ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2019 - 35

TA. Thank you for sharing your story with us Kevin. You
truly are an inspiration. Is there anything you'd like to add
before we say goodbye?
Kevin. Of course I strongly suggest ASET student members
to apply for this scholarship. And I wish all the ASET members all the success and a prosperous future in career.

ASE T FOUNDATION (FORMERLY E TSFA )
B URSA RY FOR LE A DERSHIP

Kelly Holdstock
Technology Alberta. Congratulations on being awarded
the Bursary.
Kelly. I appreciate that. Winning the ASET leadership scholarship was an absolute lifeline for me that allowed me to
continue focusing on my courses. I can't say that I spent the
money on anything too exciting, mostly groceries and gas,
but it definitely was a major factor that helped get me to the
finish line.
TA. Assuming a leadership role in your Chemical Engineering Technology cohort must have come almost naturally to someone who already held an undergraduate degree from the University of Alberta.
Kelly. I don't know about that, but NAIT's program was what
I had been looking at since I was in university and deciding
what the next step in education was best for me. At the U of
A, my focus was primarily on industrial microbiology, in particular biofuel technologies. While completing my degree I
was able to work on a biofuel research initiative involving algae. That led to an honours research project where I worked
with oil-producing yeast as a biofuel feedstock. Then, in my
last year, I was also a part of the iGEM team, "Upcycled Aromatics," which won the competition's Business Division at
MIT in 2012.

TA. But why not return to U of A? Why choose a polytechnic?
Kelly. Well, the Chemical Engineering Program at NAIT was
exactly what I was looking for in terms of education. It is
extremely flexible in what it allows its graduates to pursue,
as it gives students a solid background in both operations
and engineering, I feel that I now have the ability to work in a
wide variety of employment situations in multiple fields. For
example, during my time at NAIT I was able to work at Dow's
Fort Saskatchewan polyethylene plant, where I learned
about the dynamics of being an operator in a large petrochemical facility. Like I said: Flexible.
TA. That makes sense. Many of our technicians and technologists like to straddle the line connecting theory and
practice. You seem all set for a great career. Thanks for
taking the time to tell us a bit about yourself. Anything to
add before we wrap it up?
Kelly. If it's okay, I'd like to put it out there that I'm particularly interested in the opportunity to pursue my professional
technologist certification through ASET, as I want to have
the ability to practise engineering.

TA. Sounds like solid leadership preparation to us. That
is a remarkable accomplishment. So how did you get
from there to NAIT?
Kelly. After university, I worked in commercial testing, primarily as an asbestos analyst in industrial hygiene. However, I also spent a year conducting oil and gas analysis,
which was when I developed a fascination for the chemistry
and the technology behind it.

TECHNOLOGY ALBERTA | WINTER 2019 | 35

ASET Technology Alberta Winter 2019

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