Part of a special feature celebrating student success during fall convocation. You can join the celebration by following @MemorialU on Twitter, MemorialUniversity on Instagram and liking the Memorial University of Newfoundland page on Facebook. Well wishes will be projected in the Arts and Culture Centre prior to each ceremony and can also be seen at www.today.mun.ca.

Shelly Curtis will replace her instructor’s hat with a cap and gown during the 3 p.m. session of fall convocation on Oct. 23. The full-time instructor at the Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) will receive her master of technology management (MTM) degree – an accomplishment she feels will not only benefit her, but her students as well.

For more than 20 years, Ms. Curtis has been a lead engineering drawing/computer-aided design instructor with the School of Maritime Studies. She reaches nearly every student at MI in programs such as naval architecture, marine systems design, marine engineering, nautical science, food technology and marine environmental.

Given how fast technology advances, Ms. Curtis felt it was important to complete her MTM. Working at a world-renowned institute known as a leader in technological innovations, Ms. Curtis wanted to keep her skills up-to-date.

“It is important that I have the knowledge and expertise to transfer new technologies, skills and techniques to my students to ensure they are successful in their careers,” she said.

For the 4.0 GPA graduate student, the most rewarding part of this process has been learning from classmates all around the world and the knowledge she has gained from her own professors.

“It was fantastic to learn from such dedicated and knowledgeable people. They certainly are the strength behind the program.”

This isn’t the first time Ms. Curtis has crossed the stage during convocation at Memorial. She is a naval architecture technology graduate and holds a bachelor of technology degree. She’s also working on her post-secondary education degree which she hopes to complete in the near future.