Centennial College earns award for engaging 'first-generation' learners

TORONTO, Oct. 20 /CNW/ - Centennial College has earned a provincial award for its success in encouraging students from families with no history of post-secondary education to advance themselves by enrolling in college.

The First Generation Student Project at Centennial College won the Colleges Ontario award for collaborative partnerships by engaging three Toronto school boards to help launch mentoring initiatives in four local high schools to boost student retention and to smooth their transition to post-secondary education. The project received funding from the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

"Through the range and depth of partnerships involved, we fostered an expectation of higher education attainment for youth from under-served neighbourhoods, as well as individuals from under-represented groups," says Jennifer Leith, Vice President Student and Community Engagement at Centennial.

The project addresses the notion that children in families that have no tradition of attending post-secondary education may not be motivated to pursue higher learning themselves. By focusing on the barriers to learning and establishing an environment and services conducive to learning by "first-generation" students, Centennial cultivated ideal conditions for educational advancement.

"Another essential ingredient in our success was the creation of the first-generation mentor cohort, ambassadors who 'walk the talk' when it comes to promoting post-secondary education to young people who are disenfranchised," says Craig Stephenson, Dean of Students at Centennial.

Other award winners this year included Fanshawe College graduate Belinda Sayeau for her work with Aboriginal students; George Brown College assistant vice-president Lorie Shekter-Wolfson for leading the development of the college's new waterfront campus; and former Algonquin College board governor Fred Blackstein, who received the William G. Davis Community Volunteer Award.

The Colleges Ontario awards were established in 2000 to recognize individuals, organizations and volunteers who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of Ontario's public college system. The awards will be presented on Nov. 22 at a luncheon ceremony at the Higher Education Summit, the annual conference organized by Colleges Ontario.

For further information:

Media contact: Mark Toljagic, Communications Officer, Centennial College, 416-289-5000, ext. 7142 or 416-605-6012/[email protected]