Lakehead University honours outstanding students, faculty and community leaders at 2013 Convocation
Lakehead University honours outstanding students, faculty and community leaders at 2013 Convocation
June 4, 2013 – Orillia, ON
Graduating students from Lakehead University’s Orillia campus are preparing for a special day of celebration this Saturday, as the campus holds its annual Convocation ceremony.
Over 1,000 people are expected to attend this year’s ceremony at Rotary Place (West Orillia Sports Complex) on University Avenue, including students, faculty, staff, and guests.
The ceremony will highlight the accomplishments of students, as well as members of the community. Over 375 students will receive degrees at this year’s ceremony.
This year, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be awarded to Holocaust survivor and public speaker, Dr. Eva Olsson, who will deliver the commencement address to graduands.
The title of Fellow will be bestowed upon Dr. Robert Bennett for his contributions to Lakehead Orillia. This is the first time that a Lakehead University Fellow has been named for contributions directly related to the Orillia campus.
The Civitas Award, given annually to a community member who has made a significant contribution to the University, will be awarded to local business leader and artist, Will McGarvey. Past Civitas Award winners include: Anderson Charters (2012); Paul Weber (2011); former mayor of Orillia, Ron Stevens (2010); Lloyd Dennis (2009); and Sue Mulcahy (2008).
“On a day when we graduate those who will transform our world, tomorrow, it is fitting that we honour those who have, and continue, to do so, today,” said Chancellor Derek Burney. “Our hope is that our graduates will be inspired by our honouree’s deeds and words during this, a very transformative moment in their lives.”
Lakehead University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, said, “Convocation is a chance to celebrate the hard work our students have put into their studies, to honour achievements, and to look toward a prosperous future together.”
Above all, this year’s convocation will celebrate the accomplishments of Lakehead students.
For the first time in the history of the Orillia campus, degrees will be awarded to graduates of the Honours Bachelor of Commerce (HBComm) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs and the four-year Honours Bachelor of Social Work program (HBSW). These graduates represent members of the charter classes for these programs.
Degrees will also be conferred to students who have completed the Bachelor and Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science (HBASc, BASc), Bachelor of Education (BEd), Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW), and Bachelor of Administration (BAdmin) programs.
The ceremony will highlight outstanding student achievements with special awards:
THE ORILLIA CAMPUS DEAN’S MEDAL
Awarded to the highest-ranking graduating student in the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Sciences and Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree program:
- Emily House, HBASc
THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Award given annually to the graduating students who have occupied positions of responsibility in student organizations and who, by their activities and achievements, have earned the gratitude of the University:
- Jazmin Beddard, HBASc
- Brendan Trace, HBASc/BEd
LLOYD DENNIS AWARD
Award given for outstanding citizenship presented to the full-time student selected by her fellows, the faculty and administration as contributing most to the welfare of the university through student activities:
- Mason T. Ainsworth, HBComm (undergraduate)
ALUMNI AWARDS
Lakehead Orillia Alumni Awards will also be awarded for the first time this year at a Chancellor’s Dinner to be held at the campus on Friday, June 7.
- Crystal Luchkiw, HBASc ’09 (Orillia campus) and Michael Thorn, HBASc ’10 (Orillia campus), HBSc ’11 (Thunder Bay campus), will receive Young Alumni Awards.
- Dr. Linda Rodenburg, HBA/BEd ’99 (Thunder Bay campus) and current lecturer at Lakehead Orillia, will receive the Alumni Honour Award.
Other awards and prizes to Lakehead Orillia graduates will also be presented during the ceremony to recognize outstanding academic achievement in specific program areas. (See full listing attached.)
Lakehead Orillia’s convocation ceremony takes place at Rotary Place at the West Orillia Sports Complex, University Avenue, at 10 am on Saturday, June 8.
Graduates, their families and friends are invited to enjoy refreshments immediately following the ceremony. The ceremony can be viewed live online at Lakehead’s website
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Media are invited to attend Convocation ceremonies. For more information, please contact Lakehead University’s Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
Full listing of all student medals, awards and prizes is attached.
Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,700 students and 1,850 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. For more information about Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.