The Fall Class of 2023 is ready to walk the stage at today’s convocation ceremonies. Get to know some of the many new grads who are ready to make a difference in sectors from business and law to child care and the arts.

ALEXANDRIA BLUNT
BACHELOR OF COMMERCE, LEGAL STUDIES IN BUSINESS
Dean’s Medal – Degree Recipient

When I took an employment law course with Evguenia Iskra in the Human Resources Management Diploma program, she was so passionate about the topic that I knew I had found a “home for my brain.” Legal studies is so black and white, but there are also these fun grey areas. Discovering those, and working with them within the confines of the rules, was so neat. That class inspired me to transfer to the Bachelor of Commerce and major in Legal Studies. 

Because a lot of my time at MacEwan was online, I didn’t make many friends on campus. But my last semester in Spring 2023 was in person. I had a group project, and most of us were in our last class of our degrees doing a final presentation together. When we were done, I remember walking out of there and us all being so excited. We had done it! It was so nice to share that moment with fellow graduates. 

I now live in Saskatoon with my partner and working as an admin assistant, enjoying life. We love to bike and spend time with our cat. But I’m always looking ahead at what I could do next. I loved being a student so a master’s or second degree is not out of the question. 

I also just got engaged, so I’m putting my organization and management skills from my commerce degree to work in planning a wedding!

JUSTYN CHODZICKI
BACHELOR OF ARTS, ENGLISH

I was 25 years old when I arrived at MacEwan. It was a confusing part of my life, and I struggled with feelings of failure and regret. 

Books and poems have always been the best friends that carried me through life’s ups and downs – so it makes sense that studying language and literature at MacEwan gave me direction and purpose when I had none, opened doors that I never knew existed and instilled me with confidence and skills I never believed I could have. 

Dr. Pam Farvolden and Dr. Romuald Lakowski in the English department introduced me to medieval literature and scholarship, and never stopped encouraging and inspiring me. If you had told me during my first year at MacEwan that I would eventually be researching, writing and presenting an honours thesis project, I wouldn’t have believed you. 

I also had the life-changing opportunity to participate in a summer 2023 exchange program in South Korea, teaching English to university students and doing some studying of my own. I’m currently teaching English online to Korean nationals while waiting for my degree to arrive. Once I have my parchment in hand, I will be applying to teach in South Korea where I plan to live, teach and explore for the next year before applying to graduate schools. My dream is to continue studying and teaching English and literature so I can one day share the same passion and knowledge with my own students that the English faculty at MacEwan bestowed upon me. 

I owe this school everything, and If I could stay forever, I would. I will never forget my time here or any of the amazing, inspirational and life-changing people I had the opportunity to meet.

BRIDGETTE CRABBE
Bachelor of Design

As a kid, I always enjoyed art and creating things that came to mind – from origami to pretend restaurant brands complete with menus and logos. My aunt, who was studying design at MacEwan, would babysit me and let me draw in old sketchbooks while she worked on her own assignments. Art and design have always been a part of my identity, so when it came to applying for university, I knew I wanted to do something that involved creating things. 

During my second year, I joined the Design Students’ Organization (DSO) and found myself creating social graphics. I wanted to break out of my shell, so being a part of the club really helped me grow my social and leadership skills. Being co-president in my fourth year gave me the opportunity to dive into learning how to lead a team, coordinate projects and collaborate with my peers. Being a part of the club has also allowed me to meet some great people who are some of my closest friends. 

I had an amazing opportunity to work with fellow members of the Design Students’ Association (SDA) at U of A along with members of the DSO to design physical activations and accompanying signage and social posts for the JUNOS 2023. It was challenging yet interesting to be a part of the process and learn what goes into building physical 3D designs. Our activations were seen at West Edmonton Mall and Kingsway Mall. We even got to attend the JUNOS, which was super fun and a great way to celebrate all our hard work. 

This past summer I had the amazing opportunity to intern as a graphic designer at Berlin Communications which led me to work there full-time. Some highlights have been helping  design outdoor signage for KDays 2023 and creating billboard ads for Alberta Forest Products Association.

