Over 800 graduate at 2011 Fall Convocation

On Oct. 22, over 800 students were conferred with their degrees as the Class of 2011 was recognized at Fall Convocation.

Graduates, friends, family, faculty and staff gathered to celebrate the day's festivities in the Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium, which was home to two separate ceremonies on this day.

"We who work at Brock are also very proud of you because today represents the culmination not only of your work, but in a very real sense the culmination of ours as well, so we share in the joy and in the pride that your family and friends are experiencing today," said Jack Lightstone, President and Vice-Chancellor of Brock University, in an address to the crowd.

The first ceremony took place at 10:00 a.m. and saw students graduate from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, the Faculty of Business, the Faculty of Humanities and the Faculty of Mathematics and Science.

John McCall-MacBain, a businessman, philanthropist and Niagara Falls native, was honoured at the morning ceremony. McCall-MacBain was awarded with an honorary degree from the University for his remarkable humanitarian work and business accomplishments.

Also awarded at the morning ceremony were two Governor-General's Silver Medals, which are given to the students who achieve the highest academic standing at the undergraduate level. Recipients for this honour were Donna Pearce and Charlotte Tunikaitis, who also received their Bachelor of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Bachelor of Accounting degrees, respectively.

At both ceremonies, before students were awarded with their degrees, Lightstone presented the graduates with a few expectations.

"With the degrees and certificates about to be conferred upon you, there comes a certain expectation, that you will continue sincerely in the pursuit of learning and truth, and that as far as in you lies, you will promote the interests and welfare of your University," said Lightstone. "Do you acknowledge this expectation?"

At the 2:00 p.m. ceremony, students graduated from the Faculty of Education, the Concordia Lutheran Seminary and the Faculty of Social Sciences.

Nancy Francis, a Professor in the Department of Kinesiology, presented the Convocation address at the afternoon ceremony. Francis was presented with the Brock University Award for Distinguished Teaching earlier during the morning ceremony.

"[...] What you do know is that you worked diligently and tenaciously to achieve this goal. Those of us who have nurtured you along the way, watched you mature as scholars, we have observed you master complex skills, read your increasingly sophisticated writing and noted your newly developed poise," said Francis in her address.

The Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock Medals are presented to the students who best embody the spirit of Sir Isaac Brock. Rohan Kothari and Lindsay Cline received these awards during the ceremony, for showing leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community involvement. They also received their Bachelor of Science (Biological Sciences) and Master of Arts (Applied Health Sciences) degrees, respectively.

Students graduating will remember their convocation and their time at university for the rest of their lives, as these four or five years represent a period of great personal growth. With their degrees in hand, graduates open new doors and enter the next stage of their lives.

"As you go from success to success in your careers after graduating today, you add value to the Brock degrees of students who have not even yet attended Brock University, who will graduate years from now," said Lightstone. "And, as Brock goes from success to success, it adds value to your degree, years after you have received it today."

President Lightstone, on behalf of the University, wished the best to this year's graduates.

"So, we wish you happiness and success in all of the many days ahead and years ahead following this graduation, so from all of us at Brock to all of you, congratulations."