Student profiles Archive
Award-winning chef shares her passion in the classroom
When executive chef Jody Sigurdson-Longo showed her culinary arts class at Rick Hansen Secondary a clip from Chopped Canada, one of her students quipped: “Chef, you could totally win this!” And that’s what triggered Jody to compete in and win the famed Food Network cooking competition in 2015. The episode in which she is featured…UFV is a family affair for the Youngs of Mission
When Hannah Young drove to her first day of classes at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2015, she was excited, but also feeling a little down. Some of her friends had moved away to live on campus at larger far away universities and here she was carpooling from Mission to the Abbotsford campus...…Adding certification to experience as a medical office assistant
Shirlana Julian is the oldest in a class of 17 medical office assistants in training. Unlike her classmates, who take the UFV Continuing Education’s Medical Office Assistant (MOA) program to launch a career in the field, Shirlana has worked in this role for two years already. Now she would like to become a certified MOA…Nine UFV students among winners of Irving K. Barber Foundation
A total of 470 Indigenous students in BC, including nine UFV students, have been awarded a total of $1.5 million from the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society to support their studies at post-secondary institutions. Undergraduates winners from UFV are Tammer Byrne, Kevin Tyson, and Jaylene Soegard of Abbotsford, Fergus Dalton and Jessica Janik…Five former UFV students receive $5,000 transfer scholarships
Five former UFV students who have transferred to continue their education have received Ike Barber Transfer Scholarships worth $5,000 each to assist them in moving between BC post-secondary institutions. Caleb Keillor of Abbotsford (who transferred to Simon Fraser University), and Jake Letkeman and Garrett Offereins (both of Abbotsford), Emma Rose of Chilliwack, and Brent Mueller…Legal Administrative Assistants who love their jobs
Do you love an intellectual challenge? Enter the legal profession. Pawanpreet Gill and Melissa Solomon, two recent graduates from UFV Continuing Education’s Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA) program, have found a stimulating work environment at a full-service law firm, Lindsay Kenney LLP, based in Langley and downtown Vancouver. However, both took a few detours on the…Senior administrator gears up for growth with HR and Management
We’ve all heard it said: networking is critical to career success. For employees who work remotely — such as Denise Parker, a senior administrator who runs the West Coast operation of a weatherproofing company headquartered in Toronto — networking opportunities are gold: they keep career stagnation at bay. Networking events are one way to meet…Nurse entrepreneur finds niche in foot care
Nikolas Croker first heard about nursing foot care while studying to become a licensed practical nurse (LPN). “My first reaction was to wonder why anyone would need a foot care nurse,” Nikolas recalls. “But the more I learned, the more I realized how critical this type of care is.” In older adults, diabetes causes nerve…UFV students bring home Skills Canada medals
UFV students brought home two medals from the National Skills Competition on Edmonton recently. Congratulations to Greg Zervini, who won silver in the Heavy Mechanical category, and to his coach and instructor, Jamie Ubell. Congratulations to Bradley Streifel, who won bronze in Post-secondary Welding. Congratulations also to coach and instructor Jim Carson. Also competing for…Talented Public Relations duo promote local businesses
“I remember the first time I met you,” says Reece Mack, PR coordinator at Jelly Marketing to his colleague, account manager Hudson Lee. “You were late for class,” he adds, teasingly. The two young professionals met on their first day in UFV Continuing Education’s Public Relations program in October 2016. Since then, they’ve become fast…Game on! Exergames research examines relationship between activity and cognitive
HURRY UP CHEETAH! GO! GO! GO!!” There’s high-energy action in a resource room at Chilliwack’s Central Elementary school. At first glance, it just looks like five children boisterously playing video games. But it’s more than that. It’s physical activity, because the children have to pedal exercise bikes vigorously in order to make their avatars work…Governor General’s Gold Medal — MSW program helps Jacqueline Strating
UFV helped Jacqueline Strating of Abbotsford discover and develop her passion for helping others. And now her education is helping her make a difference in the lives of marginalized women and their families on two continents. Jacqueline, who recently completed her Master of Social Work at UFV, is the 2018 winner of the Governor General’s…2018 Governor General’s Bronze Medal: Perrin Waldock blends theory and
Perrin Waldock enjoys combining theoretical and applied approaches to learning. While his end goal at UFV is a Bachelor of Science with a major in physics and a minor in computing science in 2019, he’s also picking up the Engineering Physics in Mechatronics diploma along the way in 2018. And because he has accumulated perfect…Student researchers recognized at awards night
