@nformer

Medal recipient
honored for her
valuable
contributions

Business instructor Karin Vickars
(right) presents accounting student
Patricia Atkins with the Lt.
Governor’s Silver medal at fall
graduation. (Photo: Cam Williams)

arly in October, the search began at

Capilano College for the perfect
Lieutenant Governor’s Silver medal
candidate. The award is presented at fall
convocation to a student who has
excelled in either a career or vocational
program and who has also contributed
in a positive way to the life of the
College or their community. This year’s
recipient, North Vancouver resident
Patricia Atkins, not only met all
requirements, she exceeded them.

“In her 10 months as a student in
Capilano College’s Accounting
Assistant program, Pat achieved an A-
plus average in 11 out of 12 courses,”
says Business instructor Karin Vickars.
“TI speak for all her instructors when I
say that she was not only an outstanding
student, but also a valuable contributor
and team player in our classes.”

Pat has had a long history of helping
others. While her two sons, now 27 and
23, were still at school, Pat was an
active leader and volunteer in Beavers,
Cubs and school sports. She spent nine
years as co-ordinator of tennis-related
committees at Hollyburn Country Club
and seven years as co-ordinator and
director of a tennis league for Greater
Vancouver’s Tennis B.C. More recently,
Pat has been a volunteer mathematics
tutor in the North Vancouver school
district’s adult and youth learning
centres.

At 50 years of age, and with a B.Ed.
(math major) from the University of
British Columbia, Pat’s decision to
return to school was entirely self-
motivated.

“T had been a high school teacher
but, because I do lots of other things in
my life, I wanted something that was
part-time,” she said. “After taking
some non-credit courses in accounting,
I realized I really enjoyed it and
decided to study accounting full-
time.”

Both of her sons had attended
Capilano College, taking their first
year of academic studies before
transferring to Simon Fraser
University. “They did really well at
college,” says Pat, “and it was their
enthusiasm about Capilano College
that spurred me on to applying for one
of its accounting programs.

“The classes are smaller at Capilano
College and the instructors are really
there for everybody,” she continues.
“Tt also offers a good academic
foundation.”

Pat started a part-time bookkeeper’s
job in September working with North
Shore-based Patricia Coker Industries
and for Old Tyme Builders Gallery,
also on the North Shore and owned by
Patricia’s husband, Bruce. Plus, she’s
back at Capilano College taking an
evening course in business finance.

@ @ Capilano
@€ex College

Vol. XIX No. 10
December 12/97