As outgoing Red River College President Dr. Jeff Zabudsky took the stage for his final convocation ceremonies this week, he did so with an enormous sense of pride -- both for the students and for the institution he has led for the past five years.
 
Zabudsky, who will assume the leadership of Sheridan College in Ontario next month, has said convocations are one of the things he’ll miss most about his time at RRC.
 
"Being in that room with so many happy graduates and their family members, you get a real sense of the positive impact that college education has in our community," he explained. "Particularly because so many of our graduates are the first people in their families to pursue higher education."
 
That was the case for Paramedicine - Primary Care Paramedic student Eldon Krahn. As a husband and father of two, Krahn often felt challenged to keep up with commitments to school, volunteering, work and family time.
 
His hard work paid off though, with a 4.0 GPA, a Lieutenant Governor’s Award for academic achievement and a position as a paramedic at the Interlake Regional Health Authority.
 
Krahn is one of many RRC grads who already have offers of employment before they even receive their certificate or diploma.
 
Glen Beamish is another one of those employment success stories. A graduate of the Mechanical Engineering Technology program, Beamish turned his 4.33 GPA into a full-time position with Bristol Aerospace as a mechanical engineer. Beamish also received a Lieutenant Governor’s Award.
 
In total, 1,638 students received their certificate or diploma credentials during this week’s ceremonies. Based on recent surveys, 97% of grads find employment shortly after completing their studies. College officials are equally proud that nearly all of those students remain in Manitoba, helping to grow local industry.