[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/degroote edited.jpg” caption=”Students from the DeGroote School of Business are graduating today in downtown Hamilton.”]Today at Hamilton Place, students from the DeGroote School of Business will graduate. Degrees will be conferred on 493 students, 360 from the undergraduate commerce program, 130 from the MBA program and 3 from the PhD program. Three representatives from DeGroote's class of 2009 are profiled below.

Nora Griffiths has McMaster maroon in her veins. Growing up, she spent her holidays in summer camp at the university where her parents are alumni.

“Both my parents got their honours bachelor of commerce degrees at McMaster, and although I applied to other schools, in the back of my mind I always knew I would go to DeGroote,” she says.

As she looks back on the past four years, Griffiths cannot believe how far she has come.

“I know, hands down, that I am not the same person I was when I started at DeGroote,” she begins. “I am graduating a different person. I know wherever I end up that my experiences at DeGroote have prepared me to face any challenges that lie ahead.”

For more of Griffith's story, click here.

In September 2004, Na Qin arrived in Canada from China to begin an honours commerce degree at McMaster University.

“The DeGroote School of Business is one of the best business schools in Canada,” says Qin, as she recalls her first day on campus. “I remember thinking the school is not so big, but the program has great professors that are approachable and I really like the team-based atmosphere.”

Following convocation, Qin is planning to take some time off and embark on a career in the world of finance, before pursuing an MBA. “After four years, DeGroote has taught me about all the aspects of the business world. I have gained the confidence and experience I need to balance multiple, demanding commitments, as well as enhanced my time-management, communication and team-working skills,” she states. “These assets will serve me well in the future.”

For more of Qin's story, click here.

Following the completion of his undergraduate degree, Bryan Herechuk was planning for a career in medicine.

“I was strongly heading towards medical school,” he says. “I had not considered the administrative realm of health care until I applied to the MBA program in Health Services Management (HSM) at DeGroote.”

Herechuk took advantage of DeGroote's MBA Co-op program, working in hospice and hospital settings for 12 months over the course of his two-year MBA degree.

In January, he began a career as a performance improvement consultant in the Quality, Planning & Performance Improvement Program at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton.

“My experiences have confirmed my passion and interest in being an administrator of our health system. There is not a moment that I regret making the decision to come to DeGroote for the MBA program,” he affirms.

In the future, Herechuk hopes to be the vice-president of an acute care hospital.

“I have a passion to be a health leader and I also plan to be a fully engaged DeGroote alumnus. I will never hesitate to promote the program that laid the foundation for me to get there. Even 20 years from now, I will still be representing DeGroote in my work and relationships.”

For more of Herechuk's story, click here.

DeGroote will also present honorary degrees to Charles Coffey, former executive vice president of government affairs and business development at the Royal Bank of Canada Financial Group, and John Howard, founder of Megalomaniac Wines. For detailed profiles of honorary degree recipients, please click here.