A Record Number of Graduates and Ceremonies Throughout Northern BC
 
May 26, 2009
 
More than 900 students will be graduating from the University of Northern British Columbia this year, pushing the total number of UNBC alumni past the 8,000 mark. The largest ceremonies will be held on campus in the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre, followed by graduation events in Prince Rupert, Terrace, Gitwinksihlkw, Fort St. James, Quesnel, and Fort St. John


Convocation Highlights

• There are currently 907 students registered to graduate this year, the highest number in UNBC’s history. There will also be more than 4300 people attending the three ceremonies – the largest-ever number of spectators for a UNBC Convocation.
• Honorary degrees will be presented to John Borden (ceremony 1), Alfred Joseph (ceremony 2), and Donald Rix (ceremony 3). For more information on the honorary degree recipients, click here. Two retiring UNBC faculty will also be receiving honorary titles: First Nations Studies professor Margaret Anderson will be bestowed with the title Professor Emerita and History professor Gordon Martel will be named a Professor Emeritus. Both will be recognized in ceremony 2.
• This year will mark the first time that UNBC has graduated students from the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree.
• The Governor General’s gold medal for academic achievement will be presented to Master of Social Work grad Susan Burke of Prince George (ceremony 3) and the silver medal will be presented to Mathematics and Computer Science grad Christopher Scott also of Prince George.

Schedule of Events

Prince George Ceremonies – May 29
Three ceremonies will be held on campus. Ceremony 1 will be at 10am and will be for the graduates from Science and Management while the two afternoon ceremonies (at 1pm and 4pm) will be for the graduates of Arts, Social and Health Sciences. The three ceremonies will be in the Sport Centre. Between the ceremonies, there will be various activities on campus.

Regional Graduation Ceremonies
UNBC President-Elect George Iwama, who will officially begin his new position at UNBC on July 1, will be attending all of the grad ceremonies outside of Prince George.

June 8 – Prince Rupert – Crest Hotel – 2pm
About 20 students will be graduating, from various programs: Tsimshian Language, Education, Social Work, and Business Administration. Graduation photos will be at noon, meeting at the Crest Hotel – media are welcome.

June 9 – Terrace – REM Lee Theatre – 2pm
With approximately 60 graduates, this will be the largest regional graduation in UNBC history and will include the first ever grads from the Terrace Nursing Program and the first Bachelor of Education graduates outside of Prince George. Graduation photos are at 11am at the Jade Garden (4822 Halliwell Avenue) - media are welcome.

June 10 – Gitwinksihlkw – Ts’oohlts’ap Hall – 1:45pm
Two students with be receiving their Bachelor’s Degrees in First Nations Studies.

June 11 – Fort St. James – Kwah Hall – 4pm
Ten students will receive diplomas in the Carrier Language and seven will receive Aboriginal Leadership certificates. Convocation photos will be at the Fort – media are welcome.

June 15 – Quesnel – North Cariboo Community Campus – 4pm
At this event, there will be approximately twenty grads getting their Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Nursing, Social Work, Education, and Arts. Convocation photos will be at 2:30pm at the North Cariboo Campus – media are welcome.

June 16 – Fort St. John – Quality Inn Northern Grand Hotel - 7pm
During this event, eight students will be receiving degrees in English , Nursing, and Social Work. Convocation photos will be at the Lookout at 5:30 pm – media are welcome.Contact:

Michael Kellett, Communications Officer, UNBC - 250.960.5621