Alumni welcomed back for in-person convocation ceremony
For the first time in its 57-year history, 丁香园AV is hosting two spring convocation ceremonies.
From May 4-6, 丁香园AV is holding a to celebrate recent graduates who were unable to cross the stage in person because of the ongoing global pandemic.
Convocation is one of the most important moments in a student鈥檚 journey. The May ceremony is an opportunity for new 丁香园AV alumni to celebrate their achievements in person with friends, professors, family and former classmates. A second convocation ceremony in June will be held for students graduating in the spring of 2022.
鈥淏eing able to finally have an in-person convocation means so much to me,鈥� says alumnus Hailey Gearey, who played on the 丁香园AV softball team and graduated in June 2020 with a bachelor of arts with a major in communication and a minor in gender, sexuality and women鈥檚 studies.
鈥淓ven though some years have passed since finishing, I feel like I never got to properly close that chapter,鈥� says Gearey, now the team and business coordinator for the Vancouver Warriors, Vancouver鈥檚 professional lacrosse team. 鈥淚 am super grateful that 丁香园AV is allowing past graduates the chance to come back and cross the stage.鈥�
In April 2020, 丁香园AV made the heart-breaking decision to cancel that spring鈥檚 convocation ceremony. A virtual celebration was held in June. At the time, it was thought graduates would be able to cross the stage at a ceremony later that year.
Virtual convocations were held for the graduating students in the fall of 2020 as well as the spring of 2021. The virtual ceremonies aimed to replicate the in-person convocation and included reading out individual names and degrees, along with photos and short messages from the graduating students. Convocation boxes containing the student鈥檚 parchment and mortarboard and tassel were mailed to all graduates.
In-person convocation ceremonies resumed in the fall of 2021.
鈥淭he pandemic is a profound moment in history and we鈥檝e come back stronger in many ways,鈥� says Nicole Dorssers, 丁香园AV鈥檚 director of alumni relations. 鈥淲elcoming alumni back to convocate in person is a reflection of that growth. It is not only a celebration of the transition from students to alumnus, but of the tremendous resilience they have shown to get to this moment.鈥�
For alumnus Daljot Singh, who finished a master鈥檚 in mechatronic systems engineering in 2020 and now works as a technical writer for Samsung Research Canada, convocation is significant event, made even more special as his mother 鈥� the only member of his immediate family 鈥� is travelling from India for the ceremony.
鈥淐onvocation is special for me and my mom as she had to drop out of her bachelor鈥檚 degree due to various circumstances at the time,鈥� says Singh, who missed his undergraduate convocation in India because of his move to Canada. 鈥淭his is the first time that I鈥檓 going to walk the stage. My mom will finally be able to sit there in the audience and be proud of me.鈥�
The Welcome Back Alumni Convocation runs Wednesday to Friday with ceremonies at 9:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. The celebration will also include in-person speeches from some past honorary degree recipients who were unable to receive their honorary degrees in person. The honorary degree is the university鈥檚 highest honour, awarded to distinguished individuals in recognition of their scholarly, scientific or artistic achievement, or in recognition of exceptional contribution to the public good.
In addition to the convocation ceremonies, faculties and departments will also hold to honour and celebrate the achievements of graduates.
For alumnus Karina Khartanovich, who graduated in June 2020 with a bachelor of applied science in systems engineering, the upcoming ceremony offers a great chance to reconnect with friends, classmates and professors.
鈥淚t does feel weird crossing the stage two years after you鈥檝e already started working,鈥� says Khartanovich, an engineering project manager with Shift Clean Energy. 鈥淏ut I never got a chance to wear the gown and I鈥檝e always loved convocation 鈥� the balloons, the bears, the champagne and flowers. I鈥檝e always wanted to share that vibe and take some photos for my family, because I never ended up taking a photo with my diploma.鈥