Prince George, BC – The University of Northern British Columbia will grant more than 700 credentials during the 2016 Convocation season beginning on Friday in Prince George.

Among the highlights of this year’s Convocation will be the Chancellor’s installation ceremony for the Honorable James Moore who is set to become UNBC’s sixth Chancellor. Moore will be installed 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.

There will be six Convocation ceremonies this year in five Northern B.C. 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 27 – 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. 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 1:30 p.m. The CSAM convocation ceremony will run from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Also at the CSAM convocation, retiring professors Dr. Lee Keener and Dr. Staffan Lindgren will be bestowed with the titles Professor Emeritus. It is an honour given by UNBC to retiring faculty members who have provided exceptional service to the university and the larger academic community through research and classroom teaching.

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 internationally acclaimed writer Patrick Lane (during the CASHS ceremony) and Aboriginal educator Dr. Leroy Little Bear (during the CSAM ceremony).

Master of Science (Computer Science) graduate Negar Hassanpour will receive the Governor General Gold Medal during the CASHS ceremony. The gold medal is awarded in the final year to the graduate student who has the highest overall academic standing in his or her degree program.

Torrye McKenzie of Quesnel will be the valedictorian during the CASHS ceremony.

Kyle Malinsky will be awarded the Governor General Silver Medal during the CSAM ceremony. The silver medal is given to the undergraduate student who achieves the highest academic standing upon graduation from a Bachelor degree program. Malinsky will receive his Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in mathematics and physics.

Haylee Seiter of Prince George will be the valedictorian during the CSAM ceremony.

Fourteen faculty members will receive University Achievement Awards. Dr. Russ Dawson and Dr. Gary Wilson will receive Excellence in Research Awards. Ecosystem Science and Jenia Blair, along with Dr. David Casperson, Dr. Andrew Kitchenham and Dr. Sean Maurice will receive Excellence in Service Awards. Dr. Bruce Bidgood, Dr. Angele Smith, Dr. Mark Shrimpton and Dr. Kristen Guest will receive Excellence in Teaching Awards.

Dr. Darwyn Coxson, Dr. Andrew Kitchenham, Dr. Tina Fraser along with Anne Sommerfeld will receive Excellence in Professional Practice, Mentorship or Stewardship Awards.

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

May 30 – Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a – Ts’oohl Ts’ap Memorial Hall – 1 p.m.

Five students will receive Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute-UNBC credentials this year, including one student with a Bachelor of Arts and two certificates in General First Nations and two certificates in Nisga’a Studies.

May 31 – Northwest (Terrace) – R.E.M. Lee Theatre – 2 p.m.

Twenty students will graduate this year, including 12 in the Bachelor of Science Nursing program and five students who will receive their Master of Education degrees. One student will receive their Master of Social Work and two more will receive their Bachelor of Science degrees.

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

Sixteen students will graduate with their Bachelor of Science in Nursing degrees this year.

June 3 – Peace-River Liard (Fort St. John) – North Peace Cultural Centre – 7 p.m.

Sixteen students will receive their Master of Education degrees in Fort St. John this year.

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