2026 Spring Convocation Program - FRIDAY PM

Convocation Friday, June 12, 2026 | 3pm

Niagara College 2025-2026 Board of Governors Lora Tisi (Chair)* Senior Retail Specialist

Rashmi Biswas (Vice-Chair) Lake and Associates

David Adames The Niagara Parks Commission

Janet Allan Retired Partner, KPMG Canada

Lisa Benger Walker Industries

Samantha Cormier NC Student Representative

Linda Franklin Retired CEO, Colleges Ontario

Matt Giffen Bench Brewing Company

Lynn Guerriero Niagara Health

Shauna Gupta NC Academic Staff Representative

Kate Hagen* NC Support Staff Representative

Andrew Harber Abatement Technologies

Sean Kennedy President, Niagara College

Pamela Lilley MNP

Michael Mann Lancaster Chown & Welch LLP

Klaus Reif Reif Estate Winery

Orel Ruiz* NC Administrative Staff Representative NC Alumni Member* 1

Student-focused. Trailblazing.

Welcoming. Passionate.

These core values are at the heart of ‘ncLIFE’ and continue to set Niagara College apart. NC offers outstanding applied education and training for a changing world at our two modern Niagara-based campuses in Welland and Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario.

Discover the ‘NC’ difference Our unique learning enterprises are on campus and open to the public, equipping students with hands-on experience before they graduate. Explore our NC Dental Clinic, Massage Therapy Clinic, Student Performance Therapy Clinic, Teaching Spa, Teaching Hair Salon, Teaching Greenhouse, Benchmark Restaurant, and the Niagara College Craft Beverage Centre– featuring “NC Craft,” a line of student-crafted products from our Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery and Teaching Distillery.

Driving industry innovation Niagara College consistently ranks among Canada’s top research colleges.

Within our leading-edge Research and Innovation division, students and graduates are hired to work alongside faculty and staff researchers to provide solutions for industry, gaining real-world experience while driving innovation that helps local small- and medium-sized enterprises thrive.

Explore NC Research and Innovation.

Global reach NC draws a diverse student population to our unique Niagara campuses and delivers our exceptional brand of education around the world through numerous international projects, partnerships and learning opportunities.

Knights for life!

We take pride in our alumni community of more than 125,000 strong – and growing! NC graduates are succeeding and leading in Niagara, across Canada and around the world. Explore Alumni Relations.

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Order of Proceedings The Processional Traditional Indigenous Drumming The Marshals The Graduands The Platform Party

Opening Karl Dockstader, Oneida, Bear Clan

O Canada (Video presentation) Barbara Mantini and Giacomo Folinazzo, Niagara College Faculty

Opening Remarks Sean Kennedy, President Dr. Fay Lim-Lambie, Vice President, Academic

You Will Always Be a Knight (Video presentation) Board of Governors Address President’s Address Presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award Celeste Anderson, Co-Founder Digital Sports Administration

Conferring of Certificates and Diplomas Sean Kennedy, President Dr. Fay Lim-Lambie, Vice President, Academic Adam Dusome, Registrar Zan Dominick, Presenter

Presentation of the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal Nashwa Higazy, Honours Bachelor of Business Administration - Human Resources

Alumni Well Wishes (Video presentation) Closing Karl Dockstader, Oneida, Bear Clan

Recessional

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 | 3 PM Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

Celeste Anderson CEO and Co-Founder Digital Sports Administration Inc. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Celeste Anderson moved to Ontario with her family in the mid-1990s. At age 30, she made the decision to return to school and enrolled in Niagara College’s Tourism Management – Business Development program. While returning to school was intimidating, the experience helped shape her future as an entrepreneur and leader.

During her studies, Anderson discovered how tourism, events, and community building could create meaningful experiences and lasting memories. NC faculty and staff played a significant role in her development, helping her strengthen her professional skills, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset.

A turning point came during her co-op placement at Blue Mountain. Starting as an Adventure Ropes Guide, she advanced to Adventure Ropes Supervisor and lead the following year. Her experiences in adventure tourism, combined with her education at NC, reinforced the value of creating memorable experiences that bring people together and leave a lasting impact on communities.

In her final semester in 2020, Anderson was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery. With support from NC, she completed her studies with a 97.52% average, earned the Dean’s Academic Award, and successfully overcame cancer.

Outside of her studies, Anderson built a career in gaming and esports.

She became Canada’s first female professional gamer, won the reality television series King of the Nerds in 2013, appeared on Conan, received a TrailBlazeHER in Gaming nomination at the GameHER Awards, and earned the Halo Community Commendations award for Best Event Organizer. She also serves on the executive team of Women of Halo as Director of Business Operations, helping create opportunities for women in gaming to build community and lasting memories.

