Yukon College will welcome students for the new school year during Student Orientation September 8th � 18th. Student Orientation Coordinator, Kieran Slobodin has organized events to help students transition into college life including, school tours, a barbeque and a pie-eating contest on the first day of school.

Orientation events are another way the College supports an active student life, where students can learn, meet, socialize and engage in healthy activities.“These events help to create a welcoming atmosphere for students, especially those coming from outside of Whitehorse,” Slobodin says. “It gives students a chance to develop friendships early on in the school year.”

Yukon College employees will have the opportunity to participate in First Nation traditional activities at this year�s President�s Lunch/Inservice on August 25th at Yukon College and the Yukon Arts Centre from 8:30 a.m. � 4:00 p.m.

Randall Tetlichi, First Nations Support, will open the day with a prayer and will lead traditional drumming and singing.

�We�re starting the year with this event, but there will be opportunities throughout the school year for staff to build their cultural awareness,� says Tetlichi.

A panel discussion will take place on First Nation World Views including, family, connection to the land, culture and language.

There will be four 45-minute sessions on various First Nation activities including, crafts and hand games in the afternoon.

Communities in Bloom has chosen Yukon College as the first place winner for the 2009 Institutional Curb Appeal at the Watson Lake Campus.

The Communities in Bloom program recognizes businesses, institutions and residences that are committed to improving quality of life through beautification projects.

�The Communities in Bloom Award acknowledges the College�s efforts to help improve the identity of the College and make all campuses welcoming,� says Michelle Koehl, Coordinator of the Watson Lake Campus.

The Watson Lake Campus received a plaque by the Communities in Bloom group in Watson Lake.

Koehl says the Communities in Bloom group automatically entered the College this year, after seeing their colourful flower boxes at the front of the school.

Through a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) funded project from the University of Toronto, the Arctic Health Research Network - Yukon, in partnership with the Northern Research Institute at Yukon College, is offering an annual scholarship to promote northern health research to Yukon students. The scholarship is to enable northern residents to undertake graduate level studies which will benefit northern capacity in health research through training and education at any university (Canadian or International). A maximum of $21,000 for a Ph.d. student or $17,000 for a master’s student is available.

The Application form (which includes Eligibility requirements) is available at the Arctic Health Research Network - Yukon website: http://www.arctichealth-yt.ca

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