Event UBC confers degrees on 7,800 graduating students and 11 honorary degree recipients at the Vancouver campus’ Spring Congregation, May 21-28.
Highlights Degrees will be conferred at 24 ceremonies and prominent business leaders, philanthropists, and human rights activists will receive honorary degrees.
Location The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
6265 Crescent Rd.
For a map, visit: www.maps.ubc.ca/?130
Parking Media may park at the Rose Garden Parkade, located adjacent to the Chan Centre off Northwest Marine Drive.
Webcast The live webcast of all ceremonies can be found here.
Assignment/Photo Editors:
Media authorization is required to cover congregation ceremonies in the Chan Centre. Please call Heather Amos at 604.822.3213 or 604.828.3867 to make arrangements. Stationary camera space is very limited. Please arrive early. Handheld cameras highly recommended. A media feed will be provided but media must provide their own wireless transmitters and adapters.
Honorary degree recipients
May 21
8:30 a.m. Marvin Storrow laid the groundwork for historic changes to Aboriginal rights in Canada and is recognized for his significant work in the area of Aboriginal law.
11 a.m. Djavad Mowafaghian is a business leader and philanthropist who has supported many organizations in Iran and Vancouver.
1:30 p.m. Business leader and philanthropist Michael Audain has a long history of activism and support for visual arts and culture in B.C. and Canada.
4 p.m. Internationally renowned master carver Dempsey Bob is one of the foremost Tahltan-Tlingit artists of his generation.
May 22
11 a.m. Lisa Sennerby-Forsse is a leading forestry scientist and professor who has held prominent positions and advisory roles in Sweden and the European union.
4 p.m. American historian James Clifford helped shape the field of the history of anthropology and has been a strong supporter of UBC’s Museum of Anthropology.
May 23
1:30 p.m. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker and author Bonnie Klein is an advocate for the disability rights movement.
May 26
8:30 a.m. Scientist Janet Rossant is recognized for her groundbreaking work in understanding the role of genes in embryo development.
11 a.m. Justin Yifu Lin is the former chief economist and senior vice-president of the World Bank and a leading thinker on why some countries develop more successfully than others.
May 27
11 a.m. Business leader Raymond Lee has embraced the triple bottom line approach with the company he founded and is heavily involved in the community.
May 28
8:30 a.m. Michel Sidibé has been at the centre of the global movement for universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support throughout his years of service at the UN and UNICEF.
For more information about the honorary degree recipients, click here.
June 6 at UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus will honour Nobel Laureate and biochemist Jack Szostak.
Student graduation ceremonies
More than 7,800 grads will cross the stage at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts to receive their degrees. Undergraduate and graduate degrees from all 12 Vancouver campus faculties will be conferred at 24 ceremonies.
Graduation Dates / Times: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on:
Wednesday, May 21
Thursday, May 22
Friday, May 23
Monday, May 26
Tuesday, May 27
Wednesday, May 28
Graduating student story ideas
Will to win
Paralympian Josh Vander Vies won bronze in Boccia at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He leaves UBC with a law degree and a desire to compete at a high level. He graduates from the Faculty of Law on May 21 at 8:30 a.m.
Honouring her elder
The memory of her deceased grandmother, a Dene Elder from N’dilo, N.W.T, inspired Cindy Allen to study Aboriginal law. She graduates from the Faculty of Law on May 21 at 8:30 a.m. and is also attending a special ceremony for Aboriginal students on May 24 at the First Nations Longhouse.
Twin psychology
Twin sisters Negah and Pegah Mortazavi are in synch in all aspects of their lives including a shared passion for psychology and research. They are graduating with matching honours degrees in psychology on May 23 at 8:30 a.m.
Welding sparks interest of UBC engineer
Jennifer Peverelle was working on a degree in materials engineering when she discovered a yen for welding. Now she is headed to a job in the U.S. thanks to her own creativity and initiative. She graduates from UBC’s Faculty of Applied Science on May 27 at 8:30 a.m.
Dentist indulges vaulting ambition
UBC grad Jessica Church balances dentistry with equestrian vaulting, a sport that involves doing handstands, splits and somersaults on a horse that canters at a speed up to 26 kilometres an hour. She graduates from the Faculty of Dentistry on May 28 at 8:30 a.m.
Find more stories about UBC graduates here.