Today, Anderson lives in Toronto and is the CEO and Co-Founder of Digital Sports Administration Inc. Through DSA, she develops and manages esports tournaments, gaming activations, and live events across North America.

She leads gaming programming at the Canadian National Exhibition and has delivered projects for organizations including Intel, TELUS, BLAST, Halo Studios, DreamHack, Best Buy, and ESL FACEIT Group, creating experiences that bring communities together through tourism, gaming, and events.

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FRIDAY, JUNE 12, 2026 | 3 PM Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal Recipient

Nashwa Higazy Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources) Nashwa Higazy is this year’s recipient of the Governor General’s Silver Academic Medal, recognizing her outstanding academic achievement in the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources) degree program, where she earned a 94.93% average.

In addition to receiving her BBAHR degree, Higazy will also receive her graduate certificate in Project Management. She also graduated from NC’s Business Administration – Human Resources advanced diploma program in 2024.

The St. Catharines resident, who is originally from Sudan, is a mother of six who balanced full-time studies with work and family responsibilities throughout her academic journey.

For three years, Higazy worked as a student employee with NC’s Global Business Development department, contributing to student engagement, global education, organizational development, and international projects.

These experiences strengthened her leadership, communication, and project management skills while allowing her to apply her learning in real-world settings.

Known for her resilience, compassion, and strong work ethic, Higazy credited her achievements to the support of her family, faith, perseverance, and encouragement of mentors and colleagues. Passionate about helping others grow, she hopes to build a career focused on leadership, people development, and community impact.

The Governor General’s Academic Medal Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General after Confederation, created the Academic Medals in 1873 to encourage academic excellence across the nation. Over the years, they have become the most prestigious award that students in Canadian schools can receive.

For nearly 150 years, the Governor General’s Academic Medals have recognized the outstanding scholastic achievements of students in Canada. They are awarded to the student graduating with the highest average from a high school, as well as from approved college or university programs. Pierre Trudeau, Tommy Douglas, Kim Campbell, Robert Bourassa, Robert Stanfield and Gabrielle Roy are just some of the more than 50,000 people who have received the Governor General’s Academic Medal as the start of a life of accomplishment.

Today, the Governor General’s Academic Medals are awarded at four distinct levels: Bronze at the secondary school level; Collegiate Bronze at the post-secondary, diploma level; Silver at the undergraduate level; and Gold at the graduate level. Medals are presented on behalf of the Governor General by participating educational institutions, along with personalized certificates signed by the Governor General. There is no monetary award associated with the Medal.

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Source: gg.ca

Business and Environment Evan DiValentino, Dean School of Business and Management April Tyrrell, Associate Dean Supply Chain Management

_______________ Comfort Abban Akeem Olanrewaju Adeboye Albertina Akosua Adu Valentina Modupe Akinwale Akshita Akshita Adnan Ali Shalini Arya Viven Attri Ranganathan Babu Roshan Raj Baral Angela Ibay Bautista Tarun Bhambhu Pranankur Bhardwaj Mihir Bhattacharya Akashdeep Singh Bhinder Jaykumar Naginbhai Bhoi Mandy Blais Arshdeep Singh Brar Weicong Cao Victoria Cudjoe-Wonzee Dwayne Allen Dsouza Kosisochukwu Blaise Ezeonu Adunola Oyenike Fadugba Anthony Joseph Gabriel John Blessing Gbatsoma Tony Godwin Gulshan Gulshan Manit Gurung Eric James Haist Hemshikha Hemshikha Kingsley Nwachukwu Ijomah Swarnjit Singh Janoha Kajal Kajal Shubham Chandresh Kaji Miracle Bolaji Kalejaiye Amandeep Kaur Amritpal Kaur Balpreet Kaur Gagandeep Kaur Harmanpreet Kaur

