Event UBC confers degrees on 6,600 graduating students and four honorary degree recipients at the Vancouver campus’ Spring Congregation, May 22-29.
Highlights
- Degrees will be conferred at 23 ceremonies.
- The Honourable Steven Point, Tzeporah Berman, Lee Lakeman, and Ian Stirling 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 at www.graduation.ubc.ca/ubc-vancouver/live-webcast
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 arrange. 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 22
8:30 a.m. Lee Lakeman is internationally recognized for combating violence against women and advocating for women’s rights.
4 p.m. The Hon. Steven Point, the former Lieutenant Governor of B.C., is an advocate for equality, culture and human rights.
May 23
1:30 p.m. Eco-activist Tzeporah Berman is credited for helping save over 12 million acres of endangered Canadian forests and currently works on climate change campaigns. Read a story about Berman’s honorary degree at: www.sustain.ubc.ca/award/honouring-environmental-leadership
May 27
11 a.m. Ian Stirling, an expert on marine mammals in the Arctic and Antarctic, is renowned for studying the plight of the polar bear.
June 6-7 at UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus will honour world-renowned photographer Edward Burtynsky and internationally acclaimed poet Patrick Lane.
Student graduation ceremonies
More than 6,600 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 23 ceremonies.
Graduation Dates / Times: 8:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. on:
Wednesday, May 22
Thursday, May 23
Friday, May 24
Monday, May 27
Tuesday, May 28
Wednesday, May 29 (Note: There is no 4 p.m. ceremony on May 29)
Graduating student story ideas
Advocate for her people
Leah George-Wilson was the first woman to be elected Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation, a position she held from 2001 and 2003 and again from 2005 and 2009. She will graduate from UBC’s law school on May 22 at 8:30 a.m.
The First Nations Longhouse is hosting a special graduation celebration for all UBC Aboriginal graduates on Saturday, May 25.; more than 150 Aboriginal students will graduate this year. For more information, contact: Linc Kesler, 604.822.8940.
Breaking barriers
Almost ten years after a tragic motorcycle accident, UBC law student Dustin Paul has become the first quadriplegic hired to article at Bull, Housser & Tupper, one of Canada’s top legal firms. He will graduate from UBC’s law school on May 22 at 8:30 a.m.
Getting a head start
At 25, Will Guest is the youngest grad of UBC’s combined MD/PhD program. He’s also in line for his first patent. He will graduate on May 22 at 11 a.m.
A hunger for more
For university hockey fans, the Cinderella story of the year was the turnaround season of the UBC women’s hockey team. Kinesiology graduate Emily Grainger helped the Thunderbirds bring home the Canada West title in 2013 and she’s not ready to stop winning yet. Grainger will graduate on May 23 at 11 a.m.
Read more stories about UBC graduates www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/ubc-reports/
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