Feature stories

Feature stories archive

Feature Stories 2010

Basic Occupational Education
Flipping out

Douglas student a real pinball wizard.

Find out how!...

Late Summer Orientation
Get oriented at Douglas

Hit the ground running this fall with Late Summer Orientation.

Office Administration -
Medical Office Assistant
Between Classes: Carly Felgnar

Valedictorian Carly Felgnar says the support of her friends and instructors helped her complete her program with finesse.

All that jazz
Jazz camp swings into summer

The Douglas College Summer Jazz Intensive returns this August to teach students the finer points of jazz.

Doug's got Chemistry
New course brings hybrid education to Douglas College

A new fall offering combines online and lecture time for introductory Chemistry students.

Sign Language Interpretation
Signs of Success

Jenn Wilson loved discovering the nuances of being a professional interpreter.

Skills Connect for Immigrants
New Canadians get career boost at Douglas College

Skills Connect for Immigrants Program helps new arrivals land medical residencies.

Aboriginal Child and Youth Care
Between classes: Linda Mitchell

Getting a degree is no longer just a dream, but a possibility, says Linda Mitchell.

Aboriginal Gathering Place
Construction underway for brand-new space

Douglas College is in the process of building an Aboriginal Gathering Place at the New Westminster Campus.

Health Care Support Worker Certificate
Career shift pays off

Lieutenant Governor's Silver Medal winner Anna Winters came to Douglas with something to prove

Learning Resources
Outstanding College Librarian keeps in step with the times

Douglas College's Carole Compton-Smith (left) keeps the library alive in the digital age.

Community Social Service Worker
Douglas grad's research makes splash at international conference

Kara Dooley recently had a rare chance to share her findings from her work with the Uganda Project at a major international conference in Hong Kong.

Child and Youth Care Counsellor
Academic excellence celebrated with award

Marÿke Hendrikse's long road through Douglas ended with a diploma and a Governor General's Bronze Medal.

From dropout to doctorate - John Bertram

2010 Distinguished Alumni Award
From dropout to doctorate

John Bertram's journey from high school dropout to university professor started at Douglas College.

Post-Degree Diploma in Marketing
Between classes: Julia Collin

Valedictorian Julia Collin is a high flier in the marketing game.

Associate of Arts Degree (Environmental Studies)
Between classes: Shawn Barry

Valedictorian Shawn Barry is naturally excited to be part of changing the world.

Certificate in Dental Assisting
Between classes: Sarah Tarves

Valedictorian Sarah Tarves is all smiles after earning her Certificate in Dental Assisting.

Early Childhood Education Diploma
Between classes: Susan Jones

Valedictorian Susan Jones is a teacher and a learner.

Therapeutic Recreation Diploma Program
Between classes: Fiona Milis

Valedictorian Fiona Milis talks about her life-changing career switch.

Animal Health Technology Diploma
Between classes: Rebecca Murphy

Valedictorian Rebecca Murphy remembers the wild times working with animals.

International student overcomes obstacles, receives award

Summer Camps 2010
Register now!

Douglas offers a variety of sports, computer and music camps for children and youth throughout July and August. Registration is now open.

International Education
International student overcomes obstacles, receives award

Tali Ashkenazi, an Israeli international student studying criminology at Douglas, wasn't going to let the challenges of being new to Canada stop her educational progress.

English
English instructor beats digital "daze"

For English instructor David Wright, taking a time-out from digital technology every now and then has lead to some interesting results.

Athletics
Badminton champs demonstrate skills

Douglas College badminton stars Alvin Lau, Stephanie Ko, and Ray Luo visited Cedar Hills Elementary last week and wowed the kids.

Early Summer Orientation
Get to know Douglas this June

Early Summer Orientation in June is your chance to find out about Douglas before you start school in September.

Community Social Service Worker
Do the Grind for Uganda

Get a little exercise and help raise funds for the Community Social Service Worker Uganda Project by taking on the Grouse Grind this June.

Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching
BPEC students take on MOMAR

BPEC students Nick Hammerschmidt and Megan Fretter conquered the 50-km, 8-hour Mind Over Mountain Adventure Race on May 22 in Squamish.

Christina Murdocco: Student Research Days

Student Research Days
Hippotherapy helps heal

Bachelor of Arts in Child and Youth Care student Christina Murdocco discovered a relatively unknown benefit of therapy with horses

Print Futures: Professional Writing
Grad wins national editing scholarship

Print Futures grad Helen Clay is ready to take on the world of words with the help of a $1,000 scholarship from the Editors' Association of Canada

University Transfer - Arts
Astronomy student meets "last man on the moon"

Whitney Ward, a UT Arts student, won the chance to hear retired astronaut and last man on the moon Gene Cernan speak in Vancouver on March 22.

Doug's Got Talent
Winners announced

After 4 months, 100 entries and 4,000 votes, the winners have been decided. Find out who won the grand prizes of $4,000 in tuition!

Theatre
Glee actor got his start at Douglas

Patrick Gallagher (right), a.k.a. Glee's Ken Tanaka, learned the joy of performing in the Theatre Program.

Associate of Science Degree
Biologist got the right start at college

Tanya Jones, now a researcher at SFU, says the hands-on experience she got in Biology labs at Douglas was unbeatable.

Early Childhood Education
Between classes: Brenda Flett

Brenda Flett says the first step in coming to Douglas was facing her fear of failure.

Therapeutic Recreation Diploma
Between classes: Mary Benson

Graduate Mary Benson's career was cut short by a brain injury. Now the Paralympic athlete is going for gold in the 2010 Winter Games.

