For immediate release

{C}

KPU hosts over 200 students for Aboriginal Open House

Metro Vancouver, BC – (April 30, 2012) – KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place opened its doors to over 200 grade 8-12 Aboriginal students from the Richmond, Surrey, Langley and Ridge Meadows school districts on Friday, April 27 at its Surrey campus.

Titled Your Path, the open house featured campus tours, mini lectures and an information fair for the students, school district staff and teachers in attendance. The event received an official opening of prayer and song from KPU First Nation elders Cheryl Gabriel and Lekeyten Antone. The closing speaker featured BC Lion JR LaRose who spoke about his own battles with adversity as a youth with Aboriginal roots and how it fuelled his motivation for success as a professional athlete.

"I couldn't be happier with the turnout and participation at this event," says Joshua Mitchell, director of student engagement at KPU who oversees Indigenous Services for Students and KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place. "The goal for the day was for students to develop an understanding of the accessibility and range of post-secondary options available in our region, to meet KPU students, faculty and staff, to experience a university campus setting, and to consider how they might begin to establish a plan for their own transition to post-secondary studies. Based on the feedback we've received, I think we've succeeded on all fronts today."

Organized within KPU's Student Life and Community Division since April 2010, the Aboriginal Gathering Place has since launched a number of initiatives focused on community outreach, student support programs, and on-campus awareness of Aboriginal issues, history and culture. Your Path is one of a series is of initiatives including peer mentoring, student club activities, lectures, workshops and campus festivals.

KPU has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for more than 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,500 students annually have a choice from over 200 programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

-30-

For more information on KPU's Aboriginal Gathering Place, contact:
Darlene Willier
First Nations Education Coordinator
Tel: 604.599.2269
darlene.willier@kpu.ca

For more information about KPU, contact:
Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kpu.ca