A word from Glenn's office The leaves are falling, the frost is decorating windshields and Lakeland College is in full swing. Record numbers of students are traversing the hallways and the parking lots (including the new ones) at both campuses are packed. Residences are full and activity levels are at an all time high. Gotta love the fall! On the provincial front (Alberta) lately, I've been working with Campus Alberta administration to hire an executive director and help set direction. This province-wide committee under the leadership of Connie Harrison, assistant deputy minister, is looking for efficiencies in the system and to increase collaboration to benefit students. September’s board meeting saw the arrival of three new board members. Ken Baker, Valerie Burgardt and Mike Kotelko are all active contributors to the board discussion and I look forward to the ideas and energy that they bring to Lakeland. The board made a somewhat historical decision in deciding to consolidate business programming at Lakeland at the Lloydminster campus effective next September. This will benefit students by creating more choice and flexibility along with seamless transition into the four year degree programs. This will also enable the agribusiness program at Vermilion to focus more on its core programming right from day one. As with all transitions there is an unsettled feeling among those most affected. Rest assured that Lakeland will support all of our students and staff who are impacted by this change. I am certain the result of the consolidated programming will be extremely positive for our students. As for the upcoming two weeks, I will be away on holidays. See you when I return.
Glenn Charlesworth Lakeland College president
Lakeland College's Board of Governors welcome three new members
Ken Baker, Valerie Burgardt and Mike Kotelko attend their first meeting as Lakeland College board members on Sept. 29 at the Lloydminster campus.
Ken Baker, Valerie Burgardt and Mike Kotelko were recently appointed to three-year terms on the Lakeland College Board of Governors. “We’re extremely fortunate that these people are prepared to contribute to the governance of Lakeland College. Their range of talent, knowledge and experience will be an asset to our board. Lakeland will be well served by each one of them,” says Doug Elliott, chairman of the board. Burgardt, who has a master degree in both arts and education, is no stranger to public education. She was a high school math and English teacher then principal in Saskatchewan before moving to Wainwright in 1991 where she served as deputy superintendent and superintendent
of East Central Alberta Catholic Schools. She retired in 2007 to care for her mother. “I have experience in primary and secondary education, but I’ve never been involved in post-secondary education,” says Burgardt. “I’m still very interested in education and this will be a great experience. I’ve always believed you should pay a little rent for the space you occupy--this is one way I can give back.” Kotelko and his family have strong ties to Lakeland. His father Jack attended the college in 1937 and his niece Frances Hughston graduated from the interior design technology program in 2006. Kotelko earned his agricultural systems technology diploma at Lakeland and was the valedictorian of the Class of 1982.
“I enjoyed attending the college. I made many good friends and I learned a lot,” he says, crediting his Lakeland education for helping him contribute to the growth of Highland Feeders, his family’s company. Today Kotelko serves as vice president of the Vegreville-based company. Kotelko says he is interested in being on the advocacy and finance committees and is ready to help in any way he can. “I’d like to see Lakeland continue to offer a strong core of agricultural programs as they are very important to the agriculture industry, but I’m also very impressed with the other programs offered at Lakeland and how it has grown since I attended,” he says. “The college is a very important part of our region and I look forward to contributing what I can to its success.” Baker, mayor of the City of Lloydminster from 2000 to 2009, has always been a strong supporter of Lakeland College and the regional college system. “What I like about Lakeland College is that it really has become a first-class college,” he says. After years of working in the construction industry and then municipal politics, Baker is excited about the opportunity to learn more about post-secondary education. “I’m very interested in the general operation and long-term sustainability of the college,” he says. “I also see this as another way for me to serve our community.” The new board members replace Bob Mottram, Stan Fisher and Terry Gunderson whose terms expired earlier this year.