Harmanpreet Kaur

Harpreet Kaur Safri

Aiden Isaac Lightbourne - Clarke*

Harpreet Kaur

Arshdeep Singh Saggu

Hassan Rabbani*

Jashanpreet Kaur

Sahil Sahil

Stacey Allison Reist*

Jaspreet Kaur

Shalu Shalu

Lynnoia Rosezelda Smith*

Lakhvir Kaur

Aditi Sharma

Simardeep Kaur

Monika Sharma

Amanda Mckenzie Kathleen Von Anrep*

Simran Kaur

Sanchit Sharma

Elizabeth Whalen*

Simranjeet Kaur

Akashdeep Singh

Sophia Hoogasian Whidden*

Simranjeet Kaur

Amrit Pal Singh

Sukhdeep Kaur

Gurlal Singh

Sukhpreet Kaur

Gurpinder Singh

Business Administration – Accounting

Sunday Boluwatife Kehinde

Gurpreet Singh

Caroline Mutindi Kieti

Jasgurpreet Singh

Binay Kumar

Jaspreet Singh

Munish Kumar

Lovjeet Singh

Sachin Kundu

Pardeep Singh

Kenneth Xavier Astor Loria

Sandeep Singh

Nanase Maeda

Tejinder Singh

Mohammad Fareed Malik

Virasat Singh

Shubhpreet Kaur Mangat

Moizuddin Ahsan Syed

Alan Jacob Mathew

Zsofia Maria Szabo

Sanket Kamleshbhai Mehta

Sravan Kumar Tadepu

Oritsegbe Irene Mene

Abiodun Emmanuel Taiwo

Rashmi Mishra Dharam Rajeshbhai Naik

Rutvikkumar Mukeshbhai Thakkar

Swatiben Mukeshbhai Nayi

Kirti Thakur

Neelam Neelam

Tobin Thomas Tom

Nikita Nikita

Nawal Ubaidullah

Nitika Nitika

Michael James Udo-Offiong

Ginikachukwu Cynthia Nwachukwu

Ishita Upadhyay

Daniel Kwabena Oteng

Beatrice Wanjiru Waihenya

Dhruv Alpeshkumar Parekh

Parveen Singh Yadav

Dev Manishkumar Patel

Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Human Resources)

Dhruvi Manish Patel Varshil Hiteshkumar Patel Poonam Poonam

Muskan Verma

_______________

Priya Priya

Rilwan Babatunde Adesokan*

Arshaque Rahmathulla

Ngoc Chau Anh Dao*

Sachin Rana

Nashwa Higazy*§

Kajal Rani

Anshula Hiran Kumar*

Pravar Singh Rautela

Amber Kaila Laliberte

Carla Paulina Romero Caballero

Ella Rose Leo*

*Niagara Scholar Distinction | § Governor General Award Winner - Silver

_______________

Keny Xiomara Benitez Ayala* Abhinandh Dileepkumar* Angela Lianne Ford Jennifer-Lynn Faith Gosling* Kolby Frederick Grondin Chan Young Jung* Emmanuella Jani Kapinga Kupa Michael Frederick Maceachern* Maira Daniela Melgar Mark Rox Milutinovic Mary Patricia Minhorst Thi Thu Hang Nguyen* Tatyana Panchenko Adriano Porco* Kirenia Rodriguez Rodriguez Jake Riley Silcox* Jada Reanna Smith Florica Marcela Sustrean* Zachary Carson Toth*

Business Administration - Human Resources

_______________ Daniel NMI Abdolzahraei* Hiba-Tul-Hadi Ahmad* Muibat Abiodun Alimi Hajir Magdi Alyas Larissa Serenah Andrianambinina* Tyler Jeffrey Black* Hailey Breukelman*

