with lupus over the past 20 years. She lost her battle on Sept. 1. It really hits home now what the disease can do."

Benoit and Tremblay dedicated a slide show about their expedition to Joanne's memory in late September, and they continue to work towards their goal of raising $10,000. Donations can be made by contacting the Lupus Society of Alberta online at lupus.ab.ca.

Tremblay hopes people will find other kinds of inspiration in the expedition as well.

"I hope they'll see the trip as an example of what a few average people can do with a bit of planning and hard work," he says.

Planning for the expedition began in December 2006, but the ETOL degree program also helped the team prepare.

"In our program, we did a lot of hands-on outdoor skills training. It was that training that allowed us to keep our cool in some tricky situations," Tremblay says.

"We already knew each other and had spent time in the outdoors together.

"That allowed us to see our strengths and weaknesses, and to work much better as a team."

Benoit has now moved to Medicine Hat, where he is working as a contractor.

Tremblay has been working as a white water rafting guide and as a freeride skiing coach at Panorama Mountain Ski Resort.

- Nancy Cope

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david_coolgradsDavid Huckell
Certificate of Completion, Public Relations program

David Huckell wondered if this day would ever really come.

After three-and-a-half years of hard work and determination, Huckell, who has cerebral palsy, is graduating with his Certificate of Completion in Public Relations.

He says he wouldn't have been able to achieve this feat without the support of his instructors, classmates, family and the services of Mount Royal's Inclusive Post-Secondary Education (IPSE). Huckell chose Mount Royal because of the small class sizes and the level of student-teacher interaction.

"I find that a university is too big to focus its attention on students," he says.

A great example of this personal connection that he cherished at Mount Royal, happened last year. Huckell was in a theatre classroom when his instructor asked the class to move towards the front. While this might seem like a simple enough request, Huckell was unable to comply because he uses a powered wheelchair.

In response, his classmates sprung into action and successfully lobbied for a different classroom, one that allowed Huckell to sit with them.

"This gave me an overwhelming sense of belonging," he says, adding the experience confirmed to him that he made the right decision in attending Mount Royal.

Along with his service dog, Oswald, Huckell has excelled as a student.

In addition to his studies, he served as a coordinator at First Year Insight, Mount Royal's interactive orientation program for new students. While in the role, Huckell created a guide, entitled Absolute Access, which includes the best routes around campus for people with physical disabilities.

Although Huckell does not yet have a job lined up, he knows his future is bright.

"I'm confident that with my education I can find something that is best suited for me," he says.

- Fred Cheney

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brett_coolgradsBrett Tiesmaki
Bachelor of Applied Communications – Electronic Publishing

Brett Tiesmaki has waited nearly three decades for his chance to cross the stage during Convocation.

"I've gone through a lot of post-secondary programs," says the single father, who took general studies at Mount Royal 30 years ago after graduating from high school.

"I transferred to U of A (University of Alberta), but hated it, so I went back to Mount Royal and started in the Journalism program. A year later, I transferred to Carleton University to complete my studies, but ended up leaving because of health issues and moving back west."

After spending most of his career managing hotels and retail outlets in Banff, Tiesmaki decided to complete his education by pursuing his dual loves of writing and design with an Applied Communications Degree in electronic publishing.

Tiesmaki, 50, admits he felt terrified going back to Mount Royal as a mature student.

"Not only was I the oldest in the class, but I was often the oldest in the room — I think I was older than 95 per cent of my instructors," he laughs.

"This is certainly the biggest challenge I have ever faced."

But Tiesmaki met the challenge head on, achieving one of the highest GPAs (3.93) in the program's history and securing a full-time job with Altagas before he even finished his last work term.

"My family and I are so proud of his accomplishments," says daughter Maija, also a Mount Royal student.

"I still remember how intimidating it was for him to be in a classroom with students half his age and how many nights he camped out in the Communications lab perfecting his projects."

Despite the many obstacles Teismaki faced, he now knows he made the right decision when returning to Mount Royal.

"I've gone to many different schools, but I have learned more at Mount Royal than at any place else," he says.

- Teresa Wong

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