The University of Northern British Columbia will grant more than 700 credentials during the 2016 Convocation season beginning on Friday in Prince George.
The event could also be wrought with some controversy as former Conservative MP James Moore will be installed as chancellor.
The decision to name Moore to the position drew a backlash from some quarters, who argued it came too quickly after his retirement from politics. Moreover, detractors questioned whether he was appropriate at all given he was a senior member of a government that muzzled federal scientists.
Moore will be installed during the College of Arts, Social and Health Sciences (CASHS) convocation ceremony at 9:30 a.m. at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre.
The ceremonies begin with a procession from the Bentley Centre to the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre at 9 a.m. At 12:15 p.m. CASHS students will have their class photo taken at the ceremonial stairs.
Torrye McKenzie of Quesnel will be the valedictorian during the CASHS ceremony.
And the first graduate from UNBC's doctorate in health sciences program, Dr. Susan Burke, will walk across the stage to accept her parchment during the CASHS convocation.
Burke wrote her dissertation on cognitive dissonance in social work and her research provides suggestions on how social workers can increase health by reducing dissonance in the workplace.
Cognitive dissonance is defined as a state of tension that occurs when a person holds two cognitions - ideas, attitudes, beliefs, behaviours - that are psychologically inconsistent with one another.
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.
Haylee Seiter of Prince George will be the valedictorian during the CSAM ceremony.
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.
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.
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 major in mathematics and minor in physics.
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.
In case of inclement weather, the processions will take place solely at the Northern Sport Centre.
