Success celebrated at 45th Annual Fall Convocation

News Release Release Date: October 19, 2018 3:10 p.m.

The University of Regina's 45th Annual Fall Convocation recognizes the achievement of 703 graduates who are receiving 718 degrees, diplomas, or certificates.

"Post-secondary education has the power to change lives and to change our society for the better," said University of Regina President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Vianne Timmons. "To watch our students transform throughout their academic journey, and to have the chance to celebrate their achievements with them and their families on Convocation day, is both a privilege and an honour."

Eleven graduates were recognized for outstanding academic achievement, volunteerism, and contributions to building community.

Hien Thanh (Alice) Nguyen
Nguyen is recipient of the University of Regina President's Medal, which is awarded at each convocation to a student receiving a first degree who has shown academic excellence as well as major leadership in, and commitment to, extra-curricular activities. She is graduating today with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, with Great Distinction. Her exceptional grade point average of 92.44% is the highest amongst the members of our graduating class this fall. She is also receiving her Certificate in Economics from the Faculty of Arts at today's convocation with a program grade point average of 92.00%.

Nguyen's many contributions as a volunteer include: developing sustainability projects with Enactus, a student organization that uses business expertise to address social issues; mentoring former members of the armed forces in the Faculty's Based in Business program; helping to develop financial processes for a student club; helping other Vietnamese immigrants with legal, health and work issues; helping to translate a book for a Zen Master; and volunteering as a reporter while on a student exchange in Korea.

Harrison Otis
Otis is the recipient of the President's Distinguished Graduate Student Award, which is awarded to the student deemed to have achieved an exceptional thesis, exhibition, or performance, and corresponding defense, and who had an outstanding academic performance in their graduate program. Leadership and university or community involvement is also considered.

Otis is receiving a Masters of Arts in English. His thesis, titled A Love That Points: The Teleologies of Evelyn Waugh and Iris Murdoch, was highly praised by the External Examiner, Dr. Patrick Query, "on every page of his thesis I felt edified, engaged, respected and led. Otis's supervisor, Dr. Marcel DeCoste noted that "Otis's research embodies what is best about scholarship in the humanities: this work pays close attention to what is occupying the present moment while not neglecting the importance of the past."

Otis also served on the English Students Association and on his own initiated a weekend retreat away from the city in order for students to discuss a variety of books and ideas outside of the classroom.

Other graduates receiving awards are:

  • Samantha Louise Simmons- University Prize in Arts
  • Hien Thanh Nguyen - University Prize in Business Administration
  • Hien Thanh Nguyen - Faculty of Business Administration Dean's Medal
  • Claire Kaila Palmquist McLellan - University Prize in Engineering
  • Claire Kaila Palmquist McLellan - Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science Dean's Medal
  • Branden Duane Daniels - University Prize in Kinesiology and Health Studies
  • Tiffany Jane Powell - Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies Dean's Medal
  • Erin Nicole Gibbs - Faculty of Nursing and School of Nursing Dean's Medal
  • Vanessa Lesley Hanson - Saskatchewan Registered Nurses' Association Gold Medal For Excellence in Clinical Practice
  • Michael William Thatcher - University Prize in Science
  • Carmen Annalena McCrae - Faculty of Social Work Dean's Medal
  • Carmen Annalena McCrae - Faculty of Social Work Dean's Convocation Prize
  • Joy Marie Hiatt - University Prize in Social Work

The University also bestowed honorary degrees upon two deserving recipients:

Dr. Elizabeth Bryce
Bryce receives an Honorary Doctorate of Science for her life-long dedication to medicine and her bold vision for health care.

An alumna of the University of Regina, Bryce graduated from Campion College with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in 1978. She went on to pursue medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and, through a long and distinguished career in medical microbiology and infection prevention, has made significant contributions to the field. She is qualified in medical microbiology and internal medicine and is a clinical professor at UBC.

Bryce was the co-founder of the Vancouver Coastal Health Biological Response Advisory Team whose templates were adopted by Health Canada. She was seconded to the SARS Medical Advisory Committee and later received the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control Award of Excellence for her team's successful efforts to contain SARS in B.C. She was also part of the team that developed Canada's hospital infection prevention response to the H1N1 pandemic.

Bryce served as regional medical director for Infection Control at Vancouver Coastal Health Acute and is the co-director of the Provincial Infection Control Network of B.C. She is the co-lead for the UBC Certificate in Infection Control program and as a volunteer she travels to other countries to help them build safer healthcare environments that minimize the risk of exposure to transmissible diseases.

Dr. Ray Cleveland
Cleveland receives an Honorary Doctorate of Laws for his life-long dedication to education.

Cleveland has worked on several archaeological excavations including a most notable one at Jericho under the leadership of Dame Kathleen Kenyon, one of the most influential archaeologists of the 20th century. He also worked extensively with expedition leader and the founder of the American Foundation for the Study of Man, Wendel Phillips. Cleveland served as a researcher and editor on Phillips' books Oman: A History and Unknown Oman.

Cleveland is an internationally recognized expert on the history of Palestine and continued to publish on the subject long after his retirement. His scholarly writing included book reviews, articles and contributions to numerous books. His books, The Middle East and South Asia, 1967, and later, The Middle East and South Asia 1988, were published in 21 annually revised editions.

Cleveland came to the University of Regina as a faculty member in the mid-60s and, for 27 years, was one of the most respected teachers in the Department of History. He has donated hundreds of scholarly books and journals to the Dr. John Archer Library. He holds an honorary degree (Doctor of Science) from the University of the Pacific and the University of Regina named him Professor Emeritus upon his retirement in the mid-90s. He continues to teach at the University's Lifelong Learning Centre at College Avenue Campus.

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About The University of Regina

The University of Regina-with campuses located on Treaty 4 and Treaty 6 territories, the ancestral lands of the Cree, Saulteaux, Dakota, Lakota and Nakoda nations and the homeland of the Métis-is a comprehensive, mid-sized university that traces its roots back to the creation of Regina College in 1911. Today, more than 15,000 students study within the University's 10 faculties, 25 academic departments/schools, 18 research centres and institutes, and three federated colleges (Campion College, First Nations University of Canada, and Luther College). The University of Regina has an established reputation for excellence and innovative programs that lead to undergraduate, master, and doctoral degrees. In 2017, the University of Regina was ranked in the Top 200 Best Young Universities in the world by Times Higher Education.

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