centennial Convocation spring 2016 june 9 & 10 Dear Graduand, Your graduation began long before this day. It began when you made the choice to study that extra hour, dedicate yourself more deeply, and strive to reach for the degree you had chosen to fully commit your life to pursuing. Many of the people that helped you arrive here today are seated beside you—friends, family, classmates— while others are thinking of you from afar. We are honoured to have given you a place to discover, inspire others and be challenged beyond what you thought was possible. We hope you know, we will always be that place for you. Yours, UBC TABLE OF CONTENTS The Graduation Journey 2 Lists of Spring 2016 Graduating Students Graduation Traditions 6 Thursday, June 9, 2016 11:00 a.m. 21 Chancellor’s Welcome 8 1:30 p.m. 24 President’s Welcome 10 4:00 p.m. 27 Syilx Welcome 12 Friday, June 10, 2016 Okanagan Song 13 8:30 a.m. 31 11:00 a.m. 35 The Board of Governors 14 Acknowledgements 40 UBC Okanagan Senate 15 O Canada 40 Alumni Welcome 41 2016 Honorary Degree Recipients 16 Award for Teaching Excellence 17 A General Reception will follow each and Innovation Ceremony in the Courtyard. Heads of Graduating Class 18 Schedule of Spring 2016 Ceremonies 19 1 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 THE GRADUATION JOURNEY 2 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 In UBC’s first annual, published 100 years ago in 1916, President Frank F. Wesbrook wrote: “Ours is the task of helping to adjust the rights of the individual to the needs of all, of the obligations of each to the other and to the world. Today’s chosen people are those in training for such tasks. A glorious heritage is ours.” Wesbrook’s aspiration for UBC students is surprisingly still relevant. Our learning environment encourages global citizenship and it is our hope that the graduands of today, having made UBC ‘theirs,’ go on to use their education to change the world for the better. UBC graduands have, with the support of classmates, family and friends, collectively built our shared heritage since 1916. We hope you know how proud we are of your contribution to what we’ve become, and who we will be, for the next 100 years. 3 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 THE GRADUATION JOURNEY “As we move into our second century, please stay in touch. Whichever path you choose to follow, you will always be welcome at UBC, and we hope that you will continue to play a part in the life of this great university. Tuum est! It is yours!” MARTHA C. PIPER, OC OBC LLD’07 PRESIDENT AND VICE-CHANCELLOR 1916 1920s 1940s One of the first graduating classes was The student-led Great Trek to UBC’s Point The forties were an era of tremendous the Arts Class of 1916 pictured here at a Grey established the university’s first change at the university as both students party at the home of Mary Wilons. In campus. The Alma Mater Society (AMS) and faculty embraced the war effort. UBC’s first year, there were only three incorporated as a non-profit society and In 1943, new President Norman faculties: Arts, Applied Science and the university began awarding its first MacKenzie began in earnest to expand the Agriculture with 379 registered students graduate degrees to students. In the university and new departments were and 34 faculty members. Ubyssey, published in September 23, 1925, formed along with new buildings to house students described the new campus with a them including Brock Hall and the first sense of wonder: “We are dazed with the student union building. By the 1950s, UBC appearance of architectural cleanliness had established itself as a comprehensive and bewildered by our lineal freedom.” university and top choice for students in BC and beyond. 4 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 1960s 1980s 2000s Student numbers continued to escalate With over 34,000 students registered at The demand for increased access to alongside the scholarly activities the beginning of the eighties, UBC began post-secondary education led to the official that began to define UBC as a leader in attracting scholars from all over the world. opening of UBC’s Okanagan campus in research. The campus was alive with Engineering students were in the news 2005. Student learning opportunities sixties counterculture and a sixth frequently for their pranks, which included multiplied as UBC expanded to include two president of UBC was elected by the the famous Ladner Clock Tower stunt in major campuses—the Vancouver Campus name of Dr. Walter Gage. New student which students pulled off hoisting a white and the Okanagan Campus. residences were created to respond Volkswagen Bug onto the top of the tower. to the expanding student body as well as Dr. Martha Piper was elected President in a new student union building. Students 1997 and ushered in an era of international 2016 gained influence at the university and engagement that saw UBC step onto Close to 13,000 students will become were elected to the University Board of the world stage as an educator and global the Class of 2016. They will go on to Governors for the first time. centre for research excellence. join over 310,000 alumni who have successfully graduated from UBC and continue their journey as treasured members of the UBC community. 