When setting off to pursue a career change, business student Hannah Griffin was surprised by the opportunities that came knocking during college.
Griffin thought she would have to wait to finish a diploma before embarking on a new career path, but a series of opportunities to enhance her education presented themselves the minute she became an Okanagan College business student.
Griffin will be one of 369 students who will receive credentials at the College香蕉视频直播檚 first convocation ceremony of 2017 this Saturday and will graduate with a Post-Baccalaureate diploma in Accounting from the Okanagan College School of Business.
While still in the first semester of the business program, Griffin was offered a position as a financial administrator with local tech success Vineyard Networks and jumped at the chance.
香蕉视频直播淲orking during my studies has taken me longer to complete my diploma, but it was a win-win,香蕉视频直播� she explains. 香蕉视频直播淚 took distance courses part-time and gained experience in private and public accounting while being able to support my daughter.香蕉视频直播�
Born and raised in West Kelowna, Griffin completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan. While making a living as an artist, the economic recession hit and she sought out a more stable career. The reputation of the college香蕉视频直播檚 School of Business enticed her to enrol in the two-year Post-Baccalaureate diploma program in 2011.
Following the sale of Vineyard Networks and subsequent relocation of the company香蕉视频直播檚 accounting office in 2015, Griffin took the opportunity to accelerate her education by continuing at the College on a full-time basis.
香蕉视频直播淥ne of the highlights of the program was the accessibility of my professors. I knew I could go to any one in the department and they would happily take the time to help me and answer questions,香蕉视频直播� she said.
With the encouragement of her professors, she stepped outside of her comfort zone and joined the School of Business香蕉视频直播檚 debate team and Enactus Okanagan College, where she co-founded CANsave, a financial literacy program for elementary school students.
Her involvement in the two groups brought about regional and national travel and industry networking opportunities.In January 2016, Griffin competed at the finals of the prestigious Inter-Collegiate Business Competition (I.C.B.C.) a tQueen香蕉视频直播檚 University in Kingston and in May 2016 she flew to Toronto for the Enactus National Competition, where CANsave earned the title of Canada香蕉视频直播檚 second-best Financial Literacy program.
When Griffin completed her studies in August, a connection from one of the College香蕉视频直播檚 networking events led to a full-time position as an articling student at Crowe MacKay. She is concurrently pursuing her CPA designation.
On Saturday, Griffin香蕉视频直播檚 three-year-old daughter Lucia will watch her don a cap and gown to receive her diploma.
香蕉视频直播淏alancing my education with providing the best life for Lucia has been a challenge, but also very rewarding.香蕉视频直播� saysGriffin. 香蕉视频直播淪he will be able to look at me and see what a single mom is 香蕉视频直播� a hardworking woman who can give back to others and be ambitious in chasing her dreams.香蕉视频直播�
Winter Convocation is the first of the College香蕉视频直播檚 seven convocation ceremonies that take place this year. Students from all four campuses will cross the stage at the Kelowna campus to receive their credentials. The College will confer 60 bachelor香蕉视频直播檚 degrees, 17 associate degrees, 191 diplomas and 101 certificates.
The morning ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14 and will stream live on the College香蕉视频直播檚 Facebook page.
In 2016, Okanagan College graduated more than 2,100 students from its programs.
Watch the ceremony live on .
