Convocation Celebrates Success of Lakehead University – Orillia Campus
(June 1, 2010 - Orillia ON) Lakehead University's Orillia Campus is gearing up for a special Convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 5. With over 225 students participating, this year's event will be the largest to date, and for the first time, students will be graduating from the Concurrent Education program. Many of the graduates who will receive their degrees are members of the Lakehead - Orillia charter class.
"We have had an overwhelming number of graduates confirm their attendance at this year's convocation," says Lakehead - Orillia Assistant Dean (Student Affairs) Frank Cappadocia. "Almost 80% of our prospective graduates will attend Convocation. This is at least 10% higher than the typical Convocation attendance numbers recorded at other universities."
According to graduates, this year's Convocation is an event that should not be missed, especially by those who were among the original Lakehead - Orillia student body, known as its charter class. The Lakehead University Orillia Campus opened at Heritage Place in downtown Orillia in 2006 and housed 120 students at that time.
"We are a very close group," explains Lakehead student, Katelyn Fraser. "Convocation will give us a chance to celebrate with each other before we continue with our education, careers, or travel plans."
"This is a special group of graduates," says Dr. Kim Fedderson, Dean of Lakehead University's Orillia Campus. "Many of them are from the charter class, and they are leaving their mark. Through their studies, intramural activities, and community engagement, they have created a vibrant student culture here. They have also charted a course for future students who will come to Lakehead University's Orillia Campus to experience university life. They should feel very proud of their achievements, and they will be missed."
The Lakehead - Orillia student body has grown from 120 students in 2006 to 820 full-time students this year. With a new campus facility scheduled to open in September 2010, Lakehead - Orillia is expecting to welcome over 900 students for the upcoming academic year. Graduating this year are students who have completed the Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science (HBASc), Bachelor of Arts & Science (BASc), Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science/Bachelor of Education (HBASc/BEd), Bachelor of Arts & Science/Bachelor of Education (BASc/BEd), Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW), and Bachelor of Administration (BAdm) programs.
The establishment of Lakehead - Orillia four years ago will also be celebrated at the Convocation by the presentation of the annual Civitas Award. This year's award will be presented to Ron Stevens, Mayor of the City of Orillia, for his leadership in developing the partnership with Lakehead University, which resulted in the opening of Lakehead - Orillia in 2006.
Awards will also be presented to students for outstanding citizenship and academic excellence. A Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Lakehead - Orillia's Convocation ceremony takes place at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Graduates, their families, and their friends are invited to the Chancellor's Reception which also takes place at Patrick Fogarty following the ceremony.
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Media: For more information contact Kathy Hunt, Lakehead - Orillia Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext 2014 kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia. It offers post-secondary undergraduate and graduate programs as well as research expertise that meet specific regional needs. The University is known for its multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Lakehead-Orillia opened in 2006, and in September 2010 will open the doors of its new Academic Building. This is the first phase in the development of Canada's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum university campus.
Kathy Hunt is the Communications Officer at Lakehead's Orillia Campus and can be reached at kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.