Rachel Gelowitz, Lethbridge College fall 2023 valedictorian. (Photo: Lethbridge College, Rob Olson Photography)

By Justin Goulet

Fall 2023 Convocation valedictorian announced by Lethbridge College

Oct 4, 2023 | 11:15 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge College has named its Fall 2023 Convocation valedictorian.

Digital Communications and Media (DCM) student Rachel Gelowitz will lead the procession of graduates and speak at the ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The event will take place in the Val Matteotti Gymnasium at the local post-secondary.

Gelowitz stated in a news release, “I’m honoured to have been chosen to represent the fall 2023 graduates, and I look forward to upholding the same values that got me here for many years to come.”

She added, “It’s quite gratifying and validating to be valedictorian after all of the challenges I’ve overcome and all of the work I’ve put in.”

During her time at Lethbridge College, Gelowitz earned a perfect 4.0 grade point average. The valedictorian graduated from Wetaskiwin Composite School in 2020 and said the DCM program at Lethbridge College forced them to “get out of my comfort zone and confront my social anxiety that, at times, felt rather crippling.”

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Gelowitz continued, “During my second year, I was able to meet with Dalaine Kubik, a therapist at the college, who helped me practise self-compassion and gain a better understanding of myself.”

They added, “Although not related directly to the college, I also found out near the end of my final semester that I have autism spectrum disorder, which was and still is a big adjustment. Overall, I went through a lot of change and growth while at the college, and that means the most to me.”

Lethbridge College DCM instructor Martina Emard said Gelowitz was a methodical student from day one.

Emard stated, “She took on classroom challenges with precision and did not let fear of failure stand in her way of trying new techniques and skills.”

“I personally saw significant professional growth in her second year, with her contributions to Expressions magazine and her ability to process feedback and immediately apply it to her work. I’m honoured to have been a part of her learning journey at Lethbridge College.”

Gelowitz plans to take a brief break following graduation before embarking on a career in graphic design. They said they would like to be a junior designer at an agency for their first position to help maximize their learning potential. Gelowitz remarked, “The joy I felt doing graphic design was unlike what I felt doing anything else, which is how I knew I could stand to do it for a career.”

More information about the Fall 2023 Convocation is available at the Lethbridge College website.

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