Alf Kempf is the new President of the Okanagan College Foundation, having accepted the three-year position after serving as Vice President and Chair of the Foundation’s Advancement Committee, focused on marketing and fundraising.
A partner with Pushor Mitchell law firm in Kelowna since 1985, Alf grew up in the Okanagan and like thousands of people here, spent his first year of studies at Okanagan College before continuing on with his education and returning home.
Those were the days when high school students at the tender age of 13 had to choose their path – either academics or industrial education.
Today Alf says the choices for students are far more complex and the opportunities for strong viable careers in the trades are greater than ever before. Alf sees the possibilities, and wants to ensure every student gets the chance they need to grow and contribute.
"We help people here," he says. That means providing financial support so people can gain the education they need and desire through awards like the Kempf Family Award.
Part of that function is ensuring students also have the infrastructure necessary to support an education that reflects the needs of a modern marketplace.
That’s the key reason behind the $33 million Trades facility expansion and renovation at the Kelowna campus – and the Foundation’s capital fundraising focus for the next three years. As a long-time fundraiser for political parties at both the federal and provincial level, having also spent eight years on the board of the Kelowna Community Resources Society, Alf is well-positioned to take the lead in attracting funds to meet that objective.
With this eye for the needs of the larger community, Alf wants to hear from you. Your ideas, your concerns, and your support are all key to the future direction and success of the College, the Foundation, and ultimately the community. Share your thoughts with Alf by emailing him at [email protected]
Tens of thousands of students have attended Okanagan College over the last 50 years. Today, like Alf, those alumni contribute to this region in virtually every aspect of our economy.
The next 50 years will be even brighter, and with your support Okanagan College students will continue to know they are supported and encouraged to take on life’s challenges with an education that is not only comprehensive, but relevant.