From left, Dave King, Fiona McLeod, Patti Holmstrom, Greg Plant, Darrel Howell and Alice Wainwright-Stewart at the National Kitchen and Bath Association College of the Year award presentation at Lakeland College Vermilion on January 31. Photo Shawna Chermichen
Lakeland College celebrated several great achievements for its 2017 interior design technology program on January 31 at the Vermilion campus. With the high-quality design students are producing in kitchens and baths; the program has earned Lakeland College the 2017 National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) College of the Year. The program also received the NKBA Excellence in Education Award for the fifth consecutive year. Along with these achievements the class of 2017 had five students win the NKBA’s student design competition. This is the fourteenth year students from this program have achieved such honours and over that timeframe have received over $88,000 in scholarships.
Speakers at the awards presentation included dean of the School of Trades and Technology Dave King, chair of Lakeland’s Board of Governors Darrel Howell, president and CEO of Lakeland College Alice Wainwright-Stewart, along with chair of the NKBA Prairie Provinces Chapter Patti Holmstrom, who presented the award to interior design technology co-program head Greg Plant and interior design technology co-program head Fiona McLeod.
“2017 was quite the year for Lakeland College. Today I just want to take the time to celebrate this achievement. Winning College of the year is a big deal in our program and within North America,” said King.
Howell addressed the students saying “leading and learning is something we really promote across Lakeland College and you guys are a great example of that. We are all extremely proud of you and want to thank you for your hard work.”
Holmstrom offered advice to the students telling them “to never stop learning. This is a life long journey. Always pursue excellence when it comes to your education.”
Interior design technology instructors from left Fiona McLeod, Rochelle Horne, and Greg Plant accept the National Kitchen and Bath Association College of the Year award.