Spotlight shines on MHC graduates at Convocation 2025
Medicine Hat College (MHC) will celebrate Convocation 2025 on Friday with over 500 students set to cross the stage at Co-op Place on June 13.
“Convocation is a momentous occasion—the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. It is an opportunity to come together as a community of learners and celebrate the unique journeys our graduates have taken to arrive at this special day,” says MHC President Kevin Shufflebotham.
“We are so proud of how far they have come and confident that wherever they go and whatever they do, they will make a difference in our world.”
In addition to the presentation of parchments, MHC will also recognize a number of award winners at the ceremony, including:
- Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degree: Willie Desjardins
- Governor General’s Academic Medal: Kristine Klassen
- Student of the Year: Anica Haberstock
- Instructor of the Year: Dayna Felesky
The Honorary Applied Baccalaureate Degree is the highest honour that MHC can bestow. This year, the college recognizes Willie Desjardins, a distinguished leader in Canadian hockey whose influence extends far beyond the game. As a coach, mentor, and advocate for education, he has shaped the lives of countless athletes, fostering both their athletic and personal growth.
His coaching career began in 1985 as an assistant at the University of Calgary, where he quickly demonstrated his ability to develop and inspire young athletes. He went on to coach in the Western Hockey League (WHL) and National Hockey League, before returning to Medicine Hat in 2019 to lead the Medicine Hat Tigers as head coach and general manager. With over 500 career wins in the WHL – and a very successful 2025 season – Desjardins is among the most accomplished coaches in league history. He also founded the South Alberta Hockey Academy with Prairie Rose Public Schools and is a key player in the high school’s South Alberta Flight Academy.
The historic Governor General’s Academic Medal was created in 1873 to encourage academic excellence across the nation and is presented to the student who achieves the highest overall average upon graduation. This year’s recipient is Kristine Klassen, a graduate of the Administrative Office Professional program.
Klassen’s education at MHC was a natural progression, starting with the GED prep course and exam and upgrading through Coulee Collegiate. She then enrolled in the Administrative Office Management program in the School of Business & Continuing Studies.
Described by her instructors as an exceptional student who helped build culture in the classroom with her open nature and positivity, Klassen is known as an excellent communicator, hard worker and high achiever.
The Student of the Year award goes to Bachelor of Education student, Anica Haberstock. Haberstock’s academic performance was outstanding throughout the program, which is offered in partnership with Mount Royal University. During her four years at MHC, she maintained a 4.0 GPA and earned a spot on the Medicine Hat College President's Honour Roll and the Mount Royal University President’s Honour Roll.
Haberstock was a collaborative and active participant in class, always present and ready to learn, while excelling in her coursework with deep, intuitive, and creative insights. She was also an active participant in the college community as an award winning, multi-sport student-athlete with the Rattlers women’s volleyball and soccer teams, assistant coach with the Rattlers women’s volleyball team, vice-president of the Rattlers Athletic Leadership Initiative, and president of the Education Undergraduate Society.
Finally, MHC is pleased to present Dayna Felesky with the Instructor of the Year award, which recognizes teaching expertise and professionalism. As coordinator of the Sport & Event Marketing and Management program and an instructor in the Sport & Event and Business Administration programs, Felesky is passionate about her students and the subjects she teaches. Leveraging her wealth of experience as business owner, she enriches her teachings with industry examples to enhance students' understanding of the course content and cultivate meaningful learning experiences applied to real-life scenarios. Her students describe her as a transformational leader and a great role model.
Medicine Hat College looks forward to celebrating all graduates, award winners and special guests at Convocation 2024. The ceremony starts at 1 p.m. at Co-op Place, doors open to the public at noon.
A livestream link will be available on Friday at www.mhc.ab.ca/convocation.