Students hear from mentors at Interior Savings-UBC Okanagan luncheon Monday
What do an Okanagan accountant, a lawyer, a fundraiser and a museum director have in common? They all have Arts degrees from UBC. And they’re all on a panel next Monday afternoon to talk to university, college and high school students about what they did with those degrees.
What I Did with My Arts Degree, at Kelowna’s Coast Capri Hotel from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., is the first event in this year’s Interior Savings-UBC Okanagan Mentoring Luncheon Series.
Panelists for Monday’s luncheon discussion are:
- Karen Christiansen, BA ’89, C.A. ’91 – Chartered Accountant & Partner, Meyers Norris Penny LLP
- Wayne Wilson, BA’84, MA ’89 – Executive Director, Kelowna Museums
- Sara Nelems BA ’87 – Executive Director, Kelowna General Hospital Foundation
- Walley Lightbody, BA ’56, LLB ’59, QC Lawyer & Mediator
“I hear from career-established alumni all the time that they chose their post-secondary institution — and their major — based on a desire to lay the groundwork for a successful career and a good life,” says Brenda Tournier, Manager of Alumni and Community Relations at UBC Okanagan. “Along that way they realize university is about more than job preparation, but that underlying goal never goes away and for many UBC grads, it has materialized.”
The flip side, says Tournier, is that many students graduating with Arts degrees don’t have a clear idea of what they will do with it after graduation. “They know they want a good job but they’re not sure just what that will be,” she notes.
Next Monday’s luncheon features people who have been in these positions and have gone on to find career success. Their stories will describe their journey.
Students from UBC Okanagan and Okanagan College are welcome to register for the luncheon. Tickets can be ordered online (www.ubc.ca/okanagan/alumnirelations) or from the Career Services and Co-op Education office in UBC Okanagan’s Student Services Centre. Complimentary bus service is provided from UBC Okanagan to and from the event.
Financial support from Interior Savings Credit Union has made this year’s Mentoring Luncheon Series possible. “Interior Savings stepped forward last year and we’re very grateful for their support as our title sponsor again this year,” says Tournier. “We’re excited about providing mentors for today’s students as they consider their future careers, and we have been very fortunate to have a high-profile and very community-minded partner like Interior Savings support us in continuing this series.”
The second event of the 2008/09 Mentoring Luncheon Series will be a spotlight on Aboriginal careers, set for Nov. 25.
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