Rankin Inlet (May 14/03) - May 7 was a special day in the lives of 13 Nunavut Arctic College students.

The 13 students graduated from the management studies program at Nunavut Arctic College's Kivalliq campus in Rankin Inlet in front of a large gathering of friends, family, dignitaries and well-wishers.

Tracy Aqatsiaq and Puvala Tutanuak received their diplomas after graduating from the program's second year of studies.

Receiving first-year graduation certificates were Mariah Aliyak, Emilia Angilik, Lindsey Angootealuk, Ron Bailey, Charlotte Hickes, Sheldon Kashla, Angie Kubluitok, Karen McLarty, Stacey Paniyuk, Yasuda Rai and Sarah Taparti. Course instructors were Sharon Shultz, Ahmed Ismail and Janice Seto.

This year's ceremony featured a special announcement from Nunavut Arctic College president Mac Clendenning, naming McLarty, Hickes and Rai as the first three students to be awarded honour role status in Rankin Inlet.

Among the dignitaries to attend the ceremony were Education Minister Manitok Thompson, Rankin Inlet elders Moses Aliyak, and Marie and Mariano Aupilardjuk, Kivalliq Inuit Association president Tongola Sandy and the Mistress of ceremonies, Levinia Brown.

Shultz says she sees the benefits of the management studies program as being twofold.

"First, the program prepares students for employment with Land Claim Organizations, the private sector and the Nunavut government," says Shultz.

"Second, the management studies program prepares students to continue on into other programs through our transfer agreement with other colleges and universities across Canada."

Shultz says Nunavut Arctic College's management studies program is already playing a substantial role is helping the Nunavut government increase its number of Inuit employees, and will continue to do so.

"We're getting more students from across Nunavut applying for the program, not just from Kivalliq."