Cindy Yuribeth Castillo Ordonez* Brian Raymond Creighton* 6

Madelyn Hope Dueck*

Anastasia Ulyanova*

John Anthony Macdonald*

Gursharan Singh

Alexa Florian Compean*

Thi Cam Ly Vu*

Kyle Douglas David Mcdougall

Sachin Singh

Briana Arely Gracia

Muriel Joel Wocseu Koueche

Aidan John Mcvey

Kyla Stevenson*

Business Administration - Supply Chain and Operations Management

Olivia Grace Noyes-Mittlestead

Yashraj Nileshbhai Vaghela

Colin Andrew Renwicke

Peyton Mae Van Rooy

Simon Joseph Romero*

Julia Carson Lee Waite*

Jacob Daniel Rosebrugh

Jonas Dylan Wharton

Aliyah Jade Morgan*

Joshua Paris Aguiar

Ethan Patrick Formica Serpa*

Wai Yu Wong*

Thu Nguyen*

Erika Madison Barrett*

Grayson Edward Thomas Shular*

Oktavia Nowakowska-Kaminska

Lucas Robert Bartlett*

Trisha Vescio

Sport Administration

Chikaima Shanessa Okereke

Joshua Joseph Roger Bouchard*

Chad Wintle*

Roxanne Grace Pastor*

Lucky Malana Calimag*

Noah Ryan Justin Zurbrigg

Ally Bryn Ramey

Michael Dublin-Green

Rutcel Canzana Salcedo*

Spencer Jean-Paul Kleniewski*

Hridhya Sathyajith*

Doran Libin*

Tricia Annunziata

Rahul Deshwal

Jesse Dylan Scott

Abdirahim Ahmed Mah

Kylo Babcock Hannas*

Christopher Robert Diemert*

Emery Secord*

Albert Legrand Ndjambe Bayiha

Sofia Brinzova*

Adam William Fisher

Aashiv Chhabra

Yassipi Gikundiro

Thi Chi Na Ngo*

Elaia Kim Ruitas Delos Santos*

Sukhpreet Kaur

Yen My Nguyen* Melie Okoye

Annica Draper

Rhyan Laengerer

Mary Telford*

Aneri Vipulkumar Patel*

Kaeden Coulter George

Habeeb Olakunle Ogunrinde

Business Administration – Marketing

Patricia Poggi Chacaltana*

Sharmila Gurung

Anthony Jorge Oliveira

Vaibhav Shankarbhai Prajapati*

Shadae Tiffany Guthrie*

Brodie David Rice

James Nicholas Harris

Christen Montana Anderson*

Nyla Shields*

Leeah Jordan Henhawk

Carlos Eduardo Rivas Gonzalez*

Nicholas Borgmann*

Nha Han Vo*

Kereese Deon Holness

Evgeny Stelmashonok*

Nicholas James Carmosino

Sport Management

Sara Abdulrahim Imam

Andrew James Allan

Manjot Kaur*

Jarett Ramir Brahim Jimenez* Seihateru Kusunoki Emma Mae Marshall* Kyla Angelene Mckinnon

Smithy Simon* Eric William Stevens Dilucshara Sureshkumar Rebecca Lyn Swindall*

_______________

Dishon Abigayle Clarke* Ethan Russell Cook David Lajos Dioszegi* Israel Godoy Callum Thomas Harney Leila Katriel Inocando* Max Edward Johnson Nazek Kigab* Akshay Kumar Kylie Danielle Ladouceur James Anthony Langendoen* Cooper Armstrong Long Dalya Makdessian* Benjamin Thomas Mann* Michael Francesco Napoli Jaineel Deepakbhai Patel Amelie Johanne Piette Anton Prokopik Mohammad Fahim Sulaimani

_______________

_______________ Adian Chae Astudillo Jaxon James Alexander Austin* Milan Basara* James Michael Burridge* Jose Antonio Cadena Castrillon Viktoriia Chugaeva* Benjamin William Collette William Peter James Crumblehulme Sean Michael Shenmore Gerig

Tia Bryana Kelly Marissa Ann Langley Roberts Vilnis Licis

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Kun Liu* My Linh Lu Emily Vanesa Martinez Keylyn Menard Rafael Melchor Sicat Molar* Muskaan Sefora Negusse Thomas Vinh Nguyen

Noah Daniel Dimaurizio

Sydnee Japp*

Krista Kalmus*

Nedelyn Ochigue Mugdan

Joseph Jacob Clanfield

William Samuel Hoare

_______________

Manav Mahiwal

Kailey Faith Brevitt*

Ryan Burton Allan Hill

Business - Accounting

Tran Minh Hoai Nguyen* Meshva Girishkumar Patel Devantell Rolle Emmanuel Sam* Subhkarmanjot Kaur Sandhar* Sarah Lynn Savoie Stephen Arnold Schachowskoj* Sehjaadpreet Singh Gio Sferrazza

*Niagara Scholar Distinction

_______________ Finn Bisschop Matthew James Cowan Dryden Czenczek Kyle Evan Dafoe*

Daniel Jake Laengerer

Culinary, Tourism and Beverage Studies Craig Youdale, Dean School of Hospitality and Tourism Dr. Caroline Chabert Delio, Associate Dean Hospitality and Tourism Management

