Assiniboine College saw 2,760 graduates this academic year, with 1,900 of those graduates recognized at ceremonies this month - the largest took place in Brandon Friday (June 13). Friday's ceremony celebrated graduates from 85 certificate, diploma, apprenticeship and post-graduate diploma programs at the college's largest ceremonies of the year. Of note, 27 per cent of domestic graduates this year are Indigenous.
"Graduation day is a powerful milestone, especially in a world that is evolving faster than ever," said Assiniboine President, Mark Frison. "Each year, I'm inspired to see our students not only reach this moment but shape it - bringing fresh ideas, innovation and resilience to their training. Completing an educational journey demands adaptability and vision, and our students continue to rise to that challenge. Today, we celebrate their achievements and recognize the families, faculty, and staff who supported them along the way."
Many of these new graduates with industry-ready training are expected to step into careers right here in Manitoba, recent graduate follow-up survey results indicate. Assiniboine's track record of training, retaining and gaining graduates remains strong. Graduate follow-up survey results released earlier this week showed that 96 per cent of last year's graduates remaining in province, when only 71 per cent of total grads from this year originated here.
And 91 per cent of graduates from four years ago live in Manitoba. Only 74 per cent of that graduating class were originally from the province.
Among the 2024-25 graduates are 154 new Practical Nursing grads poised to enter the healthcare field.
"Congratulations to each graduate of Assiniboine College," said Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training. It is incredible to see so many graduates choosing to stay in Manitoba or choosing to make Manitoba their new home. As you step into your next chapter, know that you're helping to shape the future of our province by supporting local industries, strengthening communities, and inspiring those who follow in your footsteps. Manitoba is proud of you."
Assiniboine is proud to mark today's ceremonies with two valedictorians, Aidyn Pearce and Chrissa Bayabay. For Pearce, a graduate of the Civil Engineering Technology (Municipal Engineering Specialization), the day was a significant step on his journey to a career in Engineering. Following graduation, Pearce will be pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering degree at Lakehead University as part of a diploma to degree program.
"My time at Assiniboine offered a wide variety of opportunities right at your fingertips," said Pearce. He encouraged students to get involved and be on the lookout for unique opportunities, "it will make your experience at Assiniboine unforgettable."
Bayabay, graduated from Business Administration, with a specialization in Human Resource Management.
"Coming in as an international student, I never had any regrets choosing Assiniboine College. I always tell people how accommodating and responsive the staff were, with all my questions about the program and process," said Bayabay. "It feels great to reach this milestone, knowing it was all worth it. I'm looking forward to growing professionally, using all I've learned from Assiniboine and seeing where it leads. I'm also excited to reconnect with classmates on graduation day, as I haven't seen them in a while, to celebrate our achievements together."
Each year, the Province of Manitoba awards a Governor General's Medal to the student who has achieved the highest overall average in a diploma program from each of our permanent campus locations. This year's recipients were Early Childhood Education graduate Payton Murray (Brandon), and Practical Nursing graduates Kayla Cool (Portage), and Norvic Tolentino (Winnipeg).
The province also awards Lieutenant Governor's Silver Medals to students who have achieved outstanding academic performance and contributed in significant ways to the college and their community. This year's recipients for Brandon are Land and Water Management student Natalie Carolina Loureiro and Carpentry and Woodworking student Caroline Dubois.
True to our mission of transforming lives and strengthening Manitoba, Assiniboine's most recent Graduate Satisfaction and Employment Survey shows that 96 per cent of graduates have jobs within nine months of completing their studies, with 96 per cent remaining in Manitoba.
Event details are available at assiniboine.net/grad.
