May 24, 2001 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will be celebrating its largest graduating class ever on Friday, May 25th, when about 650 students will receive UNBC degrees and certificates. The number is about 100 larger than last year's grad class, and will push membership in the Alumni Association to nearly 2400.

The Convocation activities will include a class photo in the Agora Courtyard at 10:45am. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 1:30pm in the Prince George Multiplex. The full schedule of events is available at www.unbc.ca/convocation. Some facts:

· Honorary degrees will be presented to author Denise Chong and philanthropist Jennifer Simons. Ms Chong grew up in Prince George and wrote The Concubine's Children and The Girl in the Picture: The Story of Kim Phuc, the Photographer, and the Vietnam War. Dr Simons is President of the Simons Foundation, which actively promotes education in peace, disarmament, global cooperation, the environment, social justice, and human rights.

· Alex Michalos will be named a Professor Emeritus for his distinguished academic career. Dr Michalos has pioneered research on quality of life and helped to establish the Institute for Social Research and Evaluation at UNBC.

· As the recipient of the Governor General's gold medal for academic achievement, Chris Johnson will speak on behalf of the graduating class near the conclusion of the ceremony. He is the first student to graduate with a PhD from UNBC. His doctoral degree is in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. Roxanne Sanderson (BSc Psychology) of Prince George will receive the Governor General's silver medal.

· Five students from the Williams Lake area are the first to receive certificates from the Weekend University program, a partnership among UNBC, the University College of the Cariboo, and the Cariboo Tribal Council. The Weekend University offers courses on alternate weekends to part-time students from through the south Cariboo. The students will receive a certificate in First Nations Public Administration.

· One of the students graduating on Friday will be James Moore, the only UNBC student ever elected to Parliament. He currently represents the Port Moody-Coquitlam-Port Coquitlam riding for the Canadian Alliance.

· The Alumni Association has named Jackie Eaton (BA Political Science 2001) and Claudette Gouger (BA 1995) as Alumni of the Year. Noreen Rustad has been made an honorary member of the Alumni Association.