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Choosing to return to COTR

Choosing to return to COTR ~Jennifer Ternoway took University Studies courses at College of the Rockies from 2008-2010 before transferring to the University of Alberta in Edmonton. ~

She spent a year in the the Bachelor of Fine Arts Technical Theatre/Stage Management program at UofA before returning to COTR, “the better school” as she calls it. She is now taking additional courses to prepare her to enter the Elementary Teacher Education program in the January semester.

Ternoway said she initially chose College of the Rockies because, “a number of people I know started out at the College before going off to other post-secondary institutions, so I thought it would be a good idea to do the same; to get a feel for life in post-secondary. I thought it (COTR) would be a good starting block and because I live in Cranbrook it was an excellent opportunity to stay at home and go to school and meet awesome people.”

When asked why she thought College of the Rockies was a ‘better school’ than UofA, Ternoway responded, “What does set the College apart from the UofA is the professionalism of the faculty, this surpasses the UofA hands down.”

She continued, “Also there is one story I like to tell people when they are apprehensive about starting at the College. When I attended a dinner after the Fair Trade Conference, College President Dr. Rubidge happened to be sitting at my table, and what impressed me immensely is the fact that he not only knew that I was a student but he thought to ask, "what are you taking?" and "how are your courses going?" and was genuinely interested in my answers.

“I've always thought  it was so wonderful that Dr. Rubidge, who probably sees 50 million faces in a day and has to remember just as many names, knows who is a student (even if he doesn't know your name) and takes the time to ask how your courses are going. Its things like that make you less of a student number in the system but an actual person with a face and a name.”

Ternoway also appreciates returning to Cranbrook and the East Kootenay lifestyle, down to the friendliness of the bus drivers: “they will help you get to where you need to go. People in Cranbrook take care of each other and that's something that I've always treasured about living in the area.”

Ternoway will have the opportunity to remain in Cranbrook and at College of the Rockies for the next four years once she enters the Elementary Teacher Education program. Although this Bachelor of Education degree-granting program is an official University of Victoria program, students take the full curriculum at the College of the Rockies’ Cranbrook Campus.

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