Congratulations to Kali: Kwantlen Grad!

 

Kali on her Convocation Day - May 29/14

Kali with her parents Pat and Sherri

Kali with her boyfriend Sean (left) and brother Taylor (right)

Congratulations to NPIDA's 2014 university grads, Kali M (Kwantlen), Michael Y (UBC) and Hanna S (UBC)! These are three of NPIDA's most senior dancers, with Kali and Michael retiring in recent years and Hanna still actively dancing. Today we congratulate Kali - please check back over the next couple of days for separate grad posts about Michael and Hanna.

KALI
Kali started dancing with NPIDA in 1999 at age 11 and quickly advanced to Open Championships. She is a 3-time World qualifier, competing at Worlds in Glasgow (2007), Belfast (2008) and Philadelphia (2009). She was a long-standing member of Eire Born and served as a team captain for many years.

At age 14 Kali was one of five NPIDA dancers selected to travel to Switzerland for two weeks to perform at EXPO 2002 along with Hanna, Natalie, Kelly and Coco. She also performed and taught in New York in 2007 and 2009 with a small group of senior NPIDA dancers at charity events organized by Coco. Kali greatly enjoyed performing with fiddler Natalie MacMaster on numerous occasions throughout BC, Alberta, Washington and Oregon; most recently in April 2013. She designed the artwork and logo on the Eire Born van!

Kali graduated last week from Kwantlen with a Bachelor of Design in Graphic Design for Marketing.

School Involvement and Mentorship
After 4 years of hard work and determination Kali completed her Bachelor degree this spring. Prior to entering the Graphic Design for Marketing program, she completed her 1 year Certificate in Interdisciplinary Design Studies at Kwantlen, where she discovered which path in design she wanted to pursue.

In the Spring of 2012, Kali took part in a design challenge to design, fabricate, and install a window display at Lululemon. Her team was picked by a panel of judges and their design was featured at Lululemon in Oakridge Mall. The concept was to create an interactive display with shoppers, promoting different kinds of yoga practices.
 
From her experiences working with clients, Kali also completed a 2-month mentorship program at Carter Hales Design Lab in Vancouver during her last semester of 4th year. She was able to shadow industry professionals and participate in their studio work and environment.

Future Plans
Kali is currently working with the Program Director of Camp Goodtimes, designing and marketing a piece of recognition to all of their generous corporate sponsors. She hopes to continue practicing her passion for graphic design and marketing and get started in her career!

Congratulations Kali!

Kali - with Natalie MacMaster (middle) and Hanna (top right)

Left: Kali with dad Pat on Canada Day 2007;
Middle: Kali at a 2010 Olympics performance
Right: With Hanna at a Natalie MacMaster show (2003)

Kali - with Michael (2008) and Hanna (2007)