Staying close to home was appealing for Ali Giesbrecht when she chose to start her post-secondary education at College of the Rockies. What she received turned out to be much more.
“The small class environment encouraged close relationships with the faculty and her peers while also providing invaluable hands-on field experience,” she said.
Ali’s passion for the local environment and curiosity about biology and ecology drew her to the College’s Environmental Studies certificate. Though brief, her one year at College of the Rockies helped her on the next stage of her educational journey. She transferred her credits to the University of Lethbridge where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science.
Now a District Range Agrologist in the Range program at BC Ministry of Forests, Ali is an Articling Agrologist working toward her Professional Agrologist designation with the BC Institute of Agrologists. She is simultaneously working toward earning her Registered Professional Biologist designation as a Biologist in Training with the College of Applied Biologists.
According to the Government of Alberta website, “Agrologists provide advice and services related to agricultural and environmental science and technology. They apply scientific principles and practices to the cultivation, production, utilization and improvement of plants and animals, and the management of associated resources.”
The Alberta Society of Professional Biologists describes a biologist in training as “providing advice and services related to agricultural and environmental science and technology. They apply scientific principles and practices to the cultivation, production, utilization and improvement of plants and animals, and the management of associated resources.”
Though the success she has found is due to her dedication and hard work, Ali likes to attribute some of it to her year at the College.
“My time at College of the Rockies set me up for success in academics by giving me the opportunity to develop my teamwork, leadership, and academic skills in a smaller classroom setting before transferring to the University of Lethbridge,” she said. “The friendships and instructor relationships I made at the College provided me with the support and advice I needed to jump-start my career. I would highly recommend attending College of the Rockies if you want to have an enjoyable post-secondary experience.”