UNews - Lethbridge Junior College

First graduates proud to be a part of history

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:32:46 +0000

It was a much smaller class that crossed the stage, but when the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge held its first convocation ceremony, 45 years ago, a tradition of pride was born.

On May 18, 1968, the U of L celebrated its first graduating class with a special ceremony at Southminster United Church. Alums John Pearson (BASc '68) and Sharon Swihart (BEd '68) are two of the 32 graduates who received their degrees that day, an accomplishment that is a source of pride and honour for both.

"What struck me about that day was when I put the graduation mortarboard on my head; I knew I was graduating then," says Pearson, who now lives in
St. Albert, Alta. "The most significant part of that day for me, however, was when they put that degree in my hands. That was definitely the highlight; that was what we had worked so hard for. It is not very often that a person gets to take part in history and that is what that day was, a groundbreaking and history making moment. I am very happy to have been a part of that."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge first graduation class from 1968.

Both Swihart and Pearson graduated from high school in 1965 and began their post-secondary degrees at the Lethbridge Junior College university section on the college campus with the understanding that an independent ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge was well on its way to becoming a reality.

Swihart worked toward an education degree but later transferred to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary to complete her student teaching, which was not yet available at the U of L. Despite being in the early stages of development, things progressed quickly at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and with the courses she needed coming to fruition, Swihart transferred back to complete her final year of education at the
U of L.

"I really loved attending the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. It was enjoyable every day. We had classes in trailers out in the middle of what was essentially farmland, so the wind was a big factor. It was interesting getting in and out of those trailers every day," laughs Swihart. "I liked all my professors; it was nice that they knew who we were; both staff and classmates were lovely."

For Pearson, the decision to study biological sciences at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was an easy one.

"Science was always an interest of mine and one of my best subjects in school. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge offered the right program for me. I was interested in wildlife biology at that time and was able to do part-time work for Alberta Fish and Wildlife while I was a student. We did game checks and surveys for them through our connections at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. I also worked in the biology department in my graduating year and I remember we pulled a prank and let out some of the baby chicks who were there as part of a study. We let somebody else try to scramble around to pick them up," recalls an amused Pearson. "I have nothing but good memories of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ."

For the first graduating class, the convocation ceremony was the perfect culmination of their hard work and dedication, a moment in time that is forever immortalized in their hearts and in the history books of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"It was one of those beautiful days that we get here, sunny and warm with no wind," remembers Swihart. "I thought going to convocation was quite a big deal. I wouldn't have thought of missing it. We had worked hard toward getting our degrees and going to convocation was a real milestone. It was the fulfillment of a dream. The ceremony was very individual for us because there were so few of us. It was a very special day and an honour to stand together. I have good friends from that class and I really value the relationships that we made. I am very proud of my classmates, especially those who have made such a difference in education in our community."

She continues to connect to the U of L through various avenues.

"Through the years, I have attended different performances at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and had the opportunity to watch the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's growth and impact on our community," says Swihart. "Having the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ here in Lethbridge is definitely something for us to be proud of."

Pearson agrees, and adds that the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has brought a lot of prestige and brainpower to the city.

"I have really enjoyed reading about the alumni and what is going on at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ as the years have gone on. There have been some real success stories," beams Pearson, who remembers watching his daughter, Kimberly Pearson, receive her master's in biology from the U of L in 2005. "It felt great, and I was very proud, like a circle had been completed."

GET THE FACTS

· Swihart taught school in Red Deer for a few years before moving with her husband back to Lethbridge. She has spent many years as a stay-at-home mom, with their five children

· Pearson is a senior investigator - Air Operations for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. He has worked for many years in various capacities in aviation as a pilot, engineer, aviation safety officer and an accident investigator

· In 45 years the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has grown from a graduating class of 32 to the May 2012 convocation of 1,514 students and is now 34,854 alumni strong

This story first appeared in the June 2012 issue of the Legend. For a look at the entire issue in flipbook format, follow this link.

Pioneer Holmes looks back at ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's beginnings

trevor.kenney — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:49:33 +0000

A chemist, teacher, and university administrator, Dr. Owen Holmes (LLD '05) helped shape the character of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge as a liberal arts institution.

Holmes began his career as a research chemist, making significant discoveries in electron spectroscopy, before turning to teaching and administration on the Regina campus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan. He later moved to the Lethbridge Junior College, where he became acting principal, and then Dean of the Academic Section and Professor of Chemistry. When the Academic Section of the college became the nucleus of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, Holmes was the institution's first dean of Arts and Science. He went on to become the vice-president (academic) of the U of L, in which capacity he served for a decade.

