May 26, 2004 For Immediate Release

The University of Northern British Columbia is preparing for its biggest grad class ever this Friday, when the University holds its annual Convocation ceremony.

UNBC's eleventh graduating class is comprised of 722 students, many of whom will don caps and gowns and proceed across the Convocation stage to receive their degrees, diplomas, or certificates. While the actual Convocation ceremony will start at 1:30pm at the Prince George Multiplex, students will gather on campus in the morning to obtain their Convocation regalia, participate in a group photo (at 10:45am) on the ceremonial stairs, and enjoy a light lunch.

2004 Convocation Highlights and Facts

- New Chancellor Peter Bentley will be officially installed as UNBC's third Chancellor. The installation will take place towards the beginning of the ceremony and precede the conferring of degrees.

- Honorary degrees will be presented to world-renowned Haida artist Robert Davidson and Dr Kwadwo Asante, who was a pioneer researcher on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome during his 20 years of service as a pediatrician in northern BC (primarily in the Terrace and Kitimat areas).

- Speakers at this year's ceremony will include President Charles Jago, Chancellor Peter Bentley, Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond, student Chad Luider (this year's recipient of the Governor-General's gold medal for academic achievement), Alumni Association representative Jacqueline Eaton, and Dr Asante.

- This year's graduating class will include the first recipients of UNBC's Bachelor of Education degree, a program that accepted its first students in September, 2002.

- Approximately 64% of graduating students are from northern BC.

- After the Prince George Convocation, graduation celebrations will also be held in Terrace (May 30), New Aiyansh (May 31), Quesnel (June 2), and Fort St John (June 3).

Following this year's Convocation ceremony, the number of alumni will - for the first time at UNBC - surpass the number of current students. The total number of graduates will now number 4,244.