WHITEHORSE—Yukon College released a report today that calls for far-reaching changes to the Yukon Native Teacher Education Program (YNTEP).

"Looking Forward: Preparing Yukon Teachers for Yukon Schools" is a summary of findings and recommendations by external reviewers Dr. Thomas Fleming and Dr. Colin Chasteauneuf, who spent the past year studying the 23-year-old YNTEP program.

Dr. Fleming, a professor emeritus from the University of Victoria, conducted numerous private interviews and public meetings over the winter assembling information for the report. Dr. Chasteauneuf, recently a chair of the education department at the University of Northern British Columbia, reviewed YNTEP’s curriculum.

"We thank both reviewers for their hard work, insights and recommendations," said Bill Dushenko, vice-president Academic at Yukon College. "They have certainly given us much to think about and we are excited about moving forward."

Whitehorse - Graduates from the Practical Nursing diploma program at Yukon College are certainly not “average”.

All 13 recent graduates aced the Canadian Practical Nurse Registration Exam – a national competency test - taking an important step towards becoming licensed practitioners. The grads scored higher than the Canadian average in all parts of the four-hour written exam, which was administered by Consumer Services, the LPN Registrar’s Office at Yukon government.

Sue Starks, program coordinator, believes this is the result of dedicated students, instructors and program partners.

“Yukon government, Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Whitehorse General Hospital provided clinical practice settings and supportive staff to facilitate students in their learning and skill development,” said Starks, chair of the School of Health, Education & Human Services at Yukon College.

This summer, Karen Zgeb and Amber-Rain Hyshka are going from a place where the sun never sets, to a land that never sleeps. The two Yukon College grads are heading to South Korea.

Beginning July 1, they will take part in a summer school at the Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH) in the city of Cheonan, 80 kilometers south of Seoul.

Zgeb and Hyshka will spend three weeks learning about and experiencing Korean language, Confucian values and Korean culture. The two women also have opportunities to take classes in Taekwondo, a traditional Korean martial art, and Samulnori, a traditional musical instrument.

“I have Korean students at the multicultural centre in Whitehorse and have picked up a little of the language,” said Zgeb, an English as a Second-Language (ESL) instructor. “I’d really like to learn more and know more about the Korean culture.”

However, the field trips have Zgeb the most excited.

Whitehorse - Jesse Vigliotti will be the first ever Yukon College graduate to receive a Collegiate Governor General’s Academic Medal this week.

The medal is awarded to the student with the highest grade point average at the diploma level. Vigliotti graduated with honours last month with a Northern Environmental Studies diploma and a 3.99 grade point average.

“To go for so many years not being able to say I finished high school, to now graduating with honours is a big deal for me, and very satisfying,” said Vigliotti.

After a hand injury ended his carpentry apprenticeship, the 31-year-old father of two went back to school, completing his G.E.D. at Yukon College just two years ago.

This is not the first time he has been recognized for his hard work and academic performance. In 2011 Vigliotti received the Aron Senkpiel Award from the College and a $5,000 Northern Resident Award from the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies.

WHITEHORSE—Students can continue to train for careers as educational assistants with the Yukon College’s Educational Assistant certificate program (EACP). The expanded program has received $156,583 in funding over the next three years from the Yukon government.

”We are pleased to renew funding for the successful Educational Assistant certificate program for another three years,” Education Minister Scott Kent said. “This program reinforces the Yukon government’s commitment to increase support for vulnerable learners.”

The next round of students in the accredited certificate program will begin their course this fall and will now have more study options. Students can choose to complete the EACP with two years of full-time study or the original three years of part-time study. Students from across Yukon can participate in the program through videoconferencing at any Yukon College community campus.

Whitehorse –The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) and Minister of Health today announced that the Yukon Research Centre will move forward with four cold climate research projects that have potential to stimulate economic development.

“The Government of Canada is committed to supporting a strong and diversified northern economy,” said Minister Aglukkaq. “The commercialization of these Yukon projects has tremendous potential to create new business and export opportunities for innovative Yukon businesses.”

“Support for these projects will enable Cold Climate Innovation to work with local businesses to commercialize their innovative ideas,” said Yukon Member of Parliament Ryan Leef. “This investment in research will create opportunities for economic diversification of the territorial economy while building its scientific capacity.”

Whitehorse – First Nations youth across Yukon are being encouraged to consider their own governments when thinking about their career options. Pathways to Success is a poster campaign being launched this week by Yukon College.

Each poster showcases an individual, their current job at a Yukon First Nation, and the educational path they took to get there. Erika Tizya-Tramm from Old Crow is one of seven individuals featured in the campaign.

“When considering your career there are so many different pathways to research and navigate. It can be very difficult to make a decision,” said Tizya-Tramm. “I didn’t have this kind of help when I was at high school and I think it could have made a difference.”

Whitehorse - The Friday May 25 deadline is fast approaching for Yukoners wishing to explore a career in policing and justice. This brand new two-week orientation program will run from June 4-15 at Yukon College.

It will feature a comprehensive overview of a range of careers beyond front-line policing, including site visits, job shadowing, and employment preparedness activities.

The program will be instructed by Pete Thompson, a professor at the Police and Public Safety Institute at Algonquin College, Ontario. Thompson developed the course with staff at Yukon College.

“There are over 200 different jobs available in law enforcement,” said Thompson. “It’s not all about riding in the patrol car and responding to emergencies. There are civilian jobs, radio dispatchers, crime analysts too.”

Whitehorse – Yukon Government has appointed Mike Burke to the Board of Governors of Yukon College for a three-year term. Burke is chief geologist with Golden Predator and, previous to this, was head of Mineral Services for the Yukon Geological Survey.

Since 2011, he has been active at Yukon College, as both a member of the Advisory Committee for the Mineral Resources program, and a member of the working group for the Centre for Northern Innovation in Mining.

“I am passionate about education,” said Mike Burke. “My father and grandmother were both schoolteachers. They instilled in me a respect for the powerful impact a solid education can have on a person’s life and opportunities.”

“Mike Burke brings a wealth of experience from his 29-year career as a geologist in both the private and public sectors,” said Paul Flaherty, chair, Yukon College Board of Governors.

Whitehorse – Staff at Yukon College work hard each year to encourage more graduates and their families to attend the graduation ceremony. This year they unexpectedly hit the jackpot, with tickets selling out two weeks in advance.

“There has been an unprecedented level of interest from grads in attending the ceremony,” says director, Student Services, Colleen Wirth. “This has taken us by surprise. Last year we could not fill the Yukon Arts Centre and this year we have people calling, wanting to know how they can get in.”

Wirth says the graduation committee has to work with a lot of unknowns. “Confirmation of successful course completion by our students has only just happened. During the planning we do not know exactly how many graduates we will have and even now we do not know exactly how many graduates will actually attend the ceremony.”