Yellowknife (Dec 19/03) - Fifteen Fort Simpson Aurora College students were saluted on Dec. 12 for successfully completing their three-month programs.

Nine people graduated from the Computers in the Workplace course. As evidence of their proficiency, an eye-catching, Christmas-themed Power Point presentation -- enhanced by audio -- played in the background during a gathering at the Cultural Centre. Those students will next be enroling in the office administration course, which begins in January.

Three of the six graduates from the Job Readiness course have expressed interest in taking the Trades Access program, also to be offered next semester.

"They've done an awesome job. I'm really proud of them all," said Barb Tsetso, Aurora College's acting program coordinator in the Deh Cho.

Kurt Grossetete spent some time with Housing employees and journeymen Dennis Sibbeston and Taylor Speed as part of the Job Readiness program. They gave him insight into how transformers and boilers work, he said. In the classroom, he upgraded his English and math skills. Grossetete said he hopes the course helps him find "a good job."

Ann Margaret Sanguez said the Computers in the Workplace course taught her how to make presentations with slides and special effects. She also improved her typing skills, jumping from 24 words per minute to 32 words per minute.

She has done bookkeeping with Wolverine Air and has some previous office experience with the NWT Power Corporation, she noted.

"I enjoyed working there so I'd like to continue upgrading my education to get my office administration certificate," Sanguez said.