Alumni stories
Shared love for food
Joshua De Leon (Business Admin '20) and Mary Grace Gomez own what’s believed to be Cape Breton’s first Korean BBQ restaurant. Partners in life and business, their story resembles the romantic plot of a Hallmark movie.
NSCC students launch new business with record label and first signing
Seven Music Business graduates ('23) have created their own record label business, Lulo, and are already signing local artists. This includes signing alumni band Good Dear Good.
Father-son duo graduate together amid adversity
Convocation is a proud moment for any family, often with graduates’ family cheering them on from the audience. However, the McLean family had a unique experience, where both father and son crossed the stage in June.
A career of firsts
Vincent Williams (RTJ '15) uses his voice to empower youth and represent his roots through his work as a sports broadcaster, football official and African Nova Scotian student support worker.
Diverting community waste
Carrie Anne Michael (Natural Resources Environmental Technology '17) is a driving force in pioneering a comprehensive waste management program that includes every household in her community, We’koqma’q First Nation.
Grad’s mission to liftoff Nova Scotia’s space industry
Going where no Nova Scotian has gone before, Arad Gharagozli (Electronic Engineering Technology '15) contributes significantly to the province’s aerospace industry. From working on satellites to founding space organizations.
Chefs, partners build life on Easy Street
Culinary Management grad Kelly-Jo Beck ('18) and her fiancé Lalanya Kaizer (Cook Apprentice) are two-thirds of the talented trio behind the award-winning Easy Street Diner in Halifax.
A legacy of carpentry, cheesecake and community
Richard Byers (Carpentry '80) exemplified community, mentorship and the art of carpentry – a legacy that will be shared with NSCC Carpentry students at his alma mater through the Richard Byers Memorial Bursary.
Baking her own sweet success
From a farmers' market to selling baked goods online and at local businesses, Sydney Daoust has certainly baked her own sweet success. She enrolled in NSCC’s Start-up Accelerator Program to further grow Syd Delicious.
Design for difference
Paul Adams is a two-time NSCC grad and the official designer of Nova Scotia’s annual African Heritage Month posters - a role he was honoured to take on following his NSCC co-op placement.
Leading in Love at NSCC
Isabella (ECE '17 & Applied Communication Arts '09) and Jake Graves (Therapeutic Recreation '17) went back to school together, got engaged as students and married a month after graduation. Read their NSCC love story.
Grads named Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada
Jubanti Dhan Toppo (HR Management '21) and Mohammad al Masalma (Tourism Management '18) are honourees of the 2023 Most Inspiring Immigrants in Atlantic Canada awards. Read what receiving this award means to them.
Leading the charge
Cole Gregory (Electronic Engineering Technology ’18), Research Associate with NSCC Applied Research, is helping Kohltech Windows and Entrance Systems determine if their residential windows could function as solar panels.
Building a future
Jerry Lewis (Carpentry ‘14 & ‘15) never dreamed the decision to study at NSCC would lead to owning and renovating multiple event venues popular with brides, Instagram influencers and musicians alike.
A natural storyteller
Stephanie Joline (RTA '04) is part of a new generation of filmmakers using their art and influence to share the stories, voices and experiences that are often forgotten.
Getting down to business
Genevieve Allen-Hearn (Nonprofit Leadership ’21) is passionate about Kentville. The business owner, publisher and community-builder is boosting the town's business sector, celebrating its cultural infrastructure and flipping the script on rural communities.
Behind the scenes
Keandre Johnson (Applied Media and Communication Arts ’19, Screen Arts ’21), a TV and film production newcomer, has lent his skills to award-winning programs including Diggstown and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Clothing brand with a cause
Tyra Paul (Business Admin ‘18) created Drip Avenue 902 as an outlet to share her personal story. The entrepreneur and community-builder donates a portion of all proceeds to support mental health and addiction services.
NSCC Holiday Message
Happy holidays from your Alumni Relations team and NSCC community. Read our holiday message.
A lens on mental health
Hannah Jackson (Photography ‘18, Nonprofit Leadership ‘21) understands firsthand how photography can support mental health, in fact, it’s a guiding principle of her work.