As an academic leader of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he infused the academic and administrative sides of the institution with the philosophy of liberal education. His great achievement was to create a successful liberal education program, the first in western Canadian post-secondary education and an approach that was less than popular at the time.

Many of the ideas Holmes implemented - liberal arts education, small class sizes, independent research opportunities, and student-professor interaction - have shaped the unique character of the U of L and have persisted in the institution to this day.

Holmes's leadership and vision contributed immensely to the success of the fledgling ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, and he has dedicated much of his career to creating and consolidating the U of L's reputation of academic excellence.

As he neared retirement, Holmes embarked on a new career as an archivist for the U of L and the City of Lethbridge. When he retired from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he continued to serve in educational and social service agencies in Lethbridge.

McGeorge highlights First Faculty exhibition

trevor.kenney — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:41:13 +0000

Pauline McGeorge was born on January 18, 1930, and grew up at her father's lumber mill near Placerville in Northern California. Her parents, Bart and Elsie, instilled a respect for and love of nature in her that remained a prominent theme throughout her life and artistic practice.

McGeorge completed her education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of California at Santa Barbara (receiving a Master of Fine Arts) and in 1966, she responded to a posting for a full-time art instructor made by the Lethbridge Junior College.

McGeorge moved to Lethbridge with her four children where she became the founding faculty member of what would become the Art Department at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. At that early stage the facilities were primitive, with no visual aids, art books or rooms designed for the needs of art instruction.

Over her 20-year career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, McGeorge was extremely influential in the growth of the department and the founding of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Art Gallery. She was beloved by her students and other faculty members, many of who kept in contact with her through the years.

Upon her retirement in 1986, McGeorge moved to her property on Kootenay Lake where she developed extensive flower and vegetable gardens. She continued her art, drawing

Pauline McGeorge, Untitled, 1977. From the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection; Gift of Dr. Ches Skinner, 2003.

inspiration from the simple beauty of nature. Pauline McGeorge died on July 2, 2008, at her home in the presence of her family.

Select pieces of Pauline McGeorge's work, held by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection, will be on display in the Helen Christou Gallery as part of the exhibition First Faculty: Works by Early Members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Department, running from Mar. 20 to May 29, 2009.

Canadian artists have a history of drawing inspiration from the land. This has been true of Pauline, but unlike many others, she has not felt the need to seek out the exotic site. She has found the extraordinary in her own backyard, more specifically in her large vegetable and flower garden and the surrounding trees. Pauline's watercolours and pastels recall the rhythm of the university condensed into the wind-swept branch of a pine tree or a single head of cabbage.

Professor Emeritus Charlie Crane
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Department

Lasting Images - Pauline McGeorge (1930-2008)

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:14:52 +0000

McGeorge completed her education at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of California at Santa Barbara (receiving a Master of Fine Arts) and in 1966, she responded to a posting for a full-time art instructor made by the Lethbridge Junior College.

McGeorge moved to Lethbridge with her four children where she became the founding faculty member of what would become the Art Department at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. At that early stage the facilities were primitive, with no visual aids, art books or rooms designed for the needs of art instruction.

Over her 20-year career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, McGeorge was extremely influential in the growth of the department and the founding of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Art Gallery. She was beloved by her students and other faculty members, many of who kept in contact with her through the years.

Upon her retirement in 1986, McGeorge moved to her property on Kootenay Lake where she developed extensive flower and vegetable gardens. She continued her art, drawing inspiration from the simple beauty of nature. Pauline McGeorge died on July 2, 2008, at her home in the presence of her family.

Select pieces of Pauline McGeorge's work, held by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Collection, will be on display in the Helen Christou Gallery as part of the exhibition First Faculty: Works by Early Members of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Department, running from Mar. 20 to May 29, 2009.

Canadian artists have a history of drawing inspiration from the land. This has been true of Pauline, but unlike many others, she has not felt the need to seek out the exotic site. She has found the extraordinary in her own backyard, more specifically in her large vegetable and flower garden and the surrounding trees. Pauline's watercolours and pastels recall the rhythm of the university condensed into the wind-swept branch of a pine tree or a single head of cabbage.

Professor Emeritus Charlie Crane
��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art Department

UNews - Lethbridge Junior College

First graduates proud to be a part of history

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