June 11, 2010
Media contact: Anne Russell
Cell: 604-798-3709
Office: 604-795-2826
anne.russell@ufv.ca
UFV celebrates convocation with nod to tradition and
focus on the future
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| President Mark Evered with a grad of 2010. |
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 in his remarks he reminded the graduates that UFV combines the best of tradition and innovation.
“We care about tradition and we know how to be a university, as you can see by our academic regalia and ceremony today, but we make sure it’s not at the expense of the personal touch, concern, and commitment to our students that our faculty and staff provide. It’s for that reason that the Globe and Mail ranked us as the best university of its size in Canada. In fact, on many measures, we were judged to be the best university in BC of any size.”
Evered alluded to UFV’s new strategic plan, which sets a goal of being the best undergraduate university in Canada. But he stressed that UFV will remain an accessible university without prohibitive entrance requirements.
“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.
“And today we’re here to celebrate you, our graduates. We’ve watched with delight as you discovered new ideas and the joy of learning, and brought your own contributions to your field of study. We also consider it a success if you realize that you know less about your field than you thought you did when you started, or feel less certain about your views, or have felt personally challenged because of your experiences at UFV.”
Evered reminded the grads that the world is theirs for the taking, but also theirs to take care of.
“We need you, your knowledge and enthusiasm, both at home and abroad. You have the skills, vision, and creativity to solve the problems we all face.”
Chancellor
Brian Minter also spoke at Convocation, reminding the graduates that the focus of regional universities such as UFV is to develop leaders within local communities, and telling them that they will have to constantly adapt to an ever-changing world.
UFV’s Convocation ceremonies also featured student speakers at each of its four ceremonies.
Geography major and Bachelor of Arts degree graduate
Melissa Kendzierski told her fellow graduates that we are all the authors of our own futures.
“Take a moment and imagine what YOUR future will look like. My future is a place where people value cultural diversity, steward the earth with compassion and concern, and are no longer slaves to a culture of consumption. My future is a place where people know their neighbours, where they feed the poor and help the needy. My future is a place where people come together to defend the land, the air, and the water. My future is a place where people are actively engaged citizens because they care and they know they can make a difference.”
Bachelor of Computer Information Systems degree graduate
Baraa Ali reminded his peers that simply by graduating, they have accomplished a lot.
“Leaders are people who make the right things happen. You all have accomplished the project that you have assigned to yourself: graduating. Therefore, all of you are leaders. I want to leave you with one last lesson which is: ‘what you become is more important than what you get.’ People will forget what degree you earned, but no one will forget what you have become. Therefore, my wish for you is that you will make what you become exceptional.”
Gurneet Singh Anand is one of the first graduates of a special Bachelor of Business Administration degree program offered at UFV’s campus in Chandigarh, India. He travelled to Abbotsford for the Convocation ceremonies and told his fellow graduates that they are lucky to live in a society that allows them choice and opportunity in areas such as post-secondary education. He said that until he discovered the UFV business degree program in India, he was faced with taking a degree that emphasized the rote learning method.
Once he enrolled in the UFV program, “Suddenly, I stopped having to ask myself, ‘Why am I learning this?’ Even my parents quickly noticed how I had become alive, inspired, and excited by what I was learning. I immersed myself in industry projects, and soaked up everything UFV was feeding me.
“Your degree represents something many others in developing nations do not have the option to achieve,” he continued. “Knowing that sad truth, let it drive you to succeed. Honour them with your future successes. And when the time is right, visit a developing country and help a deserving person achieve the success they desire. Do that, and you will have achieved true success. We are ALL connected.”
Architectural drafting certificate graduate
Michael Buss reminded his fellow graduates that they are finishing one stage of life, but embarking on the next one.
“Even though we are here today to celebrate the end of our learning at UFV, really we are just beginning our educational journey,” he said. “Our time here at UFV has equipped us with the tools we need to continue to learn so we can be successful in our careers and contribute to our communities. Along with these tools, we have also formed relationships along the way. These relationships are what have supported us through our education, and hopefully they will continue to support us in our careers.”
There were four academic medal winners honoured for the highest academic achievement at the certificate, diploma, bachelor’s degree, and master’s degree level.
Plumbing and Piping grad
Karl Bardossy received the Lieutenant Governor’s medal for certificate-level studies. Computer Information Systems grad
Philip Westendorp was the Governor General’s bronze-medal winner for diploma-level studies. Bachelor of Arts grad
Tanya Jonker received the Governor General’s silver medal for baccalaureate-level studies. And MA in Criminal Justice grad
Kim Williams received the Governor General’s gold medal for master’s-level studies.
Three UFV Faculties also conferred a Dean’s medal of excellence for high academic achievement. The medals went to
Joddi Alden for the Faculty of Arts,
Ashley Epp for the Faculty of Science, and
Christina Henderson for the Faculty of Professional Studies.
UFV also granted honorary degrees to actress
Tantoo Cardinal, jurist
Wally Oppal, aboriginal leader
Chief Frank Malloway, and community activist
Catherine Marcellus.
Philosophy instructor Glen Baier won the Teaching Excellence award at UFV this year, and the Yarrow Volunteer Society received the Betty Urquhart community service award.
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