A New Chancellor, 840 grads, and honorary degree recipients

May 25, 2010 for immediate release

This coming Friday, UNBC will be celebrating its 17th graduating class and officially installing a new Chancellor.

John MacDonald, who was born and raised in Prince Rupert and has since become a champion of space science and renewable energy, will be sworn in as UNBC’s fifth chancellor and then proceed to grant degrees, certificates, and diplomas to about 840 UNBC grads.

> Link to Feb 11 news release announcing John MacDonald’s appointment as UNBC’s 5th chancellor.

Honorary degrees will also be presented to the world-renowned anthropologist and explorer Wade Davis, public policy visionary Roger Gibbins of the Canada West Foundation, and elder and healer Sophie Thomas (who will be receiving her honorary degree posthumously) of the Saik'uz First Nation. Retired History professors Charles Jago and William Morrison will receive the title Professor Emeritus for their outstanding academic careers that culminated at UNBC.

> Link to Feb 3 news release about the honorary degree recipients and professors emeritus.

The 2010 Convocation will also mark the first time that the University and its Alumni Association have selected valedictorians from each of UNBC’s two academic colleges: Arts, Socials, and Health Sciences and Science and Management. The valedictorians are Lesley Dampier and Sheila Marie Anderson. Leslie is from Dawson Creek and has studied glaciers and recent glacial history as part of earning a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. In addition to achieving the highest grades possible during her master’s degree program, she has been an active member of the UNBC Graduate Student Society. Sheila began a degree program in Social Work at UNBC’s Quesnel campus when she was 17 years old and with her 2-month old baby girl accompanying her to classes. Her educational experience led her to remote aboriginal communities in northern BC where she developed her passion for northern social work.

Convocation Schedule

Prince George - May 28

Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre

9:30am Ceremony 1: Installation of John MacDonald, Sophie Thomas family acceptance of honorary degree, Charles Jago and William Morrison presentation of Professor Emeritus, Teaching Excellence award presentation to Heather Smith (International Studies) and Research Excellence award presentation to Henry Harder (Health Sciences). Valedictorian: Sheila Marie Anderson.

1:00pm Ceremony 2: Presentation of honorary degree to Roger Gibbins. Teaching Excellence award presentation to Amy Klepetar (Terrace campus – Nursing) and Research Excellence award presentation to Andrew Kitchenham (Education). Valedictorian: Sheila Marie Anderson.

4:00pm Ceremony 3: Presentation of honorary degree to Wade Davis. Teaching Excellence award presentations to Umesh Parshotam (Chemistry) and Matt Reid (Physics) and Research Excellence award presentations to Han Donker (Business) and Jianbing Li (Environmental Engineering). Presentations of the Governor General’s silver medal to Brian Schaan (Mathematics) and gold medal to Lesley Dampier (Natural Resources and Environmental Studies). Valedictorian: Lesley Dampier.

Terrace - May 31
12:00pm Rotary Club presentation by UNBC President George Iwama. Best Western Hotel.

2:30pm Convocation ceremony featuring 30 graduates of Nursing, Education, Social Work, and First Nations Studies. Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club.

Gitwinksihlkw - June 1
2:00pm Convocation ceremony with Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a. Ts’oohl Ts’ap Hall.

Prince Rupert - June 2
2:00pm Convocation ceremony featuring ten graduates who are either receiving a Master of Business Administration degree or a diploma in First Nations Language and Culture. Crest Hotel.

7:00pm Reception featuring new UNBC Chancellor John MacDonald giving a presentation titled, “Energy in the 21st Century.” Dr. MacDonald will speak about Canada’s opportunity to build a flourishing export-oriented renewable energy industry designed for a sustainable future. North Coast Meeting and Convention Centre at Chances.

Quesnel - June 4
2:00pm Convocation ceremony featuring about 30 graduates of Nursing, English, History, Social Work, and Psychology. North Cariboo Community Campus.

Grande Prairie - June 7
7:00pm Convocation ceremony featuring UNBC’s first Alberta-based cohort of students in the Master of Education program. Grande Prairie Regional College.

Click here to view the University's official Convocation 2010 website.