Student Services
Tour our Student Services online

Theatre student Sarah Canero leads a tour through everything from paying for school to staying healthy in a new interactive video.

Print Futures: Professional Writing
Grad opens bookstore

The Print Futures: Professional Writing Program has helped Nicole Skutelnik approach the real world with confidence.

Health Care Support Worker
Student gets a fresh start

Samantha Poitras is looking forward to continuing her education and a beginning a new career after facing some serious personal challenges.

Italian American Reconciliation
Between classes: Stephen Drover

Director Stephen Drover says his production, which hits the stage at Douglas on March 25, is the Romeo and Juliet of our time.

The Suicide
Between classes: John Cooper

Director John Cooper's production, hitting the stage at Douglas on March 19, promises ludicrous actions, pain and suffering, music and madness.

Computing Science and Information Systems
Between classes: Liz da Silva

Coming back to school has shown Liz da Silva that it's never too late to learn something new.

Disability and Applied Behaviour Analysis
Between classes: Fiona Doyle

Fiona Doyle (left) says her sister Siobhan inspired her to work with people with special needs.

University Transfer - Commerce and Business Administration
Grad found her footing at Douglas

Starting at Douglas allowed Melissa Sigouin to get into the swing of class discussions in a less intimidating setting.

Theatre
Former Douglas student gets starring TV role

Fred Ewanuick's new show Dan for Mayor premieres on CTV on Monday, March 1 at 8:30pm. He got his start at Douglas.

Nursing
Between Classes: Niven Pong

Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduate Niven Pong says Douglas' great teachers made the hard work worth it.

English as a Second Language
From ESL to Engineering

University professor Phillip Choi's experience at Douglas inspired him to help others realize their potential.

Centre for Health and Community Partnerships
A rewarding day for students and seniors

Students worked together with community seniors for a day of cooking, exercise, impromptu dance lessons and eye exams.

Paralympics 2010
Come and feel the Rush!

Experience the Paralympics right here at Douglas on March 3.

Financial Services Management
Between classes: Bill Ashbee

Valedictorian Bill Ashbee juggled his studies with fatherhood and work, winning an international online business competition to boot.

Community Mental Health Worker
Between classes: Ivana Culina

Graduate Ivana Culina is now continuing her education in Psychiatric Nursing. She says college was the key to finding independence.

Legal Studies Diploma
Between classes: Chelsea Szafranski

Valedictorian Chelsea Szafranski says one of the lasting lessons she learned at Douglas was that truth is stranger than fiction.

Disability and Applied Behaviour Analysis
Between classes: Noreen Chiu

Valedictorian Noreen Chiu feels coming to Douglas has played an important part in getting her master's.

Anna Solnickova - 2010 Olympic torch bearer

Student Torch Bearer celebrations
Anna Solnickova

Bachelor of Business Administration student Anna Solnickova proudly carried the Olympic torch as it made it's way through New Westminster.

Athletics
Lau & Liang win National Badminton Championships

Douglas badminton stars Alvin Lau (right) and Melody Liang (left) brought home gold from the Nationals in January.

English as a Second Language
Taking the stress out of teaching

The new TESL program at Douglas gives potential teachers the skills to lead English as a Second Language classes with confidence.

Academic Health Care Foundations
Alaleh Zahabioun

Alaleh Zahabioun, who was a midwife in Iran, plans to study to become a midwife, radiologist or sonographer.

Associate of Arts, English
Between Classes: Liz Hammond

Liz Hammond got a Welsh perspective on her studies by taking part in the Wales Field School this Summer.

Business Management
Grad remembers his roots

Jason Prasad says he'd be like a deer in the headlights without his Douglas Diploma.

Veterinary Office and Animal Care
Between classes: Sharon Jamieson

Coming to college gave Sharon Jamieson a chance to meet new people and get the hands-on skills she needed to get a job she loves.

Scientific research
Coincidence brings research team together

Fate brought (from left) Ashley-Anne Churchill, Nicole Abbott and Lois Schwarz together, but their findings could have serious implications.

Bachelor of Science in Psychiatric Nursing
Between classes: Jay Single

Coming back to Douglas for his degree is part of keeping his skills sharp, says Jay Single.

Criminology
Between classes: Cristina Barbat

RCMP Constable Cristina Barbat says her studies at Douglas prepared her well for her classroom training with the police force.

Hotel and Restaurant Management (HORM)
Between classes: Mandy Wong

Starting at Douglas has taken Mandy Wong to Switzerland, and then to Whistler, where she now works at the Delta Whistler Village Suites.

Bachelor of Business Administration - Accounting
Between classes: Erin Reimer

BBA student Erin Reimer has already scored an articling position with a high-profile accounting firm and she says it all comes down to Douglas.

Bachelor of Arts, Child and Youth Care
Part-time program gives student balance

Studying part-time has allowed Rima Abduljawad to spend more time with the people who inspired her to pursue a career working with youth

Theatre Program
Between classes: Allan Lysell

Theatre instructor, actor and producer Allan Lysell (seated) says it's his students and the laughs that keep him motivated.

Sport Science
Between Classes: Laura Pitt

Now the technical director of the BC Ringette Association, Laura Pitt says she got the perfect warm-up to her career at Douglas.

Computing Science and Information Systems
Grads belie bad economy

Instructor Ray Yu says his graduates are in good shape when it comes to finding work, even in today's economy.

BA Child and Youth Care
Students get hands on

Megan Cullins and Mike Regan say they're graduating well-equipped to work in the field and continue their education.

Faculty of Commerce and Business Administration
Students to intern with Disney

Marketing student Bailey Chambers and Bachelor of Business Administration student Damian Craig are headed for warmer climes this winter to work with the mouse.