By paNOW

SIAST recognizes honorary grad

Jun 13, 2014 | 11:00 AM

It’s a proud day for many SIAST Woodland Campus students and their families.

On Friday at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre more than 500 students took to the stage to receive their diplomas.

Among them was Howard Kirby, president and owner of Anderson Pump House Ltd., who received an honorary diploma.

“It’s indeed a real honour. SIAST contacted me just a few days ago and they are giving me an honorary diploma here today. It’s a big surprise. It’s kind of unique because I am a graduate of SIAST back in 1973,” Kirby said, donning a full graduation gown.

He said it’s been a long time since then “and it kind of makes me thing back to my education with SIAST I have fond memories of that time.”

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For the honorary grad, walking across the stage makes up for what he missed years ago. Kirby couldn’t attend his first graduation.

Kirby is a graduate from the Water Science Technology program at SIAST Kelsey Campus. He has since worked with Anderson Drilling and spent a couple years with Saskatchewan Agriculture. Kirby became a partner when Anderson Drilling moved to North Battleford in 1976, which has grown over the last 30 years to include a variety of water system products that are sold to clientele across the province.

“Back in the early days certainly my training from SIAST in Water Science Technology actually gave me an excellent foundation for developing a business in water and pumping systems and water treatments and so on, so I have to attribute a lot of that to SIAST,” he explained.

In addition to his honorary diploma, Kirby congratulated the other graduates and said now that they’re trained, it’s important to understand the value of people skills in moving forward with their careers.

Also receiving some special recognition during the ceremony were Justine Lofstrom and Brad Halko.

Loftstrom graduated from the Integrated Resource Management program and has the highest overall average upon graduation from a post-secondary program at the campus—finishing with 93.71 per cent. She also is a recipient of the SIAST Achievement Scholarship, Great Plains Fishery Workers’ Scholarship and the Woodland Campus Adult Basic Education Subject Award.

Halko isn’t without his own list of achievements. As a graduate of the Adult 12 Basic Education program, he received an award for the highest overall average, sitting at 95.83 per cent, from a secondary school program at SIAST Woodland Campus. He also received the SIAST Woodland Campus Adult Basic Education Subject Award.

-with files from James Bowler.

sstone@panow.com

On Twitter: @sarahstone84