UNBC to celebrate 31st Convocation
Students, faculty and staff will gather to acknowledge and honour the hard work, dedication and perseverance of graduating students at University events planned throughout northern B.C. from May 31 to June 7.
Prince George, B.C. – The University of Northern British Columbia is ready to celebrate its graduating Class of 2024!
UNBC will grant 800 credentials during graduations events held in four northern B.C. communities, beginning with its 31st Convocation ceremonies in Prince George on May 31 and followed by celebrations in Terrace, Quesnel and Fort St. John.
The 2024 Governor General’s Academic Medals for scholastic achievement and the Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy and Reconciliation will be presented during the afternoon Convocation ceremony in Prince George.
The Gold Medal recipient, Kristen Kieta, is being recognized for the excellence of her PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. Kieta was investigating how landscape disturbances cause soil erosion and problematic sediment in rivers and adapted her research following the Shovel Lake wildfire in 2018 to determine how fire contaminated local soils and sediments.
The Silver Medal recipient, Melody Mah, is being recognized for her outstanding academic standing, maintaining a 4.33 grade point average while earning her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries. Mah began work as a Research Assistant in the Freshwater Fish Ecology Lab at UNBC during her undergraduate studies and will continue in the lab after graduation. Her future plans include conducting her own research to contribute to the conservation of fish species at risk.
The Lieutenant Governor’s Medal recipient, Mikhaila Carr, is graduating with a Bachelor of Planning degree. Carr is being recognized for her tireless efforts both inside the classroom and on campus to learn about and promote inclusion and diversity. For her undergraduate thesis, Carr worked in partnership with members of Spinal Cord Injury BC and BC Parks to explore the experiences of persons with disabilities in outdoor spaces to improve design approaches and management practices to promote accessibility.
UNBC’s Convocation Ceremonies are ticketed events. For those who don’t have tickets, the ceremonies will be livestreamed on UNBC’s YouTube channel.
May 31 – Prince George – Ceremony 1 – 9:30 a.m.
UNBC’s 31st Convocation begins with the first student procession from the Bentley Centre to the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre. Ceremony 1 begins at 9:30am and is scheduled to finish at 11:30 a.m. Students will gather immediately afterward for their class photo on the Ceremonial stairs in the Agora Courtyard.
Honours and awards presented during Ceremony 1:
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipient Alex Cuba
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipient Carey Price
- Valedictorian Behrouz (Bruce) Danesh
May 31 – Prince George – Ceremony 2 – 2:30 p.m.
The class photo for graduating students in Ceremony 2 will take place at the Ceremonial stairs at 1:15 p.m., followed by the procession from the Bentley Centre to the Northern Sport Centre for the start of the afternoon ceremony at 2:00 p.m.
Honours and awards presented during Ceremony 2:
- Governor General’s Gold Medal recipient Kristen Kieta
- Governor General’s Silver Medal recipient Melody Mah
- Lieutenant Governor’s Medal for Inclusion, Democracy, and Reconciliation recipient Mikhaila Carr
- Honorary Doctor of Laws degree recipient Jim Good
- Valedictorian Will Hanlon
June 3 – Northwest (Terrace) – R.E.M. Lee Theatre – 1:00 p.m.
There will be 28 credentials handed out at UNBC’s graduation celebration in Terrace. There are 19 students receiving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, five receiving their Bachelor of Social Work degrees, and four students have earned Certificates in General First Nations Studies.
June 6 – South-Central (Quesnel) – Quesnel campus – 1:30 p.m.
There will be 19 credentials handed out at UNBC’s graduation celebration in Quesnel. There are 13 students receiving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees, five receiving their Bachelor of Social Work degrees, and one student graduating with a Bachelor of Education degree.
June 7 – Northeast (Fort St. John) – Pomeroy Hotel & Conference Centre – 5:00 p.m.
There will be 15 credentials handed out at UNBC’s graduation celebration in Fort St. John. There are nine students receiving their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees and six students receiving their Bachelor of Social Work degrees.