Sandra Moore spoke with Vicki Irvine and Sylvia Pedrazzini at Convocation:
Authors Note: One thing I noticed as I conducted these interviews at AU’s 2003 convocation was everyone’s reluctance to admit to the amount of time it took to complete their degree at AU. Out of all the interviews I conducted, I only spoke to one person who had completed their degree in less than 4 years! So for those of you out there, who feel like you are the only one taking a long time to finish your courses, keep in mind the average time to finish seems to be 6-10 years.
AU GRADUATE PROFILE OF VICKI IRVINE
AGE: 47
LIVES IN: Calgary, AB
TRAVEL TIME TO ATHABASCA: 6 hours
PROGRAM COMPLETED: Bachelor Of Arts
YEARS IT TOOK TO COMPLETE: 10 years
FAVORITE COURSE: Career Counselling 300
LEAST FAVORITE COURSE: N/A
FAVORITE TUTOR: Kate O’Brodovich
HIGHEST FINAL GRADE: 92
LOWEST FINAL GRADE: 78
Obtaining a University degree for Vicki has fulfilled a promise she wrote in her grade 9 yearbook to achieve the goal of attending university. It took 26 years, but she has finally achieved that goal 10 years after her first in-class course at AU’s Calgary Leaning Center. Vicki worked a majority of the time as she worked towards her degree and now plans to pursue a job in the psychology field. Convocation was an interesting experience for her and she encourages other AU students to set a schedule and follow it.
Congratulations Vicki Irvine, BA
AU GRADUATE PROFILE OF SYLVIA PEDRAZZINI
LIVES IN: Rocky Mountain House, AB
TRAVEL TIME TO ATHABASCA: 4.5 hours
PROGRAM COMPLETED: B. Arts – Psychology
YEARS IT TOOK TO COMPLETE: 12 years
FAVORITE COURSE: Anthropology
Sylvia traveled to Athabasca’s convocation ceremony with her husband Italo and her six-year old granddaughter Jude-Anna. Through out the 12 years it took Sylvia to complete her degree at AU she worked part-time and now having this degree finally brings a sense of completion to her. She encourages other graduates to stick with their studies!
Congratulations Sylvia Pedrazzini, BA.
Look for more grad profiles in upcoming Voice issues. If you are an AU grad and you were not interviewed on convocation day, contact voice@ausu.org to be a part of AU profiles. As always, we are seeking undergrads, tutors and staff for profiles as well.