Christine Grimard
Northern News Services
Published Monday, November 19, 2007
YELLOWKNIFE - Aurora College is holding a territorial-wide competition looking for an original graduation stole design.
After seeing several graduates in original stoles - the neck pieces worn with the cap and gown by graduates - the college decided it would be nice if Northern graduates had their own unique design, said Tim Gauthier, the college's public and corporate affairs manager.
To find a unique design, the college is calling out to the public to submit something they feel represents graduates from the Territories.
"We're holding the contest in hopes to unleash the creativity of Northerners to design something unique to the North," said Gauthier. From beading, to braiding moose hair tuffing, there are no limits to what can be submitted. "We don't want to limit anyone by defining anything," said Gauthier. "We want the design to be evocative of the North."
The idea came from the college's president, Maurice Evans, who saw that a number of graduates had attractive stoles designed by friends and family members.
"They really stood out," said Gauthier. "We thought it would be nice to make it a universal thing. We're really inspired by our students."
Jan Lodge is chairing the committee that will choose the winning design, accompanied with representatives from campuses across the territories. The group held their first meeting Oct. 29 to co-ordinate the competition and advertisement. They met again Nov. 14 to decide how they'll be looking at submissions.
"We hope it will generate lots of interest and ideas," said Lodge, who works as manager of student services for the Yellowknife campus. After they receive submissions, Lodge said the committee will decide whether they'll go for one design for the whole NWT, or separate designs for each region.
Designs can be drawn in either colour or black and white, or fully sewn samples can be submitted. The committee will also accept pictures of designs.
The deadline for submissions is Dec. 7.
