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Meet Â黨´«Ã½alumni Stephanie Butt

Hometown: Eatonia, Saskatchewan
Program: Associate of Science, Kelowna - 2019

Attending Okanagan College was one of the best decisions I made for my education. The smaller class sizes meant I had direct access to my professors, who were always available to provide personalized guidance and support. At the end of our second year the science professors we had all come to know had a small lunch party for the outgoing students. This is one example of the level of personal interaction I had with each professor.

This level of interaction allowed me to truly engage with the material and deepen my understanding in a way that larger universities simply can’t offer, especially in the first years of university. Additionally, the lower cost of tuition made my education more affordable, allowing me to focus on my studies without the burden of overwhelming student debt. If you're looking for an intimate, supportive learning environment that prioritizes student success, Okanagan college is an excellent choice.

Can you tell us how your experience at Â黨´«Ã½helped shaped the path you have chosen?

I have worked at Larratt Aquatic Consulting since May 2021, I was initially hired as a summer field technician. In 2021, I was promoted to Junior Algal Taxonomist and then to a full Taxonomist in 2022. In 2024, I was further promoted to Lead Taxonomist.

In my current role, I oversee various responsibilities, including training new staff, conducting client education seminars, organizing and managing taxonomy projects, data management, report writing, and sample analysis. My education at Okanagan College has played a key role in shaping my career. The college's small class sizes and, more importantly, its small lab groups provided invaluable hands-on experience in microbiology during my early years of post-secondary education. This practical application of microbiology sparked my interest in the field and guided the focus of my later studies.

Why did you choose Okanagan College for your post-secondary education?

I began my academic journey as a mature student, balancing my financial realities with my goal of earning a Bachelor of Biology. Okanagan College offered courses at a lower cost than UBCO, and I had access to more scholarship opportunities. Additionally, transferring to UBCO after completing my studies at Okanagan College was a smooth process.

Tell us about a memorable experience or project that made a lasting impact on your learning journey at OC

Throughout my education my single favorite lab was BIOL 228 (Introduction to Microbiology) in this lab we collected samples of interest to us then isolate a stain from this sample and identified it using genomics. This lab was fascinating to me and really cemented my understanding of just how much was possible through science.