May 21, 1996 For Immediate Release

The alumni of the University of Northern British Columbia will more than quadruple on Friday, May 24th, when 73 students will receive their UNBC degrees. The Convocation Ceremony, UNBC's fourth, will be held in the Agora Courtyard and will begin at 2:00pm. Highlights will include:

• Honorary degrees will be awarded to former BC Lieutenant Governor David Lam, and StoneyCreek elder Mary John.
• Eight UNBC graduates will receive the University's first masters degrees.
• UNBC's first-ever student, Jennifer Hansen of Prince George, will receive a bachelors degree.Brian Bowman, who will graduate with a masters degree in Natural Resources Management, will be receiving the Governor General's Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement. Michelle St Amand, a Williams Lake student graduating with a bachelors degree in Psychology, will receive the Governor General's silver medal. It's the first time UNBC students have been recognized with these prestigious awards.

Six UNBC students became the University's first alumni at the 1994 Convocation ceremony, and an additional 10 students received degrees last year.

While a majority of the graduating students will be from Prince George, there will also be graduates from the Peace River region, the Cariboo, the Northwest, the Bulkley Valley, Vanderhoof, Fort St James, and Mackenzie. as well as from the Lower Mainland, Alberta, and Ontario.