Thursday, June 11, 2004

Contact: Bob Warick

Executive Director

University College of the Fraser Valley

Community Relations and Development

Phone: 604-864-4611

Email: warick@ucfv.ca

UCFV celebrates Convocation as 1,700 graduate

It was a time of tassels and gowns, pomp and circumstance. Of proudly walking on stage, shaking hands, and getting that bit of paper that took so many hours, so much sacrifice to earn. UCFV Convocation ceremonies took place at the Abbotsford Campus June 10 and 11.

Some 1,700 UCFV students earned certificates, diplomas, and degrees this year. Many were on hand at Convocation to mark their accomplishments after many months and often many years of hard work, dedication, and study.

Before congratulating each student as they received their degrees, diplomas or certificates, UCFV President Skip Bassford gave the graduates words of advice and charged them with the need to continue to learn regardless of what their next step in life may be.

“In succeeding in higher education, in becoming university graduates you have moved from being members of society to being leaders of society,” Bassford told the graduates. “Your broader understanding will be of great benefit to your lives, but it also lays a significant burden. For your knowledge gives you the potential to be leaders and you have the obligation to lead wisely and well.”

Student speaker Tyler Davis, a Chilliwack father of three, graduated with a bachelor in computer information systems. He summed up the sacrifice most students, married or not, make when they embark upon a university education.

“There were nights when you were falling asleep at your computer and you still managed to write the final pages of your term paper, times when the only way you could afford to take another semester was to work 20 hours a week,” Davis reminded his fellow grads.

“More than once I have heard, you're burning the candle at both ends. But someone told me once, ‘wouldn't it be a shame if in the end, there was still candle left to waste.’”

As student after student received their diplomas, degrees, or certificates, it was evidenced once again how diverse UCFV’s student population is. There were all ages, some graduates barely 20, others well into their 50s. And the audience, packed with grandparents, teens, infants and beaming parents, spoke of the breadth of generations connected to UCFV.

During his speech, Davis stressed that without family support, many graduates would not be there that day. “Our families have been the anchor throughout this journey. Children, spouses and parents who have sacrificed nearly everything to see us through to this day. My wife and children inspired me to keep going when I wanted to quit,” Davis said. “I have always looked forward to the day when I could spend all of Sunday afternoon at the park with my children without the constant reminder that I had an assignment due Monday morning. That day has finally come.”

Bachelor of Science grad Jenny Hamilton told her fellow students to make a point of touching other lives, making other people happier, healthier, and richer in some way. A young parent from Cultus Lake, Hamilton praised UCFV’s small class size, excellent instructors, and Fraser Valley location and said it is now up to her fellow grads to go out and enrich lives. “As we leave UCFV today let us define our success by the number of lives we can touch in a meaningful way.”

The four UCFV convocation ceremonies, which took place over two days, were highlighted with a number of awards presented to graduates.

West Vancouver grad Susan Caron walked away with the Governor General's Academic Silver Medal, awarded to the undergraduate who achieves the highest academic standing upon graduation from a bachelor degree program. Caron graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Adult Education. She earned her degree attending school part time, but also worked, raised a family and was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome—a high-functioning form of Autism. Throughout all this, she maintained a GPA 4.1

“Susan is an academic virtuosity,” UCFV professor Don Chapman said. “She knows how to study and leaves you breathless with the depth she goes into.”

Caron once said she never worried about her marks, she just knew she had to study hard. She noticed other students were bogged down, concerned about their GPAs and not concentrating on the lessons in front of them.

“Don Chapman had this reassuring phrase that went something like ‘Attend to the learning, and the grade will take care of itself. He was right,” she said.

The mother of two and first-time grandmother, like many other graduates, gave credit to UCFV’s instructors and noted the small class size, informal atmosphere and high-calibre teachers that were instrumental in her completing her degree. “To me UCFV is much more than a place. UCFV is a people,” Caron says, “a learning community. At UCFV I found that my mind could soar – unclipped.”

Abbotsford resident Heather More, 20, was the recipient of the Governor General's Academic Bronze Medal. It is awarded to the student who achieves the highest academic standing upon graduation from a diploma-level, post-secondary program with a minimum two-year, full-time duration.

Convocation was also an extra special day for Yarrow resident Dan Wall, who graduated from UCFV’s Architectural and Civil Drafting program, a 10-month course offered through the Trades and Technology department. Wall, with a grade point average of 3.92, is this year’s recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Award.

The Lieutenant Governor's Medal is awarded to a graduate of a certificate program of one year or less who has not only excelled in his studies but has also contributed in a positive way to the life of the college or community with volunteer work with his church.

“His attention to detail is phenomenal,” Drafting instructor Larry Gritzmaker says. “And he is always willing to take time to help other students. In the nine years I have taught at UCFV, no other student comes to mind as being as deserving of this award as Dan Wall.”

Other honours at the Convocation ceremonies included the granting of three Dean’s medals to students with high academic standing throughout their time at UCFV.

This year’s Dean’s medal winners were Mission’s Andrew White, a Bachelor of Kinesiology grad, David Peterson, a Bachelor of Computer Information Systems grad from Abbotsford, and Bachelor of Arts grad Leif Einarson, of Maple Ridge.

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