Lillooet Graduates

For Brenda Munro the drive to Kamloops on Friday and the long walk across Thompson Rivers University’s campus to receive her Community and School Support Worker certificate was the short, final leg of a long journey to earn her academic credential.

Brenda is from Lytton and had driven in from Lytton to Lillooet to take courses on many weekends since the winter of 2006.

Laureen Weget, from Lillooet also received her CSSW certificate during Friday afternoon's Convocation Ceremony. She proudly wore a Gitxan Nation stole over her robe instead of the traditional blue and green hood of TRU diploma graduates.

The two women received congratulations and flowers from friends and family at the university’s Horticulture Gardens after the ceremony and reflected on the ability to receive their education in Lillooet and the possibility of laddering their certificate into a Bachelor of Social Work Degree. Darlene Christian, Jeannette Grant, Devon Smith, Sue Duggan and Tammy Dillon were also members of the class of CSSW graduates Friday.

'As long as there are programs that I can continue to take that will credit towards a higher degree, I will continue to go to university' - Lucy Saul, Fountain Indian Band’s Social Development Coordinator and recent Lillooet Grad

For another three local women, Merle Dreyer, Lillian Saul and Lucy Saul, the journey to their Associate of Arts Degrees has also been long. They received their degrees June 4, after attending classes part-time in Lillooet since 2005. "It was the best way for me to take the academic program at home," said Lucy Saul, the Fountain Indian Band’s Social Development Coordinator. "This was an awesome opportunity to take my courses on weekends. I couldn’t have gone to university otherwise, it would have meant too much time off from work."

"It was totally awesome to take part in the grad ceremony in Kamloops, like wow we are one of many in reaching this milestone. As long as there are programs that I can continue to take that will credit towards a higher degree, I will continue to go to university," Lucy pledges. “I see and understand why many of our professors are still taking courses and reaching for the next level—it’s what we are doing. Taking it one step at a time, and we will get there eventually."

Besides a great support network of friends and family, Lillian Saul, the Education Coordinator for Fountain Indian Band credits some personal help from TRU Academic Advisor Donna Fluery. "Each time I met with Donna it was exciting because I was still going on the right path and heading in the right direction. I would get to see how much closer I was to achieving my degree and that would boost my self esteem and confidence," she said of Donna’s yearly visits to the Lillooet Centre.

She is also quick to credit Jane Bryson TRU Lillooet Coordinator. "Jane works very hard at making sure that the courses happen here in Lillooet and makes arrangements for the instructors. This brings us the opportunity to take courses without having to give up our jobs and move away from home."

Jane’s work at the Lillooet Centre was recognized recently recognized at the TRU Distinguished Service Awards.