Prince George, BC – The University of Northern British Columbia will grant more than 700 credentials during the 2015 Convocation season beginning on Friday in Prince George.

Among the highlights of this year’s Convocation will be the installation ceremony for UNBC President Dr. Daniel Weeks. He will receive his ceremonial robes during the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences (CASHS) convocation ceremony at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre. However his inaugural address will take place on June 20 as part of UNBC’s 25th Anniversary Community Celebration.

UNBC's 22nd Convocation Season begins on Friday at the Prince George campus. Download High-Resolution Image.

Dr. Weeks decided to have the installation take place at Convocation, rather than in a stand-alone event. The cost savings from not having a separate installation have been directed to fund 20 additional Leadership Awards valued at $2,500 each for the 2016/17 academic year. Similar to the existing UNBC Leadership Awards, recipients will be selected based on academic proficiency and demonstrated leadership and involvement.

Also at the CASHS convocation, retiring First Nations Studies Professor Antonia Mills will be bestowed with the title of Professor Emerita. It is an honour given by UNBC to a retiring faculty member who has provided exceptional service to the university and the larger academic community through research and classroom teaching.

There will be six Convocation ceremonies this year in five Northern BC communities, the largest two of which will take place at the Northern Sport Centre this Friday, followed by graduation events in Gitwinksihlkw, Terrace, Quesnel, and Fort St. John next week.

May 29 – Prince George – Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre – 9 a.m.

The ceremonies begin with a procession from the Bentley Centre to the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre at 9 a.m., followed by the CASHS convocation ceremony at 9:30 a.m. At 12:15 p.m. the CASHS students will have their class photo taken at the ceremonial stairs.

The class photo for College of Science and Management (CSAM) students will take place at 1:15 p.m. at the ceremonial stairs, followed by their procession from the Bentley Centre to the Northern Sport Centre at 2 p.m. The CSAM convocation ceremony will run from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In case of inclement weather, the processions will take place solely at the Northern Sport Centre.

Honorary degrees will be handed out on the day to Xeni Gwet’in Chief Roger William (during the CASHS ceremony) and former UNBC President Dr. Charles Jago (during the CSAM ceremony).

Stephen Bennett of Quesnel will receive the Governor General Gold Medal and will be the valedictorian during the CASHS ceremony. Linda Horianopoulos of Kitimat will be awarded the Governor General Silver Medal and be the valedictorian during the CSAM ceremony.

Ten faculty members will receive University Achievement Awards. Dr. Michael Gillingham, Dr. Chow Lee, and Dr. Jueyi Sui will be honored in the Research category. Dr. Kathy Lewis and Dr. Si Transken will receive Service awards. Dr. Alex Aravind and Dr. Davina Banner-Lukaris will be recognized for Professional Practice, Mentorship or Stewardship. Dr. Rick Colbourne, Dr. Keith Egger, and Dr. Paul Madak will receive the teaching awards.

UNBC will also hold convocation ceremonies at three of its regional campuses:

June 1 – Gitwinksihlkw – Ts’oohl Ts’ap Memorial Hall – 1 p.m.

Six students will receive Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute-UNBC credentials this year, including Lori Nyce who has earned a Master of Arts. Nyce is originally from Skidegate Haida Gwaii and is the first student to earn a Master of Arts in First Nations Studies at WWN. Two Bachelor of Arts degrees will be conferred along with three certificates.

Many of the students who are enrolled with the Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute obtain certificates and ladder into the Bachelor of Arts: Nisga’a degree.

June 2 – Northwest (Terrace) – REM Lee Theatre – 2 p.m.

Forty-five students will graduate in Terrace this year, including five who have earned masters’ degrees. Credentials will be awarded in Education, Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, Social Work, Integrated Science, Arts, and Nursing.

Deidre Quinlan will receive a Master of Education in Multidisciplinary Leadership. She is the first UNBC employee at the Northwest campus to earn a graduate degree at UNBC.

Korreia Milhomens will represent the graduating class from the School of Nursing, Lori Burger and Laura Leask will represent the School of Education graduates, and Devin Pollitt will represent the Social Work graduates.

June 4 – South-Central (Quesnel) – North Cariboo Community Campus – 2 p.m.

Thirty-three students are graduating this year at the North Cariboo Community Campus, including UNBC instructor Titi Kunkel who will be the first student to receive a doctorate at the South-Central campus. She will receive a Doctor of Philosophy in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies.

In addition, 20 students will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and 12 with a Bachelor of Social Work.

June 5 – Fort St. John – North Peace Cultural Centre – 7 p.m.

Eight students will graduate at the Peace River-Liard Regional Convocation, including Jocelyn Joe-Stack who will receive a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. The seven undergraduate degrees are all in Social Work.

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