July 7, 2003 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia will recognize the accomplishments of nearly two-dozen local students when it holds a celebration dinner in Fort St John on Friday, July 11.

Among the students who have graduated this year are three who have graduated with bachelor's degrees in Social Work, the first in that degree program to have completed all of the required coursework in the Peace River region. Nineteen other local students are only weeks away from completing their master's degree in Education - similarly, they will be the first MEd cohort to complete their whole program in the Northeast.

"The accomplishments of these students reflect well on UNBC and our efforts to expand the kinds of offerings that we can provide to students in the Peace River - Liard region," says UNBC Regional Operations Director Dennis Macknak. "This fall, our courses provided locally will include offerings in Environmental Studies, English, History, Math, and Social Work."

The Fort St John celebration - UNBC's first such event in the Peace River-Liard region - will begin with photos of the students and graduates at 5pm in Centennial Park. At 6:30 in the Mackenzie Inn (Peace Room One), the students and graduates will be recognized by senior UNBC officials and academics, prior to dinner being served at 7:30pm.