5 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 GRADUATION TRADITIONS 6 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 The University Mace is a symbol of the authority of the Chancellor. It is displayed on ceremonial occasions, most notably during the convocation ceremonies but also during the Installation of a President or Chancellor. THE UNIVERSITY MACE The Mace also features a number of REGALIA COLOURS university symbols, including the UBC The Mace is carried by the ‘Macebearer’ The hoods, gowns and hats worn Okanagan logo, the University coat of arms who leads the Platform Party, which by graduates are lined with colours to and the UBC motto Tuum Est – It’s Yours. In includes the Chancellor, the President and indicate the degree to be conferred, a addition, the back of the Mace displays the other dignitaries, onto the stage for the tradition dating back to the Middle Ages word Suknaqinx, which is of the Nsyilxcen Convocation ceremonies. when the first universities were founded. language, spoken by the Okanagan’s Created by First Nations artist Sheldon original people. Roughly translated, it Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band, the means “the ones who stand on the hill and THE CHANCELLOR’S OKANAGAN CHAIR University Mace is carved from a single are seen and heard from far away.” piece of alder wood, and combines In 2007, UBC’s Okanagan campus The University Mace, which was carved in Okanagan Nation traditions with commissioned the creation of a new the shape of a paddle, representing the university customs. The main artwork on Chancellor’s chair for use in Okanagan importance of Okanagan Lake to the the Mace features three symbolic spirit Convocation ceremonies. Handcrafted by region’s people, is also inlaid with silver, icons—a mother bear with her two cubs, master furniture maker Dennis Weidman applied by First Nations silversmith artist the image of the mountains, and water— of Lake Country, BC, the chair was Justin Terbasket of the Lower Similkameen given to UBC Okanagan in 2005 by the fashioned from cherry wood, a species Indian Band. The Mace was used for the first Okanagan Nation elders. The spirit icon selected for its significance in the time at the 2009 Convocation Ceremonies. gifts were selected by a group of First Okanagan’s long history as a fruit–growing Nation elders, led by Andrew McGinnis, region. THE PROCESSION an Okanagan Traditional Medicine Keeper from the Penticton Indian Band, and Victor Chancellor Lindsay Gordon shakes the The chair’s front panel features UBC’s Antoine, an elder of the Okanagan Indian hand of every student that crosses the motto, Tuum Est, the UBC logo laser Band. Each spirit icon was chosen carefully stage—that’s over 10,000 students each engraved in the headrest panel, and UBC’s for its special significance to the region, year. This handshake signifies the coat of arms on each side panel. reflecting local Okanagan Nation tradition, transition between student and graduate. culture and knowledge. 7 CENTENNIAL CONVOCATION 2016 CHANCELLOR’S WELCOME Here it is at last—your graduation day, and with the added distinction of it occurring at a historic milestone for your university. Exactly 100 years ago UBC held its first invariably encounter new circumstances, Congregation ceremony, at which it and you may well be tempted to pursue an granted degrees to the first 40 graduates. entirely new direction and destiny tomorrow than those you may be They graduated during a turbulent time in contemplating today. The message is human history with a terrible war raging, simply this: remain curious, open-minded but our challenges are no less significant: and flexible as the journey unfolds. climate change, human rights, a mounting refugee crisis, inequality, poverty, food At the same time, ensure that you play security…and yes…conflict, but a very your part in helping to build a diverse, different kind of conflict to that inclusive and better community. experienced by our first graduation class. Understand the obligations that we make to one another in a civilized society, and You therefore may share similar hopes not only to our neighbours at home but to and fears of members of the Class of 1916. strangers from afar. Above all, seek truth Like them, you too are probably and compassion over bitter opinion and preoccupied with the future.