JEREMIE GUTIERREZ
Bachelor of Music, Performance

I have been passionate about music since I was in elementary school, and watching pros playing music live in venues in Edmonton made me want to pursue music as a career.  As a high school student, I saw the MacEwan bands play at Open House and that encouraged me to pursue my passion for music. I wanted to become one of the musicians playing in those bands. 

The defining moment of my time at MacEwan was being a part of the MacEwan University Big Band, directed by Ray Baril. Ray always picks challenging tunes that push my limits as a musician. During rehearsals, he always motivated me to work on the tunes and encouraged us to practice as a section, which overcame the challenges I was facing within the band. 

The MacEwan community makes you feel you belong to this school because of the students and profs you meet. In my four years in MacEwan, Rubim de Toledo taught me not just how to play the bass but to become a better musician, whether as an arranger/composer or a session musician playing for other artists. One piece of advice he gave to our masterclass is that when you’re performing in any gig, you always have to treat it as a positive experience. No negatives. I would also like to express my deep gratitude to Aretha Tillotson and Kim Lesaca for their guidance and enthusiastic encouragement. 

My current band, Altamar, which consists of current MacEwan music students and graduates, will be releasing an EP around December, showcasing our musical abilities and the things we learned in MacEwan. I will also be playing for an upcoming cruise ship gig, leading me to tour around the world while showcasing my musical abilities. I will also play in The Prisoner Dancer Musical in Ottawa this November. One day in the future, I hope to become a professor, teaching students music. 

HAILEY MATTHEWS
Travel Diploma
Dean’s Medal – Certificate/Diploma Recipient

Travel is about seeing the world through my own eyes and sharing it with other people. I love the idea of sitting down with clients and helping them make decisions about their dream vacations even if it’s just a weekend getaway. I already have a position as a travel counsellor at AMA within the industry. In the future, I hope to become a cruise specialist. 

My cruise professor, Tammy Allen, was the one who inspired that particular career goal. She went in-depth on different cruise lines, the things that make up a cruise ship and the experience as a whole. She made the idea of cruises exciting for both a guest and an agent. 

My time at MacEwan helped me prove to myself that if you work hard enough for something it’s bound to happen. I’ll never forget receiving an email stating that I was selected to receive two scholarships. Receiving the Dean’s Medal is a huge honour that represents the hard work that I put into the travel program at MacEwan. With hard work comes benefits and fun events, like the Anaheim roadshow I was able to attend.

JODY MERRICK
BACHELOR OF APPLIED HUMAN SERVICE ADMINISTRATION
DEAN’S MEDAL FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE

This is my second credential at MacEwan – I completed my Early Learning and Child Care Diploma in 2013. I always say that I took the long way to complete my degree – it’s been seven years since I began this journey, and it hasn’t been without its challenges. 

I am a “mature” student – I work full time, have family commitments, completed all of my courses through distance learning and, like many others, experienced COVID in the middle of my studies. I simply couldn’t have achieved my goal without the support of my family and the champions in my workplace who encouraged and inspired me to take risks in my own learning along the way. 

One of the biggest obstacles in distance learning is, well, the distance. It’s hard to build relationships on a virtual discussion board, and it takes more effort to engage with others. But one of the most memorable experiences was during one of my less-than-favourite courses – finance. We were assigned groups and decided to meet over Zoom during the weeks when we had projects to complete, but we soon found ourselves meeting even when we didn’t have work to do together. Our little cohort was one of the biggest encouragements for me – we saw each other’s faces, listened to each other, supported each other, learned from one another, leaned on each other and laughed a lot! Because of that group, one of my least favourite courses became one of my favourite times. 

What’s next for me? I want to continue making a difference for children and families in our communities.

HINA SAMJI
THERAPIST ASSISTANT DIPLOMA, SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST ASSISTANT

When my youngest daughter was in preschool, I noticed that her speech was delayed and that it was difficult for people to understand what she was saying. We were fortunate to enroll her in a specialized preschool equipped with a well-trained staff, including a speech-language pathologist, speech-language pathologist assistant (SLPA), teacher and educational assistants. When we had progress discussion meetings, I loved how the SLPA helped her. It made me want to make that kind of difference in someone's life, too. 

