Lakeland College earns top honors — again. By Dianne M. Pogoda

 

Lakeland College in Alberta, Canada, was honored as NKBA’s 2019 College of the Year, and continues its streak of recognition in the Association’s annual Student Design Competition.

In 2000, Lakeland College’s interior technology program became the first program in Canada to be accredited by the National Kitchen & Bath Association, meaning its kitchen and bath curriculum met NKBA’s educational standards. It is one of just 44 institutions in North America to be a founding school, in what has now grown to more than 125 colleges and universities in the NKBA Affiliated School Program.

Left to right: Dave King (Dean, School of Trades and Technology), Jordan Kalczak (Instructor), Rochelle Horne (Instructor and NKBA Coordinator), Fiona McLeod (Program Head), Greg Plant (Instructor – retired) and Graham Hammel (Chair, School of Trades and Technology), in Alumni Hall at Lakeland College in Vermilion, Alberta.

The school is no stranger to honors, as it was also NKBA’s College of the Year in 2017. Programs with an average score of 90 or better on student submissions receive an Excellence in Education Award. To date, Lakeland College has earned this distinction seven times.

“As of 2019, our two-year diploma students have successfully placed or achieved honorable mention for 16 consecutive years in the NKBA student design competition,” said

Rochelle Horne, DID, AKBD, LEED Green Associate, and an instructor in the Interior Design Technology program at Lakeland.

In just the last three years, Lakeland students have placed or earned honorable mentions nine times in the student design competition.

The rigorous program reviews and curriculum updates to meet the NKBA’s high standards previously required for the accreditation have given our students an advantage by ensuring aspects of the Professional Resource Library were incorporated in the curriculum.

There is a student NKBA chapter on campus, giving students an opportunity for professional development and networking while they’re still in school. And, students who graduate from an NKBA affiliated program are on track to begin their journey toward NKBA certification. Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove is a generous sponsor of NKBA’s student memberships and chapters.

“Our program has a wonderful relationship with our Prairie Provinces Chapter,” Horne added. “With a five-hour drive between us, their support for our students and alumni has been ongoing for field trips, practicum placements and as a cheering section at KBIS. No bias, but definitely the best NKBA Chapter!”