Tip of the cap to UVic graduates

Thousands of University of Victoria students from around the world will formally conclude years of studies next week when they cross the stage of the University Centre Farquhar Auditorium during nine Spring Convocation ceremonies, from June 10 – 14.

The university will confer 3,434 degrees, diplomas and certificates upon students from the capital region, across Canada, and 47 other countries. Ceremonies begin at 2:30 p.m. Monday followed by twice-daily ceremonies, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., through the week.

Among the graduates will be New Zealander Anna Patten, 28, who will receive UVic’s first PhD in neuroscience. Her research is on the effects of omega 3 fatty acids on brain health – particularly when the brain has been damaged by diseases such as fetal alcohol syndrome.

After nearly five years, Patten has adopted Victoria as her new home – “so similar to New Zealand” – and plans to settle here after graduation with her partner Mark Macdonald, an English major. “He wants to be a fiction writer. I write very scientifically. We’re different in that respect.”

The university will also award medals to its top academic achievers, including:

The full list of academic medalists is available here.

Convocation notes: The week’s final ceremony, June 14 at 2:30 p.m., will include a tribute to President David Turpin, who concludes his 13-year term at the end of the month…All of the ceremonies will be webcast live at uvic.ca/convocation…Five honorary degrees (announced earlier) will be conferred…This spring’s graduates join more than 108,000 alumni of UVic.
 

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