Prince George, B.C. – The University of Northern British Columbia will grant almost 700 credentials during the 2018 Convocation beginning on Friday in Prince George.

Five Convocation events will take place this year in four Northern B.C. communities, the largest two of which will take place at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre this Friday, followed by graduation events in Gitwinksihlkw, Terrace and Quesnel.

Honorary degrees will be granted to Lawrence Hill, a critically-acclaimed Canadian author and screenwriter during the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences (CASHS) ceremony and prominent lawyer and former B.C. Supreme Court Justice Thomas Berger at the College of Science and Management (CSAM) ceremony.

This year’s valedictorians are Bachelor of Arts graduate Arctica Cunningham (Environmental Studies and Political Science) of Telkwa (CASHS) and Sukhpreet Buttar (Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) from Prince George (CSAM).

May 25 – Prince George – CASHS Ceremony

The ceremonies begin with a procession from the Bentley Centre to the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre at 9 a.m., followed by the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences (CASHS) ceremony at 9:30 a.m. At 12:15 p.m., CASHS students will have their class photo taken at the ceremonial stairs. In the case of inclement weather, processions will take place solely at the Northern Sport Centre.

Several awards and honours will be presented at this ceremony:

• • Founding faculty member and Anthropology Professor Dr. Richard Lazenby, who retired in December 2017, will be bestowed the title of Professor Emeritus.
• • Dr. Judith Thompson/Edōsdi will receive a University Excellence in Teaching Award. Drs. Si Transken and Shannon Wagner will receive University Excellence in Professional Practice Mentorship Stewardship Awards.
• • Drs. Karin Beeler, Tina Fraser and Glen Schmidt will receive University Excellence in Service Awards. University Excellence in Research Awards will be awarded to Dr. Benjamin Bryce and Dr. Monica Mattfeld.
• • Corin MacPhail will be awarded the Governor General’s Silver Medal that recognizes outstanding academic achievement at the Undergraduate level.
• • MacPhail is graduating with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree in biomedical studies. During her undergraduate studies, she received several prestigious awards, including the UNBC Scholars Award, the UNBC Leadership Award and the Irving K. Barber Scholarship Society Premier’s International Scholarship.

May 25 – Prince George – CSAM Ceremony

The class photo for the 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. – 4 p.m.

• Several awards and honours will be presented at this ceremony:

• • Mike Cuthbertson, a lecturer in the Business and Management program, will receive the University Excellence in Teaching Award.
• • Christopher Turner will receive the Governor General’s Gold Medal which recognizes outstanding academic achievement at the graduate level.
• • Turner will receive his PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. In December 2017, Turner successfully defended his dissertation, A geography of reconciliation: an effective and lawful framework for achieving clarity of First Nation territorial jurisdiction in British Columbia, addresses an issue critical to all British Columbians: how to conclude just and sustainable treaties where overlapping claims to territory and membership among First Nations remain unresolved.

May 28 – Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a – Ts’oohl Ts’ap Memorial Hall – 1 p.m.

Eight students will receive Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute-UNBC credentials this year, including three students who will earn Bachelor of Arts degrees in First Nations Studies. Three students will receive Certificates in General First Nations and two more will receive a Certificate in Nisga’a Studies.

May 29 – Northwest (Terrace) – R.E.M. Theatre – 2 p.m.

Twenty students will graduate this year, including 14 in the Bachelor of Science Nursing program. Two students will earn their Bachelor Arts degrees in First Nations Studies and two more will receive their Bachelor of Science degrees in Integrated Studies. One student will receive a Master of Education degree, while another will receive a Master of Business Administration degree.

May 31 – South-Central (Quesnel) – Quesnel Campus – 2 p.m.

Nineteen students will graduate this year, including 17 in the Bachelor of Science Nursing program. One student will receive a Certificate in First Nations Language, while another will receive a Certificate in General First Nations.

-30-