Valedictorians

2024 Valedictorian Will Hanlon

Nominations for Valedictorian

Structure of the Selection Committee

What is a Valedictorian?

The Valedictorians are the most outstanding graduates from each Ceremony, who deliver a farewell speech, or valedictory, meant to commemorate the time spent by all graduates at UNBC. The speeches provide an opportunity for reflection and celebration for the graduates who journeyed through classes, papers, projects, and exams to the final culmination of all that hard work, their degree. This is a position of honour and esteem. Connecting with fellow students and sharing the excitement of Convocation is key to enacting the role of Valedictorian.

Valedictorian Roles and Responsibilities

Speech 

  • Draft a personalized speech (no longer than 500 words, or 4 minutes in length) for approval by the Convocation Office. 
  • The address should be appropriate to the dignity of the occasion.
  • The speech will be recorded, live-streamed, and archived. 

Involvement

  • An interview and video/photography session with the Communications Department is required for a media release.
  • Presence as a member of the Platform Party is expected at your Ceremony and at a rehearsal.
  • Presence at the Chancellor & President’s Dinner (if held) is desired.
  • Group photography with the Platform Party may be required.

Nominations for Valedictorian

Nomination period: January 6 - February 7, 2025

Nominations for the Class of 2025 Valedictorians open Monday, January 6, 2025. All nominations must be submitted by Friday, February 7, 2025. The review of nominations, selection of candidates for interviews, and interviews themselves will occur between February 10 and March 31, with all nominees being informed of outcomes no later than the first week in April.

General Guidelines

  1. Full and part-time undergraduate and graduate students, who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.33 (B+), are in good academic standing, and have no outstanding fees, are eligible to become the Valedictorian of their graduating class.
  2. Full and part-time undergraduate and graduate alumni who have met their program requirements within either the Summer or Fall degree conferral window (September or January) are eligible to become the Valedictorian of their graduating class.
  3. Two Valedictorians will be selected, from different Faculties, one student attending the morning Convocation Ceremony, and one student attending the afternoon Convocation Ceremony.
  4. Students are not required to submit a copy of their transcript. The Office of the Registrar will complete verification of each nominee's cumulative grade point average.
  5. Only one nomination package is accepted per nominated student.
  6. Nominators or nominees may submit the nomination form as long as the information provided is correct. Nominators, references and nominees may be contacted for verification and confirmation of involvement in the nomination process.
  7. For questions about the Valedictorian nomination process contact convocation@unbc.ca.

Eligible nominators

Primary nominator (1 total)

Any student who has met the requirements to graduate for the Convocation Ceremony is eligible to nominate a fellow student who has also met the requirements to graduate for the Convocation Ceremony. This includes alumni who may have already had their degree conferred within either the Summer or Fall degree conferral window (September or January).

Secondary nominators (2 total)

Graduating students, Deans, program Chairs, faculty members, and staff members are eligible to nominate a student who has met the requirements to graduate at the Convocation Ceremony.

Please note that selection committee members are unable to nominate students for Valedictorian.

Nomination Package Requirements

Nominators must submit the following for the nomination: 

  1. One online nomination form.
  2. One letter (maximum 500 words, one page) from the primary nominator outlining why you chose to nominate this individual to serve as Valedictorian. 
  3. One letter (maximum 500 words, one page) from the nominee outlining their service at UNBC, service in the community, practical experience in their field of study or professional experience, leadership roles, and connection to Northern BC.
  4. One curriculum vitae or resume. 
  5. Two letters of reference, one from an academic source, and one from a work or volunteer-based source (if applicable, either of these letters may be written by a secondary nominator).

Items 2-5 above must be submitted to convocation@unbc.ca by February 7, 2025, in addition to the online nomination form. 

Structure of the Selection Committee

The Selection Committee shall be comprised of five non-graduating members of the following:

  • One UNBC Alumni Council Representative appointed by the Alumni Council of UNBC
  • Two Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS) Student Representatives (from different Faculties) appointed by NUGSS
  • Two Northern British Columbia Graduate Student Society (NBCGSS) Student Representatives (from different Faculties) appointed by NBCGSS

Nominee Selection Components

The Selection Committee will focus on the following three areas: 

  1. Personal Merit: Broken down into five sections (as shown in the nominee’s resume, nomination letter and letters of reference). These sections include service at UNBC, service in the community, practical experience in the nominees field of study, leadership roles, and connection to Northern BC. 
  2. Referee Comments: Selection committee members are asked to consider the comments of the nominees’ referees.
  3. Interview/Presentation: At least four nominees, with the highest scores in personal merit and referee comments combined, will be invited to interview with the selection committee. The selection committee sets questions for the interview in collaboration with the Convocation Coordinator and each nominee will be asked the same questions. The committee will be advised to ask questions that will focus on the nominees’ experiences at UNBC and their contribution to the University. During the interview, candidates will be required to present a rough outline, not a full script, of the topics they would speak about in their Convocation address. Nominees will be assessed on their ability to answer the questions of the committee in a clear and concise manner.