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Masters of new knowledge

Roxanna Thompson
Northern News Services
Thursday, June 28, 2007

FORT SIMPSON - At one point computers were something that Stella Nadia used with caution.

"I was always afraid of breaking the computer or something like that," said Nadia.

Stella Nadia, right, addresses her fellow students and the crowd during the Aurora College celebration of learning ceremony while joint valedictorian Roxanne Konisenta waits to make her speech.
Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

Stella Nadia, right, addresses her fellow students and the crowd during the Aurora College celebration of learning ceremony while joint valedictorian Roxanne Konisenta waits to make her speech. Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

That all changed when Nadia enrolled in the Computers in the Workplace program at Aurora College in Fort Simpson.

She shared her experiences in the program during her valedictory speech at the Aurora College celebration of learning ceremony on June 21 at the arbour in the village. A total of 25 students were recognized during the ceremony for their participation and achievements in a variety of programs including five women who took the computers in the workplace program from September to December.

The course was a blessing in disguise, said Nadia who now uses the skills she learned on a daily basis at work. Nadia jokingly told the audience that she learned if anything goes wrong with a computer all she had to do is press delete or undo.

"It sure has broadened my horizons," she said.

Nadia thanked the course's instructor Orville Zaste. He taught them everything from how to turn on a computer to how to clean a hard drive and reinstall all the programs, she said.

The course is ideal for anyone who wants to learn about computers, said Nadia.

Joint valedictorian Roxanne Konisenta echoed her sentiment.

"It was fun," said Konisenta, who also took the program.

Nadia also congratulated her fellow students for their perseverance.

"For some of us it was very hard to attend class everyday but in the end it was all worth it," said Nadia.

During the ceremony students who couldn't be present were also honoured.

An award has been created to remember Darrel (Chi-nia) Antoine who died on March 13 after taking the bridging employment skills training program.

Named the Darrel Antoine Memorial Award, a plaque will be presented to one student every year, starting at the next graduation ceremony, to a student who exemplifies the qualities that Antoine had, said Barb Tsetso, an adult educator at the college.

Antoine had a great deal of enthusiasm and came to class everyday even though it was difficult for him to climb the stairs to the classrooms.

"He wanted to be here," said Tsetso. "He really wanted to gain knowledge."

His enthusiasm and perseverance will be remembered through the award, added Tsetso.