Getting a career boost

Wednesday it was Richmond and Thursday it’s the turn of Surrey as employers ranging from health care centres to Canada’s intelligence agency set up shop for the annual Career Fair. Here’s what it looked like at Richmond, earlier this week.

Fashion student show their sense of style

Kwantlen’s Fashion Design program put on an stylish display Dec. 4, in and around the Richmond Kwantlen rotunda.

The rotunda and a second-floor corridor were full of bright colors and unique designs, and the students who created them. The goal of the display was to allow other students to view the fourth-year students’ portfolios, and to promote the Fashion Design program.

Fourth-year students Niki Chung, Carolyn Chow and Janis Brunke were also fundraising for the new Julie Hobart “SOS” scholarship by selling “wing” necklaces. The necklaces were designed by a Kwantlen grad and local designer of “Mimi & Marge.” Necklaces remain on sale for $50. The proceeds will go towards the scholarship and the Fashion Design program.

SHIP program offers a bit of relaxation to Kwantlen students

 

Kwantlen students were given a free massage on Kwantlen’s Richmond campus, Tuesday, Dec. 2.

The Student Health Improvement Program (SHIP), in association with the Kwantlen Student Association, organized the event. The motive behind the free massages was to offer more services to the students and to connect with local colleges, Vancouver Career College and with PCU College of Holistic Medicine.

“It was a win-win situation,” said Eddie Lee, Student Health Improvement Program coordinator. “They (PCU students) were able to practice some of their skills with the general public.”

Lee said this was also a benefit to Kwantlen students who were in need of stress relief before exams.

The SHIP program also offers subsidized gym pass discounts at Langley and Vancouver community centers, a food co-op program offered at each Kwantlen campus and nicotine replacement subsidy, as part of the Health and Dental plan, for students who wish to quit smoking.

The SHIP program also had some success with a series of fitness classes in yoga and “krunch fitness” at both the Surrey and Richmond campuses during last semester.

‘Tis the season for bake sales

Public Relations student at Kwanlten’s Rochmond campus held bake sales Tuesday and Wednesday to raise money for the Cinderella Project.

As part of their Events Planning course with instructor Amelia Kennedy-Maki, students have formed small groups to brainstorm ways to raise funds for sponsorships and a gala event.

The Cinderella Project will supports kids who have risen above the challenges they faced during high school and persevered to succeed academically.

Students who will be honoured at the event have experienced a number of challenge. including poverty, health problems and family issues.

“It’s a way to recognize their hard work,” said Jenn Currie, a second-year PR student. Currie said that details are still up in the air, but is hoped to be a “jazz and wine event” in February at the False Creek Yacht Club.

PR students faced some competition Tuesday with another bake sale (for a separate cause; see photo and caption) also going on.

“We had a bad spot in the cafeteria and there was another bake sale going on,” said Bryn Silver. Silver said one of their previous bake sales had gone very well and hoped to find similar support for Wednesday’s sale.

Budding philosophers get together

Kwantlen students who can’t get enough of their philosophy class, may have the opportunity to dig further into the world of philosophical ideas.

The Philosophy Club is a student run-organization that focuses on using philosophical ideas to analyze current issues and encourage advanced critical thinking.

The club was created two years ago and has previously held meetings at both the Richmond and Surrey campuses. In past sessions, students would attend weekly meetings that for discussions, analysis of situations and debates on underlying questions.

Cole Griffin, is this year’s president of the Philosophy Club, and is attempting to launch a new series of sessions.

Philosophy professor Puqun Li said the club would show films relevant to philosophical ideas to stimulate discussion. Club coordinator Sean Bradshaw would provide students with handouts that will guide them through the topics addressed in the films.

The club has also invited guest speakers to attend the sessions, including other philosophers and a variety of professors from other disciplines.

“Philosophy wholeheartedly dives into what it is to be a human being, and the conflicts of the mind and spirit, as we struggle through life,” Bradshaw said.

Debate topics that are expected to arise during the sessions are questions regarding religion, the similarities and differences in truth in science and religion, and the search for the source of moral consciousness.

