Bow Valley College is celebrating an outstanding showing at the 2026 Alberta Provincial Skills Competition, where students from the School of Technology and the Chiu School of Business earned top honours in their respective categories.
In the Graphic Design Technologies competition, Digital Design students Yeganeh Esfahani and Mindy Nguyen achieved gold and silver medals respectively.
The annual Skills Alberta Provincial Competition brings together some of the province’s most talented post-secondary and secondary students to compete in a wide range of skilled trades and technologies. The Graphic Design Technologies category challenges participants to complete demanding creative briefs under strict timelines while demonstrating excellence in conceptual thinking, branding, typography, layout design, production skills, and visual communication.
For Esfahani, this year’s gold medal marks a remarkable progression from the 2025 provincial competition where she placed fourth overall. Returning this year with additional experience and preparation, she secured first place and now advances to the national stage as a member of Team Alberta.
Esfahani will travel to Toronto in late May along with her coach from the School of Technology, Ara Shimoon, to compete at the Skills Canada National Competition. She will represent Alberta against the country’s top post-secondary competitors in Graphic Design Technologies.
Nguyen’s silver medal performance further highlighted the strength and depth of talent within Bow Valley College’s Digital Design program. Both students demonstrated exceptional creativity, technical precision, and professionalism throughout the competition.
Having two Bow Valley College students place first and second in the province is a significant accomplishment and reflects the dedication of the students, faculty, and staff who supported their preparation throughout the year.
Faculty members within the Digital Design program noted that competitions such as Skills Alberta provide valuable opportunities for students to apply classroom learning in fast-paced, high-pressure scenarios that closely mirror real-world industry expectations. Competitors must demonstrate not only technical ability, but also critical thinking, adaptability, time management, and professional execution under demanding conditions.
The success of Bow Valley College students at provincial competitions continues to reinforce the college’s reputation for preparing graduates with industry-ready skills and practical experience. Programs within the School of Technology emphasize applied learning, collaboration, and portfolio development, helping students build confidence and adaptability for careers in creative and technology-driven industries.
In addition to success within the School of Technology, the college also celebrated an important achievement from the Chiu School of Business. Student Joshleen Kaur received the Kiewit Award in the IT Software Applications competition, recognizing excellence in technical skill, performance, and professionalism. Congratulations to her and her coach, Shane Booth.
The Kiewit Award is presented to outstanding competitors who demonstrate exceptional achievement within their competition category. Kaur’s accomplishment further highlights the breadth of student talent across Bow Valley College programs and the growing impact of experiential learning opportunities across disciplines.
Together, these achievements showcase the strength of Bow Valley College students in applied learning environments that demand both technical expertise and creative problem-solving. Competitions such as Skills Alberta allow students to test their abilities against peers from across the province while gaining valuable exposure to industry standards and professional expectations.
The college’s strong presence at the provincial competition also reflects the commitment of instructors and mentors who dedicate significant time to coaching and preparing students for success. Faculty support plays an important role in helping competitors refine technical workflows, strengthen presentation skills, and build confidence leading into competition day.
As Esfahani prepares for the national competition in Toronto, the Bow Valley College community will be cheering her on as she represents both the College and Team Alberta on the national stage.
The accomplishments of Yeganeh Esfahani, Mindy Nguyen, and Joshleen Kaur serve as inspiring examples of the talent, determination, and excellence found across Bow Valley College programs.
Congratulations to all three students on their incredible achievements and for representing Bow Valley College with distinction at the 2026 Alberta Provincial Skills Competition.
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