NWP’s Grande Prairie Campus Celebrates 2025 Convocation

Northwestern Polytechnic (NWP) honoured its 2024-2025 Grande Prairie graduates this week at the Douglas J. Cardinal Performing Arts Centre. More than 345 students were celebrated by NWP faculty, staff, family and friends during the ceremonies held on June 12th and 13th.

NWP President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Sheane addressed the graduating class in two separate ceremonies, celebrating degree, diploma, certificate, and post-diploma certificate recipients, along with collaborative degree graduates.

“Convocation marks the culmination of an academic journey, and the dedication required to succeed,” said Dr. Sheane. “We are beyond proud of the graduates who will now start a new professional chapter as invaluable contributors in our communities and surrounding industries.”

The day one Convocation Valedictorian award was presented to Grace Larson, who completed a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on Human Resources, and was proud to represent fellow classmates.

“I’m honoured to be recognized this way and excited to speak to the other graduates,” she says.

Grace noted how NWP’s Valedictorian award emphasizes leadership and contributions to the institution, in addition to academic achievements. She advised students to get involved and be open to trying new experiences.

“Say yes to things,” she said. 

“Once you do one thing, it opens the door to more opportunities.” 

In Grace’s case, this translated into a full-time School Operations Coordinator role in Northwestern Polytechnic’s School of Health.

Grace shared the spotlight during Thursday’s ceremonies with graduates who completed a Bachelor of Business Administration, Business Administration certificates and diplomas, Business Administration post-diploma certificates, Office Administration certificates, and Office Management diplomas, along with Early Learning and Child Care certificates and diplomas, and Educational Assistant certificates.

The day two Convocation Valedictorian was Clinton Owusu, who completed a Collaborative Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This local four-year degree program is made possible by a distinctive partnership between NWP and the University of Alberta. Clinton is originally from Vancouver and was encouraged to attend NWP by a family friend who spoke highly of the small classes and supportive instructors. His mother, also a nurse, concurred, advising him to choose a school that would support success and a network that would uplift him throughout the journey.

Clinton found this to be true, saying that his relationships with classmates, instructors and teammates on the Cross-Country team were essential. He was honoured to share the voices of his classmates and reflect on their collective growth and resilience.

“We’ve come so far,” he says. 

“This is the moment to remind them how much we’ve grown. We’re ready to face the world outside the classroom.” 

For Clinton, that means a role in home care in Beaverlodge, where he can put his passion for seniors’ health into action.

The second day of Convocation celebrated graduates who earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Bachelor of Elementary Education (Teacher Education North), a Bachelor of Computer Science or Computer Systems Technology diploma or certificate, a University Biological Sciences diploma, a Health Care Aide certificate, and Kinesiology, Practical Nurse, Personal Trainer, University Arts, Visual Arts and Design diplomas.

For more information about Northwestern Polytechnic’s programs and events, visit NWPolytech.ca.