Convocation Program

2025 Convocation Program

Awards, Scholarships and Prizes

Pages 15-16

Ridgetown Campus 2025 Graduates

Pages 73-75

Leadership Messages

Post-secondary education is as much about the qualities you develop as a person as it is about what you learn in the classroom. Traits like perseverance, compassion, and courage will serve you well throughout your personal and professional journey.
Congratulations, Class of 2025! I’m inspired by your remarkable dedication and determination. The perseverance you’ve shown in completing your program will empower you to embrace new challenges, overcome obstacles, and thrive in the exciting next chapter of your life. You truly stand out as an exceptional group of students.
I hope Ridgetown Campus will always hold a special place in your heart and feel like a second home. Stay in touch and keep us updated on your incredible accomplishments as you Improve Life and make a difference in the world growing around you.

Brett ShepherdDirector

Congratulations Graduates!

As the Interim Associate Director of Academic Quality and Student Success, it is my honour to extend heartfelt congratulations to each of you on achieving this milestone. Gathering your families and friends, and the broader Ridgetown Campus community with our academic community is a formal way that we celebrate your hard work, dedication, and perseverance. You have embraced opportunities, navigated challenges, and emerged with strength and resilience.
As you step into the next chapter of your lives, the skills and knowledge you have acquired here will serve as a solid foundation for your future endeavours. Continue your learning and work toward making a difference in the lives of others.
Congratulations once again, and on behalf of our academic community, I wish you the very best in your future journeys.

Dr. Steve LoewenInterim Associate Director, Academic Quality and Student Success

The Dr. Ron Pitblado Teaching Award of Excellence

Each year, the campus recognizes the late Dr. Ron Pitblado through the Teaching Award of Excellence. Staff and/or students nominate a teaching staff member who exhibits outstanding commitment to teaching innovation and excellence.

We are pleased to recognize Karen Krysak, College Professor, as the 2025 recipient.

Highlights of Karen's Teaching

Submitted by the class of 2025

Ms. Krysak not only shows adept knowledge of the classes she teaches, but the industry as a whole. She always goes above and beyond to give assistance, even to students who are in other classes. She has easily earned a reputation for being one of the most proficient and empathetic teachers in our program.
Ms. Krysak always contributes a lot to our practical learning by going out of her way to obtain new materials for the labs that could enhance our education even further.
This teacher has been nothing but helpful to me and my fellow students. If you’re having issues in class or even outside of class she’s the teacher you go and talk to. She completely puts herself in the student’s shoes. She’s helped us find study tactics, helped when we struggled in anatomy, and just helped us in any way possible. She’s very forgiving with her students in the sense that she understands that life happens and some days you putting in all your effort looks different than other days. She is an absolutely amazing teacher and I couldn’t imagine a better candidate for this award.
Every student loves her. She makes her quizzes and tests hard enough for a challenge to our knowledge of the material, yet doesn’t make it impossible to figure out. She always comes in with a good mood and looks forward to teaching her students.
She teaches her lectures in a positive fun way where everyone is engaged.
She always puts in the extra effort and goes the extra mile for her students.
She makes sure students are successful and feel supported by her and she makes students feel safe around her.
Last summer, Ms. Krysak took over another class, devoting her spare time to make sure we were prepared for the upcoming tests. She makes you feel comfortable and confident around her.

In veterinary medicine we frequently refer to the quote “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” I believe the same principle applies to teaching, and I genuinely enjoy discovering the unique gifts and strengths of every student I teach. I find a little bit of recognition or support goes a very long way towards establishing respect and increasing motivation among my students. The challenge of meeting each individual wherever they currently are in their academic and personal journey also inspires me every day. My students motivate me to constantly reassess, seek out, and develop safe, encouraging and diverse learning environments in the laboratory and classroom, and to grow my own understanding. I am truly grateful for and humbled by the opportunity to support so many students while sharing my experiences in a career I love. And it’s nice if they also tolerate my love of groan-worthy puns…
Of course, I could not do any of it without the wonderful colleagues and the support staff that keep the students, the college, and myself functioning in the first place. I rely on you all! Also, I can’t forget a shout-out to my local dollar store for tolerating my presence in the sticker section for an hour at a time. And a big, tearfully happy hug of a thank you to those who nominated me for this award; when I found out I was actually overwhelmed enough to be at a (temporary) loss for words!
Most of all, a huge thank you to all my past and present students, for being wonderful human beings, and for letting me grow up to become the closest thing to Ms.Frizzle without a magic school bus. You are the reason I wake up happy to come to work every day. Thank you.
(I won’t say no if anyone offers me a magic bus, though).
Karen Krysak, Hons B.A., B.Ed. RVT, CPEP

Karen Krysak, Faculty2025 Recipient of the Dr. Ron Pitblado Teaching Award of Excellence

The Dr. Ron Pitblado Teaching Award of Excellence

We are pleased to recognize Karen Krysak, College Professor, as the 2025 recipient.

Highlights of Karen's Teaching

Submitted by the class of 2025

Ms. Krysak not only shows adept knowledge of the classes she teaches, but the industry as a whole. She always goes above and beyond to give assistance, even to students who are in other classes. She has easily earned a reputation for being one of the most proficient and empathetic teachers in our program.
Ms. Krysak always contributes a lot to our practical learning by going out of her way to obtain new materials for the labs that could enhance our education even further.
This teacher has been nothing but helpful to me and my fellow students. If you’re having issues in class or even outside of class she’s the teacher you go and talk to. She completely puts herself in the student’s shoes. She’s helped us find study tactics, helped when we struggled in anatomy, and just helped us in any way possible. She’s very forgiving with her students in the sense that she understands that life happens and some days you putting in all your effort looks different than other days. She is an absolutely amazing teacher and I couldn’t imagine a better candidate for this award.
Every student loves her. She makes her quizzes and tests hard enough for a challenge to our knowledge of the material, yet doesn’t make it impossible to figure out. She always comes in with a good mood and looks forward to teaching her students.
She teaches her lectures in a positive fun way where everyone is engaged.
She always puts in the extra effort and goes the extra mile for her students.
She makes sure students are successful and feel supported by her and she makes students feel safe around her.
Last summer, Ms. Krysak took over another class, devoting her spare time to make sure we were prepared for the upcoming tests. She makes you feel comfortable and confident around her.