Going back to school after 14 years was nerve-wracking, but I’m proud to have shown my children that you can pursue your passion at any age and at any time. It meant a lot to see my kids recognize and appreciate my hard work – preparing assignments, working full-time and making sure I still fulfilled my responsibilities as a mother. 

But I could not have been successful without my supportive husband and loving sister. There were times when I felt I could not do this course anymore and wanted to quit, but they both picked me up and kept me going. I am blessed to have them.

Looking back to the person I was before I started at MacEwan, I can see that I’m stronger and more confident now. The students and professors I met here played a big part in that. They helped me learn to face my fears, ask questions when in doubt and never stop learning. 

Currently, I am working as an education assistant with the Edmonton Public School and doing what I love the most: making a difference in young people's lives.

ABHIJEET SINGH
Bachelor of Commerce, Legal Studies in Business
President’s Medal Recipient

I've always aspired to become a lawyer, so I opted for a major in Legal Studies and a minor in Finance. This combination has provided me with a comprehensive grasp of corporate law, with a specific focus on securities law. At the moment, I am dedicating my efforts to preparing for the LSAT and working, but my long-term objective is securities law, so I’m also participating in legal research and working towards publishing. 

My time at MacEwan University has been enriched by two exceptional mentors: Dr. Dan Wilson and Dr. Chaldeans Mensah. Their mentorship extends far beyond the confines of the classroom, offering me not only academic knowledge but also invaluable life advice.

I’ve also had wonderful experiences at the Students' Association of MacEwan University (SAMU) events and student groups, which were a fantastic way to meet new people and forge lasting friendships. When I was president of the MacEwan United Nations Club, I helped students from the Ukrainian Catholic University and National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy through the Canada Ukraine project. It led to me being one of nine recipients of the Canadian Bureau of International Education New World Award. I am truly honoured and blessed to be part of this project. 

I am incredibly humbled and grateful to be the recipient of the President's Medal. My journey has had numerous hurdles and hardships along the way, particularly during my first years. This recognition is a testament to dedication and work. Moreover, this medal represents not only the acknowledgment of past achievements but also a commitment to the future. I am inspired to continue my journey, making the most of the opportunities this recognition brings.

NATASHA STEVENS
MASSAGE THERAPY DIPLOMA

During my time at MacEwan, I worked with many different populations – athletes, infants, geriatric people and pregnant women. Massage therapy gives me the ability to help others reach their goals and address their own unique issues. Whether they are working toward recovery or trying to improve their quality of life, I want to help my clients feel their best. 

I was an athletic child and experienced a number of motor vehicle accidents, so I’ve had several injuries of my own – including debilitating symptoms from a concussion that lasted over a month. Until then I had never heard of craniosacral massage, but the practice made a significant difference in my recovery and inspired a passion in me for the body’s ability to rehabilitate, and the role massage can play in that. 

I plan to take my first craniosacral course in the spring and to continue to deepen my understanding of the human body through hands-on practice and by completing courses that align with my interests. I hope to work with people who have suffered whiplash or concussions and, in the future, I want to open my own wellness centre. I am still only beginning to embody the therapist I strive to be.

KÍA VALDEZ BETTCHER
BACHELOR OF DESIGN
DEAN’S MEDAL – DEGREE RECIPIENT

I knew I wanted to do something related to art, and I enjoy the design process and figuring out interesting and effective ways to solve problems. When I checked out the previous MacEwan design graduating class sites, I was impressed. So I sent in a portfolio and luckily got accepted.

During my time at MacEwan, Dr. Isabelle Sperano definitely helped me understand the possibility of interactive design and got me excited about solutions involving new technologies. I never thought I’d get to help make a biology-based tower defence game (Life on the Edge) but I got the chance during a summer internship. I learned a lot from that experience!

I also worked with The Griff, the student publication on campus, and going to a student journalism conference in Toronto with the team was a blast!

While earning my degree, I was taking part-time classes and working full-time, so it feels great to finally be done with homework. Now that I’ve finished, I plan to keep working and looking for ways to apply the design skills and knowledge I’ve collected along the way.

