For the first time in the school’s 35-year history, the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology (NVIT) honoured their graduates with a ceremony right on campus.
“It’s very, very exciting to be able to host our first grad here actually on campus in our new building. It has always been at the civic centre — we have never had the space,” said NVIT president Ken Tourand. “The feedback we got from our elders is that it was like coming home — that this is where we needed to be.”
The school was able to host this year’s ceremony on campus thanks to the recent completion of their Centre of Excellence in Sustainability.
The location wasn’t the only change this year, as culinary arts grads served up a gala dinner following the ceremony instead of the traditional lunch earlier in the day.
“Our culinary arts students graduated, then they went right to work,” Tourand said with a laugh. “We were fortunate to have a number of chiefs from the five bands in attendance as well. Overall I think it was just a fantastic event.”
While there were about 70 students donned in robes at yesterday’s ceremony, Tourand said the actual number of graduates is far higher.
“There are a number of them that can get jobs right away and they’re gone as soon as their final exams are done,” he said.
Tourand said he thinks NVIT will see double the amount of grads next year, based on the number of cohorts completing their programs.
“We anticipate close to 120 graduates walking across the stage next year, which will be one of our highest,” he said. “We’re not sure how we’re going to fit them all in.”
All photos by Dara Hill/Herald