Those who are interested in learning more about the philosophy club, or are willing to help get the club off the ground, can e-mail philosophyinfilm@gmail.com.

Students gather to learn leadership skills

Some 120 people gathered to work on student development and work habits at the first Kwantlen Student Leadership Conference, held Saturday at the Surrey campus.

The day’s agenda included 15 workshops to help students stand out from the crowd, become professionals in the workplace and network with other students who are also on track to becoming leaders. 

“It’s been really good for personal growth,” said Scott Regamble, a 24-year-old Kwantlen business student. “I was really excited to hear Peter Legge speak, that’s what sold me.”

Keynote speakers were Kwantlen president David Atkinson, and motivational and business speaker Peter Legge.

“You can get anything you want, if you give other people what they want,” said Legge, during the closing speech of the day. 

Along with his speech, Legge delivered a copy of his novel The Runway of Life to everyone in the audience. The audience also received a free lunch, sponsored by the KSA, and a coffee mug.

“I am here to find opportunities within the school community,” said Melissa Gomez, a 23-year-old business student from Kwantlen. Gomez also said that she preferred the Kwantlen Leadership conference to last year’s SFU Conference, because she found it more “inviting.”

Kurt Penner, Student Life and Development coordinator and instructor, was pleased with the turnout and said the conference was really “a gift to the students.” Penner hopes to make the leadership conference an annual event.

New health benefit pays for students’ nicotine replacement

The KSA has taken an initiative to promote healthier lifestyles for Kwantlen students by including a subsidized Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in the Student Benefit plan.

The plan is in partnership with the B.C. Lung Association and targets post-secondary students who want to quit smoking. The partnership began with the association’s initiative to have a quit smoking program offered to Kwantlen students.

“The KSA recognized this was something important and we should have (it) in place in our student benefits program,” said Eddie Lee, the Student Health (SHIP) program coordinator. “It kind of worked hand-in-hand that this program is in place with B.C. Lung because with this new benefit package place, we can really serve the students a whole lot better.”

Lee feels that even without B.C. Lung Associations’s initiative, the KSA would have started an NRT plan.

Students can now receive up to $500 for NRTs, including nicotine gum, lozenges, patches, sprays and prescription medicines.

“I can’t say one works better then the other, but I do think we cover all the basis, and we can give students as many options, or tools they need,” said Lee.

Students will be re-reimbursed for over-the-counter NRTs by taking their receipts to the KSA and filling out a claims form. For prescription medicines, students must take their medical card to the pharmacy and they will be automatically covered.

Lee said that creating a smoke-free campus is not the primary goal of the program, but that it is a matter of helping students who want to quit smoking by making resources available.

“We recognize especially with Kwantlen, and with having a trades campus, statistically we have a higher percentage of smoking,” said Lee. “By being part of this initiative, I think we have the resources to help build a successful program here.”

The Student Benefit package (health and hental insurance) costs students $179 a year, although they can opt out if they are already covered by extended medical elsewhere.

Pushing mental health for students

Six health services groups met in the downstairs rotunda at the Kwantlen Richmond campus on Thursday, Oct, 9, as part of the Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 5-11.

The displays focused on giving students a better understanding of mental illness and raising awareness in the community.

“We are here to expose the services we provide,” said Teresa Vozza, a registered clinical counsellor at Touchstone Family Association.

Most of the agencies and associations that were at the campus are Richmond-based, and provide counselling for individuals suffering from mental illnesses and support groups for families with mentally ill relatives.

“It’s been a very beneficial day for a lot of people,” said Jim Young, 54. “Our aim is to help as many people as possible, and I think we are reaching that goal.” Young is a part-time staffer at Vancouver Coastal Health.

Organizations involved include the Mood Disorders Association of British Columbia, the Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada (CMWAC), Vancouver Coastal Health, Chimo Crisis Services and Touchstone Family Association. Also available were a series of UBC research studies on mental health disorders, primarily focusing on bi-polar disorder.