ST. JOHN’S, NL – A graduate from College of the North Atlantic (CNA) is not only proud to complete the college’s Early Childhood Education (ECE) program; she’s also celebrating it with a recent award win!
Nicole Hall is the recipient of the 2022 Joanne Juteau Early Childhood Education Scholarship from the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL).
Nicole Hall is a recent graduate of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program at Prince Philip Drive campus in St. John’s. She is the proud recipient of the 2022 Joanne Juteau Early Childhood Education Scholarship, awarded by the Association of Early Childhood Educators Newfoundland and Labrador (AECENL).
“I was honoured, and shocked, when I found out I won this award, it’s such a special award for the ECE program,” said Hall, who was enrolled in the program at CNA’s Prince Philip Drive (PPD) campus in St. John’s.
The award is given annually by AECENL to an ECE student who has a high academic performance as well as community service during their two years of school. It also comes with a $500 prize. The award’s namesake, Joanne Juteau, was well known for her contributions to the ECE sector.
This marks the second consecutive year that a CNA student was presented with the award. Last year’s debut recipient was
Ocean Whalen.
“The award makes me proud to be the second recipient of it,” Hall beamed. “Joanne loved her job and this career makes me proud to be in it.”
Although it wasn’t always an easy path, Hall says she is happy to reach the finish line.
“My time at CNA was a mix of feelings with COVID – we were online, back to class and then back online again, but we pulled through and are proud that we did.”
She says despite the challenges, her instructors were able to get her to where she needed to be.
“I would recommend this course for anyone interested: CNA, the instructors are amazing, and they really transform you into a great ECE,” she said.
Hall says she plans on opening her own centre so she can do her part to help those who need daycare assistance.
“My future plans are to hopefully one day open my own full-time child care centre,” she said, adding that working with children has been a fulfilling experience. “This is truly a job that loves you back. Being a part of helping children grow and watching their personalities shine through is something that tugs on the heart strings, and I’ll forever be grateful for this career path I chose.”
The college’s ECE program is offered at several campuses throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, including Corner Brook, Gander, Labrador West and PPD in St. John’s. There is also an ECE (International) offering at Corner Brook campus, along with online/asynchronous opportunities for an ECE certificate, diploma and advanced diploma.
For more information about ECE and other CNA programs, visit
www.cna.nl.ca.
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Media contact:
Ryanne McIsaac
Content Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-7870
Ryanne.mcisaac@cna.nl.ca