For immediate release

Local Student Wrestles His Way To The Top!

LANGLEY, B.C. — (April 5, 2011) — Kwantlen horticulture student, Chanmit Phulka, is headed to the junior world wrestling championships. Recent victories at the national level in March mean Phulka will represent Canada in Romania this July.

Phulka, in the first year of his Greenhouse and Nursery Diploma at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, plans to take over the family business, Maple Leaf Nursery, located in Matsqui. Currently the nursery grows various types of ornamental deciduous trees but as a grower's son, Phulka aims to broaden the company's customer base by adding greenhouse and indoor plants to the sales mix.

"I love this industry," explains Phulka. "Working with plants, both indoors and outside, is always a rewarding way to earn a living, and being in the ultimate ‘green industry' it's good to know that our company's products are also good for the environment."

Horticulture isn't Phulka's only passion he admits, "I attended the Canada Junior National Wrestling Championships in Edmonton and took first place! I competed in the 96kg division and won all three of my matches to claim the National title."

Next steps for Phulka? Representing Canada in the Junior World Wrestling Championships in Romania this July.

"We have students here from all walks of life, and with the common link of horticulture, they bring to the classroom all sorts of amazing skills, interests and life stories," comments Gary Jones, chair of greenhouse and nursery production at Kwantlen. "It's rare for us to have a budding world champion in our midst – this is tremendously exciting news!" admits Jones.

For more information about the Junior World Wrestling Championships, visit: www.wrestling.ca

Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 200,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs including business, liberal arts and science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 17,000 students annually have a choice from over 135 programs including bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations.

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For more information about Kwantlen, contact:

Joanne Saunders
Director, Marketing and Communications
Tel: 604.599.2243
joanne.saunders@kwantlen.ca