Celebrating the Class of 2026: Highlights from our 59th Convocation
The energy was vibrant at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on June 9 and 10 as the Fleming College community came together for our 59th Convocation. Across five ceremonies over two incredible days, we celebrated the hard work, resilience, and achievements of more than 4,600 graduates.
Representing 93 programs across all of our academic schools including Health and Community Services, Trades and Technology, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Art + Design, Business and Information Technology, General Arts and Sciences, and Fleming College Toronto, the Class of 2026 is officially ready to make an impact.
Opening Ceremony and Remarks
Each ceremony opened with a beautiful Honour Song by Meegwans Snake, a special gift recognizing the dedication of the graduating class, followed by a meaningful land acknowledgement from Associate Vice President, Health Nick Stone, who served as the Master of Ceremonies.
Members of the Board of Governors welcomed graduates, praising their hard work, commitment, and perseverance. Fleming College Interim President Dr. Theresa Knott extended her congratulations, encouraging the Class of 2026 to keep discovering and imagining new possibilities for their future.
Words of Wisdom from our Valedictorians
Our valedictorians delivered powerful messages, reflecting on shared challenges and achievements, supportive faculty and staff, and the strong bond developed within the Fleming community. The Class of 2026 Valedictorians are:
- Michah Strutzenberger, Paramedic Program
- Leah Falardeau, Customs Border Services Administration
- Amber Carter, Conservation Biology
Recipient of the Rodger Worboy Memorial Award sponsored by Colleen Worboy. - Carson Makie, Electrical Engineering Technology (Co-op)
- Lochana Dilanjan Abeysiriwardena, Global Business Management
Governor General’s Award
During the June 9, 2 p.m. ceremony, President Knott presented the Governor General’s Collegiate Bronze to Medal Esthetician – Spa Management program graduate Natalie Sudano. Natalie received the award for achieving the highest overall average upon graduation from a College diploma program.
Welcome to the Alumni Family!
During the ceremony, the focus turned to the future as our newest graduates were officially welcomed into the Fleming alumni community. A lineup of local graduates took the stage to share words of wisdom from their own career journeys and remind the Class of 2026 that their connection to the College continues long after crossing the stage.
We were honoured to hear from Fleming alumni guest speakers:
- Sara Mullen (Paramedic ’07)
- Laura Gordenier (Project Management ’14)
- Peter Carter (Fish and Wildlife Technician ’97 & Fish and Wildlife Technology ’98)
- Jordan Medland (Welding and Fabrication Technician ’22)
- Mike Temple (Business Administration – Human Resources Management ’06)
The alumni speakers expressed the value of belonging to a global network of Fleming alumni, encouraging the new graduates to stay in touch, lean on Fleming’s supportive community, and take full advantage of the lifelong benefits available to them.
Relive the Moments
Whether you want to watch your own momentous walk across the stage or share a moment with family and friends who couldn’t be there in person, you can access recordings of each ceremony on our YouTube channel.
We’ve also captured the best moments, behind-the-scenes excitement, and plenty of photos on our social channels. Check out the highlights on @flemingcollege social channels and Global News, and join the conversation using the hashtag #FlemingGrad:
Congratulations, Class of 2026!
We cannot wait to see what you achieve next!
More information:
communications@flemingcollege.ca