NECHAKO VALLEY & LAKES DISTRICT 2008

Vanderhooof

Murray BartschBA (General)

Barbara EverettBSW Social Work

Tracy FroeseBA English

Tamara FroeseMEd Education – Counselling

Ezra GentlemanBA Economics

Petra GentlemanBA English

Hollie MooreBSc Biology

Erin RandleBScN Nursing

Nicholas PlettBSc Natural Resources Management – Forestry (Honours)

Carol RomankoBSW Social Work

Jaclyn SilverBSc Biology

Amberlee SimonBComm Accounting & Finance

Jordan StoweBScN Nursing

Nicole TestawichBComm Finance & International Business

Richard BergerUNBC Transfer Student Award

Paul BurkholderUNBC Men’s Basketball Alumni Bursary

Jay ColsonRaven Scholarship

Daniel DittaroUNBC In-Course Scholarship

Katelyn DittaroDr. Alvin and Mrs. Janey Mooney Scholarship, McGeachy Charitable Foundation – Vanderhoof, Raven Scholarship

Sylvia EloRaven Scholarship

Barbara EverettCelena John Bursary, Sheila Bitschy BSW Memorial Bursary, Spectra Energy Corp Bursary, Spectra Energy Transmission 50th Anniversary Bursary, West Fraser Bursary

Haley KaffankeRaven Scholarship

Diana KutznerUNBC Masters Tuition Scholarship

Lauren MakinUNBC In-Course Scholarship

Jenna McManusUNBC In-Course Scholarship

Nicholas PlettCanfor Annual Undergraduate Scholarship, David Hoy Annual Scholarship, Northern Interior Cruising Committee Scholarship

Erin RandleAuxiliary to the PGRH Scholarship

Katherine RasmussenIntegris Credit Union Bursary

Jaclyn SilverUNBC In-Course Bursary

Jasmine ThomasVancouver Foundation First Nations Bursary

Graduates

Award Recipients

Susan BarfootCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Caroline BirdCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Edna Cameron Certificate in First Nations Language – Carrier Kimberly ChequisBScN Nursing

Gregory Crookes BSc Natural Resources Management – Forestry

Mabel DaleyCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Ruby DominicCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Amber HampeBA English

Dale JosephCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Pauline JosephCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Jo Anne LeonCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Carla Martin Certificate in First Nations Language – Carrier Vera MattessCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Crystal MusfeltBA English

Deborah PageCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Francois PrinceCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Sara SamCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Shana SchwentnerCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Erin ShortBEd Elementary Education

Myrna ThomasCertificate in First Nations Language – Carrier

Graduates

Fort St. James

830 students graduated from UNBC this year, making history as the University’s largest graduating class ever. Convocation ceremonies took place in Prince George, Quesnel, Fort St. James,Terrace, New Aiyansh, and Prince Rupert.

CONGRATULATIONS GRADS!

www.unbc.ca/about

UNBC Scholars AwardsFirst-year students Kaleigh Milinazzo of Burns Lake, Darren Lindenberger of Fort Fraser, Robin Lund of Fort St. James, and Megan Harris of Vanderhoof all have the chance to earn a UNBC degree tuition-free after receiving UNBC Scholars awards this past year. As long as they maintain a B average at UNBC, UNBC Scholars can have their tuition waived for an entire bachelor’s degree program.

Melanie MacNicol MD Medicine – Northern Medical Program

Elsie Peters BSc Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Graduate

Fraser Lake

Darren LindenbergerRaven Bursary, UNBC Scholars Program

Elsie PetersUNBC Scholars Program

Rena RomainPetro-Canada Undergraduate Award in Environmental

Award Recipients

From left: Kaleigh Milinazzo, Darren Lindenberger, Robin Lund, and Megan Harris

Emma BurgessRaven Bursary

Chantell LukeniukUNBC Scholars Program

Robin LundFort St. James Scholarship, UNBC Scholars Program

Alicia MacDougallUNBC Merit Award

Sara SamUNBC In-Course Scholarship

Kailey SaylesUNBC Scholars Program

Rebecca WalshUNBC Scholars Program

Award Recipients

Jeremy Belyea of Burns Lake

Preserving a LanguageA group of 15 students from Fort St. James are the first to complete a UNBC certificate in Carrier language. The students have the opportunity to continue on with the program to complete a Bachelor of Arts and a teaching certificate.