Providing undergraduate students with research opportunities is one of UFV’s defining strengths. That strength was celebrated on May 24 as top student researchers were honoured at the annual Undergraduate Research Excellence awards. A total of 41 students were recognized at the event, receiving more than $25,000 worth of research awards, the most in the 14-year…Six medals for UFV at BC provincials of Skills Canada
UFV students fared well at the BC Provincial Skills Canada competition at Tradex in Abbotsford on April 18, bringing home three gold, a silver, and two bronze medals. Congratulations to the following medal winners: Arianna Guenette, Architectural Drafting -- Secondary, Bronze Kurtis Stevenson, Architectural Drafting -- Secondary, Silver Greg Zervini, Heavy Mechanical, Gold Matthias Leclair,…Career U-Turn — Bill Chivers on the road to reinvention
The moment Bill Chivers knew his life would never be the same came with a loud snap. “I heard it pop, I knew it right there,” he says. “I was reaching in to get a case. It was one of those ones where you had to dig deep, move ten, grab the one in the…Activity assistants: key to aging well
Often, it’s the small moments that make work meaningful. Watching her 86-year-old client splash around in the wave pool was exactly that kind of a moment for former Recreation Coordinator Lori Teske. “She just enjoyed every minute,” Lori recalls. “It was really touching.” Providing engaging experiences to residents in long-term care takes careful coordination, but…Governor General’s Silver Medal: Perrin Waldock’s physics journey blended theory
You could be forgiven for having a sense of déjà vu when hearing the name of the 2019 winner of the Governor General’s silver medal at UFV, awarded to the top graduate in a bachelor’s degree program. That’s because Perrin Waldock was also the 2018 winner of the Governor General’s collegiate bronze medal, awarded to…The world is a classroom for Global Development Studies major
UFV is committed to helping students and alumni make an impact locally and beyond. Sterling Ray is a Bachelor of Arts student who has taken that challenge literally. Ray is leading intercultural initiatives both on campus and abroad, and will be graduating in June 2019 with a Global Development Studies major and an extended…Sales students shine at UFV
“I was a little nervous as the campaign was drawing to a close, but they did it once again.” That was the summary from Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce business development manager Matt Langdon, referring to a revenue goal set by students in this year’s Bus 221 Advanced Selling course at the University of the Fraser…Advanced Medical Office Assistant helps implement Advance Care Planning program
Article submitted by Cari Borenko Hoffmann Have you ever been afraid a medical crisis could leave you too sick to make your own healthcare decisions? Planning for your future health care needs — a process referred to as Advance Care Planning (ACP) — can help you ensure you receive the medical care you require in…Award-winning chef shares her passion in the classroom
When executive chef Jody Sigurdson-Longo showed her culinary arts class at Rick Hansen Secondary a clip from Chopped Canada, one of her students quipped: “Chef, you could totally win this!” And that’s what triggered Jody to compete in and win the famed Food Network cooking competition in 2015. The episode in which she is featured…UFV is a family affair for the Youngs of Mission
When Hannah Young drove to her first day of classes at the University of the Fraser Valley in 2015, she was excited, but also feeling a little down. Some of her friends had moved away to live on campus at larger far away universities and here she was carpooling from Mission to the Abbotsford campus...…Adding certification to experience as a medical office assistant
Shirlana Julian is the oldest in a class of 17 medical office assistants in training. Unlike her classmates, who take the UFV Continuing Education’s Medical Office Assistant (MOA) program to launch a career in the field, Shirlana has worked in this role for two years already. Now she would like to become a certified MOA…Nine UFV students among winners of Irving K. Barber Foundation
A total of 470 Indigenous students in BC, including nine UFV students, have been awarded a total of $1.5 million from the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society to support their studies at post-secondary institutions. Undergraduates winners from UFV are Tammer Byrne, Kevin Tyson, and Jaylene Soegard of Abbotsford, Fergus Dalton and Jessica Janik…Five former UFV students receive $5,000 transfer scholarships
Five former UFV students who have transferred to continue their education have received Ike Barber Transfer Scholarships worth $5,000 each to assist them in moving between BC post-secondary institutions. Caleb Keillor of Abbotsford (who transferred to Simon Fraser University), and Jake Letkeman and Garrett Offereins (both of Abbotsford), Emma Rose of Chilliwack, and Brent Mueller…Legal Administrative Assistants who love their jobs
Do you love an intellectual challenge? Enter the legal profession. Pawanpreet Gill and Melissa Solomon, two recent graduates from UFV Continuing Education’s Legal Administrative Assistant (LAA) program, have found a stimulating work environment at a full-service law firm, Lindsay Kenney LLP, based in Langley and downtown Vancouver. However, both took a few detours on the…