Oxford County Campus to Celebrate Convocation

On Wednesday, October 17, 2012, Fanshawe College will celebrate the convocation of graduates from its Oxford County Campus.

The College offers a diverse range of programming at locations in Woodstock and Tillsonburg, including academic upgrading, certificate and diploma programs, as well as continuing education and apprenticeship opportunities.

"We look forward to celebrating with all our graduates," said Oxford County Campus Chair Donna Derer. "Most continue to live and work in the region and we are proud of their contribution to the economic prosperity of Oxford County. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours."

The Oxford County graduation ceremony will feature addresses by several program valedictorians, including:

• Miriah Hamilton, Child and Youth Worker
• Allison Malcolm, Personal Support Worker (Ms. Malcolm is also a noteworthy graduate. Please see her story below)
• Patricia Thompson, Business Foundations

In addition to the presentation of diplomas and certificates, awards will be presented to the graduating students with the highest academic achievement in their program. Ms. Ashley Baldwin, graduating from the Hair Stylist program, will also be presented with the Dean's Academic Medal for Regional Campus Operations. This medal is presented to the graduate with the highest academic standing upon completion of certificate, diploma or degree program. Ms. Baldwin will also receive the award for highest academic achievement in her program. Other award winners include:

• Kimberly Hannaford, Business Foundations
• Yvonne Schuurman, Child and Youth Worker
• Thomas Shaw, Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technician
• Allison Malcolm, Personal Support Worker
• Joshua Heyer, Police Foundations
• Melissa Skillings, Practical Nursing

The fall graduation ceremony will be held at 7 p.m., October 17, 2012, at Maranatha Christian Reformed Church, 735 Frontenac Crescent, Woodstock, ON.

Noteworthy graduate: Allison Malcolm

For someone with a social anxiety disorder, speaking in public can be a real challenge.

Fortunately, Allison Malcolm has come to like challenges, which means she'll be ready when she represents the Personal Support Worker program as valedictorian at the Fanshawe College Oxford County Campus fall convocation on October 17, 2012.

Allison has come a long way since her anxiety issues forced her to leave high school after Grade 10. Now 33 and a mother of two, she returned to school in the past year to pursue her dream of working in the medical field. She chose Personal Support Worker - an eight-month program - to see if she could handle being back in the classroom.

It turns out she could.

"I've always liked school, but I haven't liked the social part of it," Allison says. "I was really nervous, but between the teachers and my classmates it did not take very long at all to become comfortable. I learned quickly in class that people aren't there to judge me. They're here to learn too, and it's okay if I say the wrong answer. All of my classmates will verify that I was actually very outspoken in class, which is quite the opposite of the normal me."

The Personal Support Worker program trains graduates to care for patients in a variety of settings, including nursing homes, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and others. Allison completed two work placements as part of her training, working with seniors at Leisureworld Caregiving Centre, and with students at an elementary school in Ingersoll. Both placements gave her on-the-job experience that helped her gain full-time employment with Red Cross Care Partners after she finished her course work.

She says her program set her up for success in her new job, working with palliative patients in their homes.

"The main focus that our teachers had was treating people with dignity and respect," she explains. "Honestly, if you can do that in this profession, you can accomplish a lot. They definitely gave us the tools, resources and experience we needed, and it was just awesome. I couldn't have asked for better teachers. They prepared us well."

With one challenge successfully completed, Allison is confident that she can thrive in the classroom. She hopes to return to Fanshawe for the Registered Practical Nursing program.