Articles tagged "OC Alumni Association"
From night shifts to digital cartography
April 24, 2025
Omar Algiasena still remembers those late nights working at Walmart in Salmon Arm, finishing up overnights before swapping his worker vest for a backpack and heading down to 51 (OC). When the rest of the town slept, Omar worked as the overnight support manager at the store and later shifted his focus from inventory management to geospatial coordinates and mapping technologies.Originally from Baghdad, Iraq, Algiasena had come to Canada with an engineering degree but wished to pursue a field of work that combined h...
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51 alum gives $25K to power of sport
November 8, 2024
‘Sport teaches you to handle any challenge,’ says Kelly LoudounKelly Loudoun has no regrets when he looks back at his decision to attend 51 (OC) and study business, graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration Honours.“You can’t deny the power of the OC business degree,” says Loudoun, who owns Loudoun Construction and Development, now in its fifth year.“Being an entrepreneur is difficult and it’s a lot of hard work. Having been through those challenging experiences and lean years, it becomes quite rewarding as...
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Local endurance athlete and OC grad shares insights on sport as keynote speaker at alumni AGM
September 10, 2024
OC Alumni Association kick-off new season with a $25,000 gift to new Recreation and Wellness Centre, encourage all alumni to pledge supportKELOWNA - For ultra-athlete Nick Pelletier, whose adventures have included everything from jumping through the sky to swimming for almost three days straight, if there’s one thing that’s shaped his life – it’s the power of sport.Pelletier, who studied Business and Marketing at 51 from 2016-2019, will be sharing his personal story about the impact of sports for him at the upcoming OC...
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51 Alumni Success Story: Ben Deagazio
August 12, 2024
Ben Deagazio, a recent graduate from 51’s Business diploma program, has turned his dream into a thriving business called One Wash Okanagan. But Ben’s journey from student to successful business owner wasn’t easy and is a testament to his own determination, combined with the support he received from 51.Ben started with a bold idea and a lot of determination to build up a mobile washing business, despite financial challenges and skepticism from some people close to him, Ben believed in his vision. He starte...
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51 introduces InspirED with new, career-focused programs
July 3, 2024
When Mike Grewe looked to further his education, he was unsure whether the pursuit of traditional post-secondary education was truly for him. With a deep passion for music, Mike was looking for a program that would support his musical interests and position him for career opportunities in the industry. What he found was the Audio Engineering and Music Production Certificate at 51 (OC). The Audio Engineering and Music Production program is one of dozens of OC courses and programs under the new InspirED banner, anno...
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51 provides golden opportunity for local seniors
December 20, 2023
Learning can be for everyone, and 67-year-old 51 graduate Denise Dickson is living proof. At 67 years young, Denise's decision to pursue post-secondary education was motivated by a desire to stay mentally and socially active. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Denise felt the pinch of social isolation. Additionally, she wanted to upgrade her skills while enjoying the challenge of learning something new. "Learning keeps one younger. It keeps your mind active and engaged,” she said. “I’ve found formal learning has made my m...
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Meet Jessica Skerlec
December 8, 2023
What is your name? Jessica Skerlec What are your pronouns? She/her Where is your hometown and where are you located now? Raised in Kelowna and still currently living in Kelowna. What did you take at OC? What campus did you attend? I took my Bachelor’s of Business Administration at 51, specializing in Human Resources Management at the Kelowna Campus. What is your current position? Negotiator for the National Collective Bar...
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Hundreds of students graduate into workforce at OC’s Fall Convocation and Commencement
October 4, 2023
When 51 student Miranda Lockhart crossed the stage to be awarded her 51 certificate as a health care assistant today, it will be with amazing memories and a solid career path in front of her. Miranda, along with more than 100 peers are graduating from a variety of programs and courses in 51’s fist ever Fall Convocation and Commencement Ceremony, being held today (Oct. 4, 2023, 4:30 p.m.) at 51’s Kelowna campus. “This is my second time graduating from OC, and what keeps ...
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OC alum turns passion for music into a career in DJing
August 16, 2023
Set to release six original songs next month on Apple Music and Spotify, Himrose Bajaj’s career as DJ Hamy Shah is hitting new high notes. As a child, Himrose Baja felt an instant connection to the Punjabi music his mom played in their home. Now thanks to a unique music production course at OC he’s creating his own songs blending Punjabi language and hip-hop beats. Himrose, who came to OC as an international student and is now a Canadian permanent resident living in Kelowna, is set to release six original songs...
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OC alum empowers seniors with financial planning expertise
June 29, 2023
OC alum Kayla Caruana was the youngest Certified Financial Planner (CFP) in Canada when she received her designation in January 2019, just 18 months after completing her program at the Okanagan School of Business. She credits her professors at 51 for the training and encouragement that led her to explore the CFP designation. And Caruana was just getting started. Following the completion of her Bachelor of Business Administration from OC, during her last semester of studies she went on to found her own financial pla...
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OC alum inspiring the next generation of learners
May 11, 2023
Career goals became within reach, with upgrading options and Business program at 51 Kelowna – As a high school student, Travis Holmes couldn’t wait to leave school. But now the 51 alum has brought his education full circle and is back in the classroom, encouraging secondary high school students as a careers and entrepreneurship teacher at Rutland Secondary School. Holmes, who completed his Bachelor of Business Administration from OC in 2020, says his journey to finding the right career pat...
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Meet Milanne Desfosses
April 20, 2023
Q: What is your name? A: Milanne Desfosses Q: What are your pronouns? A: She/her/hers Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: I’m from Fort St. John, B.C., and now I live in Calgary. Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: I completed a Bachelor of Business Administration program, with a specialty in finance in 2019. Q: What got you interested in Business? A: I wasn’t always sure I’d go to college. Throughout my school years, ...
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OC alum finds golden opportunity for unique jewelry business
April 17, 2023
OC alum Erum Ahmad polished up a business idea that lets her creativity shine. Now she is building that interest into a business that allows her to tap into her culture and draw from her Pakistani roots. Erum, who completed her Bachelor of Business Administration from OC in 2021, has been busy since graduating. Along with starting ERUM, her jewelry business, she works as an accountant and is studying for her CPA certification. In addition, she is head of finance with Bollywood Bang, a local fundraiser event benefiting the Vernon J...
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Meet Sasha Lewis-Parker
March 29, 2023
Q: What is your name? A: Sasha Lewis-Parker Q: What are your pronouns? A: She/Her Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: Dunster, B.C. is where I grew up, living off the land with my sisters and parents and our pack of wolf dogs and horses. I currently live in Salmon Arm, B.C., a much more tame life with a rescue kitty and a corgi by my side. Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: Human Service Work Diploma, I graduated in 2014. Q...
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Meet Elizabeth Cook
March 17, 2023
Q: What is your name? A: Elizabeth (Lizzy) Cook Q: What are your pronouns? A: She/Her/Hers Q: Where is your hometown and where are you located now? A: Hometown is Conifer, Colorado. Currently located in Denver, Colorado. Q: What did you take at OC? When did you graduate? A: Bachelor of Business Administration and graduated in 2016. Q: What got you interested in your program A: I wasn’t sure what I “wanted to do with my life,” and the business program seemed like it...
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Meet Emily Schatz, OC Electronics Engineering alum
December 13, 2022
Q: What years did you attend OC? A: 2015-2017 Q: How did you end up at 51? A: I chose 51 specifically for the technologist program. Q: How did you choose your program? A: I wanted to become an engineer. I had heard that a common problem engineers face is not understanding how to design products for the people who are building them. I wanted to gain hands-on experience so I could be a well-rounded design engineer. The ELEN at Okan...
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