Fall Convocation honours graduates and retired diplomat
Posted: October 20, 2016 6:00 a.m.
The Conexus Arts Centre will again be the scene to award degrees, diplomas and certificates to students. Photo: U of R Photography
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The University of Regina’s 43rd fall convocation on Friday, October 21 at the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina will celebrate the outstanding achievements of 715 graduates.
For the first time, degrees were presented in two masters programs: Journalism; and the Collaborative Nurse Practitioner Program (CNPP), an online graduate level program offered through a partnership between Saskatchewan Polytechnic and the University of Regina. Graduates will receive a master of nursing (nurse practitioner) degree from the University of Regina.
During the ceremony, 14 students will be presented with awards for academic excellence and commitment to community service.
Dr. Zhong Li received the President’s Distinguished Graduate Student Award and earns a doctor of philosophy in environmental systems engineering.
Marcia Anne Mitschke, graduating with a bachelor of science in chemistry, was awarded the President’s Medal and the Faculty of Science Dean’s Medal.
Other academic award recipients were:
- Dallas Richard Niessen – University Prize in Arts
- Adam Crosby Thornton – Faculty of Arts Dean’s Medal
- Aaron Rowland Fritzler – University Prize in Business Administration
- Ruaa Al-Bahrani – Faculty of Business Administration Dean’s Medal
- Skyler Nicholas Hladun – University Prize in Engineering and Applied Arts; and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Dean’s Medal
- Samantha Jo Illerbrun – University Prize in Kinesiology and Health Studies
- Elisabeth Pauline Fortier – Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies Dean’s Medal
- Brady James Alexander Frank – University Prize in Media, Art and Performance; and Faculty of Media, Art and Performance Dean’s Medal
- Brittany Katharine Ziegler – Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association Gold Medal for Excellence in Clinical Practice
- Carleen Marion Meszaros – Faculty of Nursing/Saskatchewan Polytechnic Dean’s Medal
- Jordan Connor Thompson – University Prize in Science
- Michelle Ivanna Zabiaka – University Prize in Social Work
The honorary degree recipient was Ken Sunquist, who was presented with a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa. Sunquist graduated from Regina Campus in 1970 in Business Administration.
During his career he had postings in Jamaica, Yugoslavia, the United States and Korea, was acting ambassador to China in the 1990s, and was ambassador to Indonesia from 1998 to 2001. He was an assistant deputy minister in the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the chief trade commissioner for Canada.
Previous recipients of University of Regina honorary degrees include former Saskatchewan premier Tommy Douglas (1978); Saskatchewan artist Joe Fafard (1989); former Saskatchewan Lieutenant-Governor Sylvia Fedoruk (1991); singer Buffy Sainte-Marie (1996); Saskatchewan philanthropist and patron of the arts Jacqui Shumiatcher (2002); past president of the Saskatchewan Roughriders Tom Shepherd (2010); humanitarian Tom Jackson (2010); educator Anne Callahan (2015); and Chief Tammy Cook-Searson (2016).
The convocation ceremony can be seen online by visiting www.uregina.ca/student/registrar/convocation/webcasts.html.