Sushi business finds soaring success
Liam Crane (Culinary Arts ‘17) and Ashley Scott continue to expand their restaurant, Soaring Crane Sushi, since opening in 2021. From renting kitchen space to a food trailer, and dine-in location in Enfield opening soon.
Alum strengthens community while growing business
Shawn Montique (Applied Media and Communication Arts ‘18) opened Gloria International Grocery, which is believed to be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada. His store also creates space for the community to gather.
Nova Scotia is Where It’s At
There’s no shortage of things to see, do and taste in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley region, and Jeremy Novak (Business Admin '06), owner of Where It’s At Tours, is excited to show it all off.
New grad lands job as morning show host
Before crossing the Convocation stage, new grad Emma Freckelton (Radio TV Journalism ‘22) landed the job as 94.1 The Breeze’s morning show host and took over the mic from her radio idol.
Father & son embrace a similar path decades apart
Justin Bishop and his late father, Ivan, both enrolled at COGS as mature students. While they worked in different fields, they both transitioned from physically demanding jobs to tech-based careers.
Pursuing her passion for creativity
Anisa Francoeur (Graphic Design ’16) is making a name for herself as a graphic designer. See her bold, colourful art and learn about her creative career.
Inspiring social change through film
Juliet Mawusi (Radio Television Journalism ‘21) is working to develop eye-opening documentaries to educate people and promote social change. Her documentary, Being Black in the Nova Scotian Music Industry, did just that.
Grads Heather O’Brien and Kristen Beaton memorial awards – celebrating their care and compassion
The families of Heather O'Brien and Kristen Beaton, along with the VON and help from NSCC Alumni Relations, have established annual memorial awards celebrating their lives.
Finding empowerment in education
Sherri Butler (Business Information Technology ’99, Office Administration ’00) enrolled at NSCC as a young single mother to build a better future for her son. She had a full-circle moment when she was hired by NSCC.
Alum nominated for GRAMMYs, JUNOS and ECMA in 2022
Laura Roy (Music Arts '12) is an up-and-coming voice in alternative R&B. The singer-songwriter has released 2 EPs, multiple singles and collaborated with many artists. Learn about her latest career milestones.
It’s a family thing: three generations of NSCC alumni
The Marshall family has three generations of NSCC alumni from more than six different programs. In 1965, Ross Marshall graduated from Bell Road Campus and recently, Ross Bartlett graduated from Ivany Campus in 2022.
Grad-owned business 'Ups' their NSCC connection
Kate Elliot (PR '14) has always been an active alum in the NSCC community. During the College’s 25th anniversary, she reached a personal goal when her business was hired to help with celebrations.
Alum duo makes visual reconnection with College
As students, Jane Nicholson and Kristen Brown created Arrow & Knot Productions. This year, their videography company reached a huge milestone after being selected to be part of NSCC’s 25th anniversary.
Alum feature film hits local theatre
Stephanie Joline (Radio Television Arts ’04) has a feature film, Night Blooms, playing at a Halifax theatre! After graduation, Stephanie made her own career path in Nova Scotia’s film industry, where she creates space for diversity whenever possible.
Crissi Cochrane shares the sweet sound of success
Crissi Cochrane is a Music Business alum with over 13 million listens on Spotify. She co-founded a music co-op and is currently crowd-funding her first animated music video. But what's most impressive about Crissi is how she's giving a hand-up to others in her community as she makes her way to the top.
From farm to table
Kara Friesen has launched a local meal-kit business with produce straight from Nova Scotia farms. Kara’s vision for this sustainable business was supported by the Scotiabank Entrepreneur in the Making Program and enabled her to bring farm fresh to the Annapolis Valley and HRM.
Finding community at NSCC
Alum Juno Keizer, a proud father of two daughters, and recent participant in the Irving Pathways to Shipbuilding Program, shares his experience on the program and the community support that made the journey worthwhile. View his story and others as part of the NSCC Foundation Lead the Way campaign.