KEMPTVILLE – The Kemptville campus of the University of Guelph graduated 170 students at the May 25 convocation, including 37 students from the two-year agriculture diploma program.

"You will make this world a better place because of the people you have met here at Kemptville College, the mistakes you have made, and the lessons you have learned" said Dr. Mary Buhr, acting dean for the University of Guelph, addressing the graduating class of 2007.

Guest speaker Marcel Couture, past director of University of Guelph’s Alfred campus, encouraged graduates to never stop searching for knowledge, to always listen to advice, and be prepared to join a growing agriculture industry and its increasing challenges.

Kemptville agriculture diploma graduates included Lancaster dairy farmer Luther VanGilst, who cleaned up at the awards table, and valedictorian Ronnie Maitland, a Merrickville-area dairy farmer who plans to expand the family farm with his three brothers.

Among other programs, the college graduated 27 students with associate diplomas in agriculture, 16 students with associate diplomas in food, nutrition and risk management, 7 students with associate diplomas in horticulture and 15 students with a co-op apprenticeship diploma for agriculture and heavy equipment tehnician.

Graduates in certificate programs included: 10 diesel equipment mechanics, 34 industrial welders, 18 in equine management and 2 in food services.