Mohawk College’s First Applied Bachelor’s Degree Graduates
On June 19, 2025, four students walked across the Mohawk College Convocation stage straight into the history books.
On that day, the students, all from Mohawk College’s Bachelor of Digital Health program, became graduates of the college’s first bachelor’s degree program. After four years of study sessions, research projects and camaraderie, these graduates now head off in different directions to pursue their dreams and build their careers.
We caught up with three of these graduates, Oluwafemi Agbeye, Seretta Goulbourne and Zachary Kool to find out more about their future goals and what it means to them to be part of this historic class.
The power of applied learning
While reflecting on their experience, the graduates praised their program’s strong emphasis on practical, experiential learning.
Oluwafemi appreciated the blend of a programming and healthcare administration noting that Mohawk's courses closely mirrored real workplace challenges. “[At] university the [focus] is on theory. But when you come to college, the difference I saw is that we have a lot of focus on practical [work]. So, what you will be doing in college is exactly or mostly like what you will be facing in the work field,” he says.
Both Zachary and Seretta valued the 420-hour work placement requirement for giving them opportunities they don’t think they would have had in other programs. For Zachary, his remote internship with Manitoba’s Surgical Recovery Task Force, applying his skills to solve real-world healthcare issues, gave him a taste of what his future career could be like.
Seretta shares that when speaking to friends who attended university they were in awe of her relationships with her professors. “With this degree, what really stood out was the support—I wasn't just a number. I actually had connections with my professors,” she says.
Seretta credits the internships, year-long capstone project and faculty mentorship as key to securing employment before graduation as a program manager at BeBlended, a tech-enabled marketplace transforming the future of work for Black freelance hairstylists.
Careers and aspirations
The next steps for each of these degree graduates are as varying as the individuals themselves.
Seretta came directly from high school. Having lived in Hamilton her entire life she didn’t look much further than Mohawk. The unique program offered all she was looking for and after being recruited to the Mohawk College women’s basketball team her extra curriculars aligned perfectly with her academic pursuits. “I'm huge into research,” she says. “I found out that most Mohawk students get a job within six months. That statistic really stuck out to me.”
She is now employed in tech and is also a content creator. She sees her future continuing to build her personal brand while inspiring others to pursue digital health education.
Zachary returned to college after nearly a decade in the workforce. Having previously tried university, college seemed like a better fit. He was already working in healthcare, so he didn’t look much further than the new degree program after hearing about it from a family member and knowing of the college’s strong reputation from friends. "I have many friends that have gone to Mohawk in different programs, and they all had good things to say,” he shares. “[Also], the campus is very beautiful. A tour I went on definitely impressed me. The opportunity to have more hands-on work experience and knowledge was an asset and it made financial sense as a bachelor’s degree that was much more affordable.”
Zachary currently works for Hamilton Health Sciences and is exploring future opportunities related to his education, including potentially pursuing a master’s degree.
Oluwafemi had recently immigrated to Canada when a social worker recommended the Digital Health degree program based on his previous educational experience in Nigeria and Venezuela. Mohawk gave him a foundation to merge his passion for healthcare and technology. This summer he is launching a resume hub and job preparation app. Ultimately, he wants to build tech solutions for a variety of fields including healthcare as an entrepreneur.
Mohawk College trailblazers
These graduates exemplify how applied education can equip students for real-world success in employment, entrepreneurship and beyond.
As the first class of a Mohawk College degree, they’ve achieved a significant milestone and each is incredibly appreciative of the honour.
“I've tried [postsecondary education] twice and it didn't work out. The third one became the first one I graduated [from]. It is a huge achievement,” says Oluwafemi.
As a first-generation Canadian, Seretta notes how significant this moment is not only for her, but for her family as well. "Breaking barriers and being the first to do something is really meaningful. I love the degree and I wouldn't change it for the world. I almost didn't expect myself to love it as much as I did,” she says.
Zachary adds, "I'm incredibly proud to be among the first cohort to experience this. I certainly hope that one day—20, 30 years from now—there'll be some hall with all the graduating classes, and you will see our four faces as the first one.”
The fourth graduate of the Bachelor’s Digital Health Degree class of 2025, Aaron Gustafson was unavailable for this interview.