Carrier language graduates

Jeremy BelyeaMEd Education – Counselling

Alex EriksenBSc Chemistry & Geography

Paul HudsonBEd Secondary Education

Jacquiline ThompsonBSc Environmental Science

Jocelyn Unger BSc Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Graduates

Burns Lake

Lisa CloseChan Sisters Foundation Award for Undergraduates, Marjorie W. Poff Scholarship, UNBC In-Course Bursary

Kaleigh MilinazzoUNBC Leadership Award, UNBC Scholars Program

Claudia PosseltCanfor Legacy Bursary

Angela SackneyUNBC Scholars Program

Lacey-Rae StraderNovak Bros. Contracting Ltd. Bursary

Christopher UngerUNBC Scholars Program

Jocelyn UngerUNBC Scholars Program

Award Recipients

Matthew SummerskillBEd Elementary

Graduate

Fort Fraser

Francois Prince and Ruby Domenic of Fort St. James

Hollie Moore of Vanderhoof Carol Romanko of Vanderhoof

Carla Martin of Fort St. James

Alex Eriksenof Burns Lake

Melanie MacNicol of Fraser Lake

Jacquiline

Thompson of

Burns Lake

Crystal Musfelt of Fort St. James

Shana Schwentner of

Fort St. James

Mabel Daley of Fort St. James earned a Certificate in First

Nations Language – Carrier.

UNBC in the Nechako Valley & Lakes District

UNBC’s limited edition, 16-month wall calendar is now on sale.

University of Northern British Columbia • 3333 University Way • Prince George, BC, Canada V2N 4Z9 • (250) 960-5555 • unbc4u@unbc.ca

4,276 students in academic programs.

2,547 students in Continuing Studies courses.

238 courses offered outside of Prince George.

859 scholarships and bursaries worth $2 million.

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$100 million in research funding to date.

830 students graduated in 2008, bringing the total number of UNBC alumni to 7,303.

More than half of UNBC alumni live and work in northern BC.

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UNBC Facts www.unbc.ca/about

Interested in studying at UNBC?UNBC offers a number of courses online, in person, and via video/audio conference. Browse UNBC’s current course listing:

www.unbc.ca/programs

John Prince Research ForestThe John Prince Research Forest near Fort St. James is currently supporting 18 research projects. For example, faculty and students are examining 15 medicinal and food plants, community involvement in resource management, tourism development, traditional environmental knowledge in the local school curriculum, seedling growth, and wildlife and habitat ecology. The research forest is 32 times the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park and is located between Pinchie and Tezzeron Lakes.

Supporting Aboriginal YouthResidents of Vanderhoof, Burns Lake, Fort St. James will be participating in a research program that is aiming to reduce cases of youth suicide. The project is being led by UNBC Health Sciences professor Henry Harder in partnership with Carrier Sekani Family Services and is receiving $1.4 million in federal funding over the next five years. Aboriginal youth between the ages of 15 and 30 are up to eight times more likely to commit suicide than non-native youth. In an effort to address the problem, Dr. Harder’s research will involve tracking incidence of suicide, identifying high risk groups, developing interventions and training, fostering transfer of knowledge from elders to youth, and implementing recommendations provided by local youth.

The Future of ForestryMill closures and the impact of the pine beetle are just two of many issues affecting the forest-dependent communities of the region. In an attempt to plan for the future, UNBC professor Greg Halseth, the University’s Community Development Institute, and the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition are working together to equip communities with the latest information on future forest and fibre use. The project is receiving funding from the Federal Government and will culminate with a forum this fall that will connect community leaders with experts in forest products, marketing, and regional development.

Support Students, Celebrate the North2009 is UNBC’s 15th anniversary and the University has produced a wall calendar to celebrate and raise money for scholarships. The calendar features stunning photos of the northern BC landscape, illustrating the close relationship between UNBC and northern British Columbia. The calendars can be purchased for $20 by calling (250) 960-5750.

Medical SuccessesThe graduation of the first Northern Medical Program students was a milestone for northern BC, and Melanie MacNicol of Fraser Lake was among the 23 students who made history. Melanie will now be pursuing a residency in Family Practice based in Prince George. While Melanie has graduated from the NMP, the region is still well-represented. Justin Frey and Byron Silver are two students from Vanderhoof who joined the NMP this past year and are planning to graduate in 2011. They’re hoping to get financial support from the Northern Medical Programs Trust, which is a $6 million endowment created by the businesses, citizens, and communities of northern BC to support medical students. More than 20 northern communities have signed on. Fort St. James, Fraser Lake, and Burns Lake have all fulfilled their pledges to the Trust, totalling more than $160,000.

Takla ArchivesThe Northern BC Archives at UNBC is now holding a valuable collection of oral history materials from the Takla Lake First Nation and making it publicly accessible to researchers. The collection includes more than 150 audio and video recordings of interviews and forums gathered over a 30-year period.