2022/2023 Warren Wilkins Memorial Scholarship Winner
Media Release
“We’re pleased to announce that Tanner Hockey, a first year British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) student, has been selected to receive the $5,000 Warren Wilkins Memorial Scholarship for the 2022/2023 academic year” said Mike Collinge, Chair of Canadian Print Scholarships.
The scholarship was established to honour the late Warren Wilkins, a visionary leader in the Canadian printing industry who worked diligently to foster and support new talent. It provides special recognition to a particularly deserving student starting their post-secondary studies toward a career in graphic communications.
Hockey was nominated for this award by Masih Ferdosian, Program Head of the Graphic Communications Program at BCIT.
“Tanner consistently exhibits strong leadership skills, a proactive attitude, and a remarkable ability to collaborate effectively with his peers” said Ferdosian.
“Completing my first year in the program at BCIT has been a rewarding challenge thus far. I feel more prepared than ever to absorb and implement my learnings from this program with the help of my previously acquired skills and life experiences” added Hockey.
Looking Towards a Career in Graphic Communications
Pivoting my career is something I have been longing to do for some time. Making the decision to return to school studying Graphic Communications Technology Management at BCIT has been validating, challenging, and invigorating. School has given me the opportunity to apply skills and experience I have already learned from my previous career, in newly inspired creative and technical ways. Committing myself to having an open mind during my program, I have gravitated towards multiple areas of interest within Graphic Communications including prepress and press operation.
Without having any previous experience with operating large-scale equipment, I have found myself attracted to press operation. It has been an incredible experience working directly with our Heidelberg GTO offset printing press in our lab at school, our Ricoh digital and OCE wide format. In my first year I learned how to change plates, set accurate sheet registration, apply ink and adjust ink density on offset.
Most recently I completed a two-week work experience at a local business specializing in fine print materials named MET. During these two weeks I had the opportunity to work on the feeder side of their Lithrone GX40 perfecting offset press as well as their KM-1 digital press. It was a rewarding experience, as by the end my mentors had me airing up and loading paper, setting double sheet detectors & side lay, adjusting blowers & suckers as needed when switching substrate between jobs and more.
I decided to pursue Graphic Communications after doing some reflecting on my previous education and career in Fashion during the pandemic. I have worked in Fashion for 7 years, and the pandemic affected brick & mortar retail stores particularly hard which was a difficult adjustment. Although the world of Graphic Communications is a totally different medium than fashion, they share many of the same attributes I find intriguing and inspiring. Both industries are visually stimulating, with color and design at the forefront. The theory I continue to learn in my program surrounding colour management will be the perfect launch pad for a career in Graphic Communication Technology Management. It is knowledge I believe employers will value in a newly graduated student entering the workforce.
Being awarded the The Warren Wilkins Memorial Scholarship allows me to continue working towards my goal of entering the industry of Graphic Communications with less of a financial burden associated with funding a post-secondary education.
Tanner Hockey
“The mission of Canadian Print Scholarships is to attract the brightest and best students available to the graphic communications industry by providing financial assistance to enroll and continue in a post-secondary management or technical program at an approved institution.”
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