UFV eNews
June 2010
The UFV eNews is a quick and convenient way for you to keep up with the latest news and events from the University of the Fraser Valley.
This is it! June is when we celebrate Convocation at UFV, sending more than 1,800 graduates from more than 80 degree, diploma, and certificate programs out to the world. We celebrate achievement and excellence, and award academic medals and honorary degrees.
Here’s a look at some of our high achievers and honorary degree recipients for 2010.
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UFV celebrates convocation with nod to tradition and focus on the future
Families and friends from all over the Fraser Valley and beyond gathered to celebrate at UFV on June 10 and 11 as new graduates crossed the stage at the annual Convocation ceremonies. More than 1,800 people graduated from UFV this year, and many of them attended one of the four ceremonies.
UFV president Mark Evered, who started his term at UFV last July, led his first Convocation procession this year, and he reminded the graduates that UFV combines the best of tradition and innovation.
“Our goal is to provide the best education in Canada. We want to transform lives through education. Our focus is on the value we add. We don’t measure our success by how good our students were when they enter our doors, but rather on how good they are when they graduate.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Convocation2010.htm
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Study of deviance leads to academic gold medal for UFV’s Williams
What do prostitution, midwifery, and youth crime have in common?
All three activities have at times been considered extremely deviant criminal behaviour and at others been tolerated or even accepted, depending on the social values of the times and the government in power.
Kim Williams, an MA in Criminal Justice student at UFV, turned her interest in social interpretations of deviance into a thesis for her master’s program. For her efforts, and her near-perfect grade point average, she is this year’s winner of the Governor General’s academic gold medal winner at UFV. Williams earned a cumulative grade point average of 4.17, which stands about halfway between an A and an A+ average. The gold medal goes to the student with the highest GPA in a master’s-level program.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/KimWilliams.htm
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Tanya Jonker wins Governor General’s silver medal
Tanya Jonker is one of those people with big dreams. And now, thanks to a lot of hard work and dedication on her part, her dreams are coming true.
Jonker graduated recently with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree with a major in psychology, and will also receive an intermediate proficiency certificate in Spanish. On the day she received her degree, Jonker was also presented with the Governor General’s academic silver medal — an award presented annually to the graduating student with the highest grade point average at the bachelor’s degree level.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Tanya_Jonker.htm
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Finding his niche led to top marks and medal for Westendorp
Philip Westendorp is a bit of a Renaissance man when it comes to post-secondary education. He took in psychology, general sciences, and computer science —completing an Associate of Science degree along the way — before settling in and focusing on the Computer Information Systems program at the University of the Fraser Valley.
Westendorp is graduating with is CIS diploma this spring and is this year’s winner of the Governor General’s bronze academic medal for highest academic achievement in a two-year program at UFV. He graduates with a 3.89 (A-) grade point average.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Westendorp.htm
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UFV’s Karl Bardossy wins Lieutenant Governor’s medal
A few years back UFV student Karl Bardossy lived, breathed, and dreamed soccer. But reality interrupted Bardossy’s soccer dreams.
Bardossy signed up at UFV and tackled his Plumbing and Pipefitting studies full on. That little bit of extra effort has paid off as Bardossy has been awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s medal, awarded each spring to the student with the highest academic achievement in a certificate program at UFV.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Karl_Bardossy.htm
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Former UFV student Glen Baier now Teaching Excellence award winner
If you want to be a great teacher, you should learn from great teachers. That’s a lesson one could take from the selection of Dr. Glen Baier of Yarrow as this year’s winner of the Teaching Excellence award at the University of the Fraser Valley. Baier teaches philosophy at UFV.
One of UFV’s defining features is the focus on teaching excellence that has been in place since the 1970s. Baier can attest to that, as he started his post-secondary education at what was then Fraser Valley College back in 1982.
He was so enthralled with the instruction and the subject matter of his courses, particularly the philosophy ones, that he was inspired to continue his education and become an academic philosopher himself.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/teachingex.htm __________________________________________________________
Chilliwack’s Frank Malloway receives honorary degree from UFV
Storyteller, teacher, healer, leader, respected elder, hereditary chief, witness, advocate, father, friend, grandpa, Siyémches. These words represent Frank Malloway: a man who is greatly respected and admired by so many in the Fraser Valley. Another word to describe Frank is humble.
On June 11, UFV presented Sto:lo Hereditary Chief Frank Malloway with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree. Malloway is humbled by the nomination and says for a fellow who didn’t have a chance to finish elementary school, the degree is great gift.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Frank_Malloway.htm
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Mission’s Catherine Marcellus receives honorary degree from UFV
Two things have been a constant in the life of Catherine Marcellus for over 60 years: the community of Mission, and a devotion to community education. Marcellus and her husband Jim settled in Mission in 1947 when he set up his medical practice. They’ve lived in the same house since 1952.
For her dedication to nurturing the intellectual and cultural climate of her community, the 87-year-old Marcellus received an honorary doctorate degree from UFV on June 11.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Catherine_Marcellus.htm
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Wally Oppal receives honorary degree from UFV
Wally Oppal has a passion for the law. The interpretation of the laws that govern our society is subjective — and the measure of what is morally right or wrong is open to discussion and debate. That’s what makes something that seems so straightforward, so very fascinating, and absorbing. And why Oppal continues to be immersed in a career that upholds our rights.
Oppal, British Columbia’s former Attorney General and Minister of Multiculturalism, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from UFV this June. For someone who has had a rich, and highly publicized career, this honorary degree is a feather in his cap — and an award he is humbled and honoured to accept.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Wally_Oppal.htm
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Actress Tantoo Cardinal receives honorary degree from UFV
Storytelling comes naturally to actress Tantoo Cardinal. Listening to stories told by people in her youth was an important way of learning about the world for the young girl growing up in northern Alberta.
When she reached adulthood, she felt pulled toward a more public form of storytelling: the life of a stage and screen actress.
In recognition of her long career dedicated to giving voice to the many stories of North American aboriginals, Cardinal received an honorary degree from UFV this June.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/TantooCardinal.htm
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Yarrow volunteers win Betty Urquhart service award
There is a popular saying that goes: ‘if you build it, they will come.’ In Yarrow, they built it, they came, and now it’s the perfect example of a thriving community enterprise.
It is for their years of dedication, and endless hours of volunteer time, that the Yarrow Volunteer Society has been named this year’s Betty Urquhart Community Service Award winner.
http://www.ufv.ca/MarCom/newsroom/Yarrow_volunteers.htm
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Catch up with our alumni
People continue to be successful long after they graduate from UFV. Catch up with a few of them – including Len Goerke, Gerry Thompson, Joe Ogmundson, Rob O’Brennan, Ellen Saenger, Irene Tisdale, and Jennifer Godfrey, in the latest online edition of Aluminations, UFV’s magazine for alumni and friends.
http://www.ufv.ca/Aluminations.htm
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Upcoming events
Science Rocks!
Summer science camps for kids grades 4 to 6.
http://www.ufv.ca/Faculty_of_Science/Science_Rocks.htm
Literary Café at the Harrison Festival of the Arts
Presented by UFV Continuing Studies
http://www.harrisonfestival.com/performer2010.Lit_Cafe_10.gk
Best of the UFV Directors’ Festival at the Harrison Festival of the Arts
http://www.harrisonfestival.com/performer2010.theatre_10.gk
Keep in touch by watching the news and events listings at
www.ufv.ca .
Follow UFV on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/goUFV , check out our Facebook group, or watch our videos at
www.youtube.com/goufv
