About 730 students from the University of Northern British Columbia will be graduating this Friday during the University’s 12th graduation ceremony. The event will begin at 1:30pm in CN Centre (formerly the Prince George Multiplex). The ceremony will mark the first time that degrees have been awarded in Disability Management, Biochemsitry and Molecular Biology, and the interdisciplinary Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies.

Prior to the start of the ceremony, graduates will gather with faculty and staff at the Prince George campus in the morning. The class photograph will be taken at 10:45 on the ceremonial steps (weather permitting) in the Agora Courtyard.

Honorary degrees – the University’s most prestigious public awards – will be presented to former UNBC Chancellor George Pedersen and Mary Alice Danaher of Williams Lake. Dr Pedersen has been the President or Vice-President of five BC universities and his career in education has spanned more than 50 years. Dr Danaher has spent the majority of her 35-year teaching career in the Cariboo, working with the Canim Lake Band and the Cariboo Tribal Council. She was instrumental in establishing the Weekend University with UNBC and the University-College of the Cariboo.

The Governor-General’s gold and silver medals for academic achievement will be presented during the ceremony. Jeanne Robert (formerly, Horning) will be receiving the gold medal as top graduate student after conducting research on the susceptibility of Lodgepole Pine to weevil attacks. She is currently pursuing her PhD at UBC investigating the molecular basis of defense mechanisms in conifers. Jeanne will be speaking during the ceremony on behalf of the grad class.

The silver medal for the top student graduating with a bachelor’s degree will be presented to Mark Lundeberg of Prince George. He will be receiving a degree in Physics and will be graduating with his brother, Karl, who has completed a Computer Science degree.

Following the Prince George ceremony, the University will participate in regional graduation events:

Terrace, May 29, 7pm, Skeena Valley Golf and Country Club

New Aiyansh, May 30, 2pm, Nisga’a Community Hall

Quesnel, June 1, 6:30pm, Quesnel and District Senior’s Centre

Fort St. John, June 2, 7pm, Northern Grand Quality Inn

There will also be three UNBC graduates recognized during the Yukon College graduation in Whitehorse on June 4. The students have completed a locally offered master’s degree program in Community Health.

Rob van Adrichem, Director of Media and Public Relations, UNBC – 250.960.5622