Our students and alumni are what makes Great Plains College so, well, great. Periodically in this space we will feature a former student and celebrate their successes since leaving GPC. If you know of any alumni who have a story that deserves to be told, e-mail us here (ATTN: Alumni Profile).

Jeff Lee
Jeremy Hanson
Lise Gauthier
Lizz Wilger

Jeff Lee (written May 2011)
The carpentry program at Great Plains College’s Outlook Program Centre taught Jeff Lee a lot of things. It didn’t prepare him for the emotional rollercoaster of starting up his own business.

“I was a little worried for the first little bit – didn’t sleep too well the first two nights,” Lee said with a laugh. “But word of mouth got around pretty quickly.”

Fortunately for Lee – a 2005 graduate of the program – his training and reputation, combined with continued demand in the construction industry, have kept the sleepless nights few and far between since he founded Lee Developments Ltd. about two months ago.

Lee has focused, in the early going, on projects like tiling, framing, and basement development. So far, he says, business is good.

“There’s lots of work in the area for sure,” he said, noting he’s already received calls from as far away as Saskatoon. “I would eventually like to get into flipping houses like they do in the cities, but that’s a long ways off. For now we’re pretty happy doing some of the jobs that a bigger company might not want. And by not stepping on their toes, hopefully they’ll throw a little more work our way.”

Like many current and former GPC students, Lee enjoyed the benefits of a smaller class size and says he still refers back his class notes from time to time.

“It was nice having a smaller class because everything was a lot more personal,” he said. “Everyone helped everyone and it was just a really nice learning environment.”

Jeremy Hanson (written May 2011)
Most students can't wait to finish school. Jeremy Hanson apparently can't get enough of the place.

Originally from Moose Jaw, Hanson entered the electrician certificate program at Great Plains College's Swift Current Campus in 2009, completing it in March 2010.

Hanson was hired by Melhoff Electric and very soon found himself right back where he started, helping complete a $13.5 million renovation and expansion project at Swift Current Campus that includes new shops, classrooms, student space, a new front entrance, and a refreshed look throughout. (The entire project was made possible by funding from the federal Knowledge Infrastructure Program and the Government of Saskatchewan.)

Hanson says he has done work on gyms, high schools, and residential housing since graduating. Not surprisingly though he has enjoyed having a slightly deeper connection to this particular gig.

"Every now and then I'll see my old teacher," he said. "And I was heavily into everything at the college when I was a student. I played sports, I was on the student government, so I made friends with a lot of people there."

Becoming an electrician was a natural fit for Hanson, whose father owns a carpentry business. Taking the program at GPC only confirmed he was going down the right path.

"The course was great," said Hanson. "The teachers aren't only your teachers, they become your friends. They know you on a first-name basis and you're not just another person - you get to be you.

"A lot of times it's not just what you do it's how you do it, and that's what made the program stand out to me."

Lise Gauthier (written April 2011)
After several years as an educational assistant Lise Gauthier knew she loved working in the education system. She also knew it was time for a change.

Great Plains College made sure Gauthier wouldn't have to choose between the two.

"I just wanted something that I would find more stimulating for myself," she said. "I loved working with those kids but needed something I was going to be really good at."

Gauthier began exploring new options after moving to Kindersley in 2009. She didn't fancy herself a power engineer but, after consulting with the staff at GPC's Kindersley Campus, thought office administration might be the way to go.

A few days in she no longer thought so - she knew so.

"It took five minutes before I felt like 'Oh this is going to be good,'" said Gauthier. "It was just so organized and really well laid out. I loved the fact that it was a small class, and the instructors were fantastic.

"Sharon (Kopp, Kindersley's office administration instructor) works really hard to find employment for her students and, more importantly, works really hard to find a good fit."

The results for Gauthier were immediate. Upon graduating in May 2010, she was hired to work in an administrative position at the town office. But the education system was still calling Gauthier's name and she successfully jumped at the chance when an administrative position came open at Kindersley Campus last fall.

"It was wonderful to be able to do that right here at home and not have to travel," said Gauthier. "I don't think people realize what they've got here. It was the best thing I ever did."

Lizz Wilger (written October 2010)
When Liz Wilger took her first carpentry course at Great Plains College she had no idea what she was getting into.

Three-and-a-half years later she became GPC’s first female carpentry graduate to achieve her journeyperson designation.

“I didn’t feel like my old job was going anywhere so I just decided to try something different and it just happened by chance that I was looking at what the college had to offer,” said Wilger.

Wilger took a leave of absence in September 2006 and enrolled in the pre-employment carpentry course at Great Plains’ Swift Current Campus. She emerged from the 20-week program with a Level 1 designation toward her journeyman certificate and was placed in a one-week work term with D.W. Wallace Construction in Swift Current.

Wallace took her on as a full-time employee and the rest, as they say, was history.

“Darryl (Wallace) has been great to work for,” said Wilger. “You finish your hours, you get the time off, and away you go. The whole schooling I haven’t had a bad experience. The school and the program itself were very helpful and the teachers were great. I can’t say anything bad about it.”

Wilger finished up 1,800 hours of work with Wallace, followed by seven weeks of apprenticeship schooling in Moose Jaw, for each level of certification. After completing Level 4, she was awarded her journeyperson’s designation in February 2010.

She currently spends most of her work days framing and drywalling for residential and commercial units.

“It’s definitely physically demanding,” said Wilger. “There are a lot of things that aren’t stereotypical of women’s jobs and it’s definitely a different atmosphere but if you find a great bunch of guys to work with, like I have, it makes it all worthwhile.”