Two communities from the Northwest Territories, Fort Simpson and Fort Providence, sent students to participate in VIU’s Grade 10 Discovery Days. (Photo Contributed)
March 2, 2016 - 10:30am
High school students from across Canada enjoy three days of campus life at VIU
More than 20 Grade 10 students came from great distances, wide-eyed and ready to find out where a Bachelor of Arts degree from Vancouver Island University (VIU) might take them.
This is the sixth year VIU’s Grade 10 Discovery Days showcased the Bachelor of Arts programs in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and the first time the Faculty of Arts and Humanities and the Faculty of Social Sciences joined forces to deliver a combined event.
“By introducing these young visitors to our students and alumni, so that they hear first-hand about campus life and the advantages of studying at VIU, we hope they take home a lasting impression that leads them back here when they finish high school,” said VIU Dean of Social Sciences, Dr. John Black.
The event is designed to not only showcase programs but give young students a taste of university life over the three days they spend on VIU’s Nanaimo campus.
Black, along with Arts and Humanities Dean Ross MacKay, moderated panel sessions during the three day event as VIU alumni and current students shared stories and advice with the participating Grade 10s.
The panel included James Kwas, a student from Nanaimo & District Secondary School (NDSS) who is enrolled in a Dual Credit Program, which is an option that allows students the opportunity to ‘test the waters’ and save tuition costs by taking VIU courses while still in high school.
Also on hand to inspire the participants was Anthropology student Alex Berube-Robert who studied in Sweden for a year through the VIU Student Exchange Program. This fall he is scheduled to do an archeology internship at the Scladina Cave dig site in Belgium. Matt Jamont was also on the panel. Jamont graduated with a diploma in Visual Arts and a BA in Graphic Design from VIU. He is currently the senior graphics designer at the university.
Avery Bonner is in his third year of completing a Political Science and History double major with aspirations to go on to law school. He really put things in perspective for the Grade 10 students.
“You guys need to know it doesn’t make sense to pay thousands of dollars more to go to a larger university when you can get the same degree here at VIU. I looked at my options and knew this was right for me. I live healthy, spend more time outside and have access to my professors when I need it,” he told them.
The participants were a mix of Grade 10 students from Nanaimo, other BC communities, Canadian provinces and territories.
Sadeedi Gargan was listening intently to the panelists as they shared their experiences. Gargan was there with five of her Deh Gah School classmates. The Deh Gah School is in Fort Providence, a community of around 800 nestled on the bank of the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories (NWT). They made the trip to VIU with two other students who joined them from the community of Fort Simpson.
“After seeing the campus and listening to the stories, I really think VIU is great,” said Gargan.
“It’s far from home but it’s exciting. Now that I’ve been able to walk around and meet people I have a better idea of what it’s like, and I think I would be comfortable going to school here.”
Margaret Thom is a counsellor at the Deh Gah School and was a chaperone on the trip. She said they can’t offer opportunities like this without the support of their entire community. The students spend the better part of the year holding bake sales, 50/50 draws at community events, selling popcorn and holding flea markets to raise the money to make it happen.
“One of our motives for doing a trip like this is to show our students there is a world out there with unlimited opportunities,” said Thom.
“By hearing about the programs and seeing what they could do they get ideas, they become inspired. And when they toured the campus they could also see there was a lot of support systems at VIU for aboriginal students, and that makes them more comfortable.”
Thom and the rest of the students and chaperones are now back in their NWT communities. She says she looks forward to doing the trip again next year with a whole new group of Grade 10s.
“Two of our students chose to fill out applications to attend VIU and I think more will join them,” said Thom.
“They are so happy to be home right now but once they settle in they’ll think about what they saw and what they heard. They still have a couple of years to decide but I know they all had very good experiences.”
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MEDIA CONTACT: Dane Gibson, Communications Officer, Vancouver Island University
P: 250.740.6288 E: Communications@viu.ca T: @viunews
Tags: Teaching and Learning