DEANDRA WILLIAMSON
BACHELOR OF CHILD AND YOUTH CARE

Growing up, I had my fair share of trauma and uncertainty, so I knew that I wanted to be an advocate for children and youth who are involved with children’s services. 

When I decided to work toward a Bachelor of Child and Youth Care, it meant moving to the “big city,” as my grandma calls it. I couldn’t have done it without my best friend. She’s a few years older than me and has been there helping me every step of the way – from letting me live with her when I first moved to Edmonton and again during my practicums to helping me figure out my homework and the whole school/life/work balance. She is my number one supporter. 

Throughout my degree, I’ve been working full-time as a youth worker. I enjoy the work – every day is a new adventure, and I’m always learning something. The youth I work with really keep me on my toes, and I appreciate the deeper understanding my degree has given me when it comes to trauma-informed practices. 

I like what I do and hope to stay with the same agency for a few years. In the future, I would love to facilitate programming in a juvenile detention centre. I’ve seen several of my family members go through the prison system, and want to make things a little less bleak for people like them if I can. 

AYSHA WU
Bachelor of Communication Studies, Professional Communication

For me, enrolling at MacEwan was my way of closing the minimum wage service worker chapter of my life. Enrolling was a last-minute decision, and professional communications and journalism were the only two programs open.  

I had no idea what to expect. Heck, I didn't even know what “communications” was. What I learned through my four years is that there isn’t an easy answer to that question. Communications encompasses so many things and is such a growing and changing field, but if I had to define it, I would say that it’s about storytelling.

Some communicators tell stories through books as authors or editors; some tell stories through research – stories about the nature of people and how we interact; and others tell stories through media, be it documentaries, YouTube or press releases.

Every professor I learned from was full of stories and passion for the field of communications. The communications professors come from so many different backgrounds and all have such unique perspectives and skill sets that they enthusiastically offer their students. I loved that there was such a focus on applicable skills and preparing us for the industry.

I still wouldn’t call communications my passion, but I am so grateful to my professors and for my experience at MacEwan. I don’t know where I’m headed next, but I guess it’s time to get out there and tell some stories.

DANIELLE ZARAZUN
Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting

I have always been interested in business administration – why businesses make certain decisions and how that leads them to succeed or fail. I completed a business administration diploma in marketing prior to studying at MacEwan. It wasn’t until I started working in the industry that I realized I had a passion and talent for numbers. I decided to continue my business administration education and major in accounting.

In the last semester of my degree, I was involved in a business simulation group project. It was really interesting being around students in other majors and bringing everyone’s different expertise together. We worked really well as a team and ended up placing first! I was especially proud because I was responsible for the finance and accounting of our project. It proved to me that after years of studying, I now have the knowledge to help lead businesses to financial success.  

I am now working on getting my Chartered Professional Accountant designation, and I’m still involved with the MacEwan University Accounting Club. It’s been really fun getting to know more students in the field.

My fiancé Jacob has always pushed me to continue and celebrated my successes. Even if it was a small piece of homework that I did well on, he was always there cheering me on. I will admit it was not always easy to stay motivated – especially switching to a fully online learning environment in the COVID-19 pandemic – so I really appreciate his support.

SAMANTHA ZENOWSKI
SCHOOL OF CONTINUING EDUCATION – OFFICE ASSISTANT CERTIFICATE
DEAN’S MEDAL – CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA RECIPIENT

I originally went to school for makeup artistry in Vancouver and lived there for a couple of years, but moved back when the cost of living was getting out of control. I slowly realized that making a business for myself wasn’t what I wanted for a career, so I slipped into retail and let it sink its claws into me for six years. At that point, I knew that I wanted to make a change in my life and find something that would give me stability and a steady income, but I didn’t have any direct passions that I wanted to study if I went back to school. 

I found the office assistant program and realized that I could go back to upgrade the skills I already had and put proof to them. Now, only a couple of months after finishing my field placement, I found a wonderful job that I am super happy in.

You don’t need to have a passion to go back to school, just the courage to want to see a change.