Yanqing Liu

Victoria Jane Lof*

Rodrigo Javier Martinez Ferreiro*

Emily Massicotte-Finch*

Lauren Sophie Mitten*

Nikolina Milakovic*

Phuong Dung Nguyen* Kavan Dev Singh Sandhu*

Carol Malak Mamdouh Zareh Moussa*

Faith Elizabeth Grace Stewart*

Dadie Dagrolie Musavyi

Anh Dung Ta*

Rida Naghman*

Yizi Xiao

Simona Nuziato

Chenyang Yu

Camila Ochoa Serrano*

Yicheng Zhang

Karla Theresa Olguin

Jingyang Zhu*

Lauryn Jennifer O’reilly

Manmeet Kaur

Esthetician

Kayla Emily O’Rourke

Manpreet Kaur

Nora Anne Bartholomew*

Manpreet Kaur

Alexis Lynn Black*

Allison Elizabeth Ann Pearson

Prabhjot Kaur

Sara Maria Boyce*

Anil Kumar

Kristen Pamela Burtch

Anthony Chidera Nkachukwu

Sydney Jean Casagrande*

Inesh Rawal

Angelique Carmel Corbin

Ridhima Ridhi

Hannah Felicia Corrado*

Carla Paulina Romero Caballero

Shaa-Ann Keshane Davis*

Yogesh Sandhu

Bianca Lynne Dejeto*

Gurvir Singh

Ainsley Jeorgette Dekoninck*

Ranveer Singh

Sarah Jessica DesRoches*

Andrei Ghie Periel Galanto Supnet

Devanshi Devanshi

Meet Vallabhbhai Sutariya

Lauren Andrea Doolittle

Gajender Kumar Swami

Aura Maria Valencia Grajales*

Angelica Grace Dunlop

Ferlin Joy Taylan

Aurora Heidi Maria Visi

Maris Eseohe Eromonsele*

Vikas Vikas

Rosalie Ruby Walker

Kayla Roseanne Carole German

Mackenzie Dawn Waugh*

Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Hospitality)

Nathalie Claudia Gonzalez

Myranda Judith Irene Willson*

_______________

Oluwatosin Elizabeth Adebayo Bhanvi Bhanvi Ruben Remedio Cananea Kathryn Azuro Certicio Dhaval Jayantibhai Chambadiya Krisha Chandrakant Chauhan Sammy Mar Gadong Duldulao Sourav Gautam Jashanpreet Kaur Manjot Kaur

_______________ Alexis Jade Apps* MacKenzie Jaye Brown Yidi Cheng* Lingkang Feng Reva Hiranandani* Qinyuan Hu Xingyu Li Wenrui Lian Xiaoyu Liu

_______________

Ciara Mello

Sanika Kiran Patil* Piyush Piyush

Olivia Justine Di Francesco

Malina Delshae Raynor Sydney Alcott Ryckman* Saraya Sylvia Shibley*

Tourism Management - Business Development

_______________ Mayank Bhalla Blair John Burland* Tzu-Le Chiang* Mayuko Hasegawa Lucy Brooke Jackson Jagdeep Kaur Sandeep Kaur Vo Van Khanh Le*

Brigitte Anne Marie Lessard* Kaelyn Rachel Mullin* Juan Andres Pena Pinilla Kimberly Pabilada Santiago* Abigail Elisabeth Shulman Isha Bhavin Soni Nick Kyle Christian Gapo Sun* Vishal Verma

Amber Lynn Shortt* Aryonna Alexis Singh* Emma Grace Stroud* Irene Farai Tigere* Maya Allison Tilley Alyssa Victoria Trider Tushar Tushar*

Nicole Carolina Gonzalez* Madison Logan Haggerty* Myah Chloe Harper* Himanshi Himanshi Cassandra Elizabeth Hundley Balpreet Kaur* Gurinder Kaur Lakshdeep Kaur Ravnish Kaur Sukhpreet Kaur* Olivia Danielle Kirszling Emma Heather Leake *Niagara Scholar Distinction

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* To be eligible for Niagara Scholar Distinction, a student must be a graduate from a college diploma, advanced diploma or degree (minimum two-year, full time duration) who achieves a cumulative GPA of 80% or higher in the program.

Please Note: Program information was correct at press time.

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O Canada

O Canada

O Canada !

Terre de nos aîeux,

O Canada!

Our home and native land

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux !

True patriot love in all of us command.

Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,

With glowing hearts we see thee rise

Il sait porter la croix !

The True North strong and free!

Ton histoire est une épopée

From far and wide, O Canada,

Des plus brillants exploits.

We stand on guard for thee.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,

God keep our land glorious and free!

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits,

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

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W ELCOME TO OUR A LUMNI COMMUNITY! Niagara College would like to welcome the class of 2026 as new members of our 125,000-plus community of graduates.

Congratulations on this incredible milestone and remember to stay in touch.

We love to hear how members of our alumni community are succeeding and leading in Niagara, across Canada, and around the world.

Check out niagaracollege.ca/alumni for upcoming events, and to familiarize yourself with the benefits and services now available to you. Please update your contact information to ensure you receive our future communications.

To update your contact information or connect with Alumni Relations, visit niagaracollege.ca/alumnirelations or email alumni@niagaracollege.ca.

For the latest College news, visit niagaracollege.ca/insidenc.

ReuKnighted is Niagara College’s largest alumni reunion of the year that provides an opportunity for NC alumni to reconnect with their former classmates and the College community through social and athletic events at the Welland Campus during an afternoon of activity in November. Make sure your info is updated!

niagaracollege.ca/reuknighted