The Daily Bulletin is published by Internal and Leadership Communications, part of University Communications
Contact us at bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Submission guidelines
Convocation brings the heat with 5,784 degrees
A total of 5,784 students—4,818 undergraduate and 966 graduate —will receive their degrees this week at Waterloo's 114th convocation, taking place from June 13 through to June 17. Over the next five days, the graduating classes across all six faculties will cross the stage.
Among the many awards and honours handed out include honorary doctorates, distinguished teaching awards, awards for excellence in graduate supervision, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University Professor and Honorary Member of the University designations, and alumni medals.
All of the convocation ceremonies take place in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) on the Waterloo campus. The Convocation web pages in the Registrar’s Office website have been updated to include the 2017 Honorary and Award Recipients and the 2017 Valedictorians for this week's convocation ceremonies.
Processional music will be provided by The Convocation Winds under the direction of Harry Currie.
Receptions will follow in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre after each ceremony.
The Convocation ceremonies will be livestreamed.
Convocation begins with Applied Health Sciences
Convocation gets started at 10:00 a.m. this morning with the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences. Follow along on the livestream.
398 undergraduates, 51 Master's and 9 PhDs will cross the stage today.
Bearing the Mace will be Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies Leeann Ferries. The national anthem will be sung by Julie-Anne Desrochers.
Laurie Hoffman-Goetz will be named Distinguished Professor Emerita. Hoffman-Goetz earned her PhD from the University of Michigan in 1979, and joined the University of Waterloo in 1980. In 1997 she received a Master of Public Health degree from George Washington University. She has built a program of research that is broad, original, and highly influential, covering areas including the study of stress, exercise, and immune function as well as health communication and health literacy. She is renowned as a dedicated teacher and mentor of graduate students, receiving the select Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision from the University of Waterloo in 2015.
John William Frank will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws and address Convocation. Frank is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he earned his BSc (1971) in biological and medical sciences, and MD (1974) in medicine and community health. He was awarded an MSc degree in community health in developing countries from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (1981). Currently Dr. Frank is Director of the Scottish Collaboration for Public Health Research and Policy. Having dedicated his professional life to advancing public health research in Canada as well as globally, he has been recipient of numerous awards including the Canadian Public Health Association’s Honorary Life Membership in 2005, and a Fellowship in the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Clare Cummins will deliver the valedictory address.
Bill McIlroy will receive the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision. Professor McIlroy exemplifies excellence in graduate supervision through his extraordinary capacity to recognize talent and potential in trainees, foster their development, and provide ongoing support throughout their careers. He questions and challenges, while also supporting and inspiring, within a clear framework of mutual expectations and accountabilities. His ‘student’s first’ attitude is not a cliché, but is the priority around which he organizes his time and effort.
While fostering an environment in which trainees develop effective communication skills and establish strong scholarly track records, Professor McIlroy also inspires a spirit of entrepreneurship, innovative thinking and collaboration by removing limitations in thinking and problem‐solving. He instills in his trainees that the goal of scientific research is not to earn a degree or a publication, but to advance our knowledge of science to promote health and well‐being and to transform lives.
McIlroy tailors his approach to each student as an individual with different needs, strengths, and areas for development. He is regarded by his students as both a master mentor and career path navigator. His previous trainees attest to the value of his ongoing mentorship, and pay him the ultimate compliment that a supervisor could receive – emulating his approach with their own students. The impressive cadre of successful researchers, clinicians and other professionals that McIlroy has trained are a vibrant testament to his legacy of excellence in graduate supervision.
Shelley Ann Martin will receive the Applied Health Sciences Young Alumni Award.
Syed Mahamad will receive the Alumni Gold Medal.
Receiving departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement will be:
- Kinesiology — Emma Lin Heimbecker
- Public Health and Health Systems — Syed Mahamad
- Recreation and Leisure Studies — Natalie Anne Verschueren
The Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies award at the Master's level will be granted to Kristen Marie Boonstra and the Doctoral-level award will go to Thomas Beltrame.
Faculty of Environment ceremony takes place this afternoon
At 2:30 p.m., graduates from the Faculty of Environment will receive their degrees. 477 undergraduates, 78 Master's and 18 PhD students will cross the stage. Bearing the mace will be Jennifer Clapp, Professor, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability. Michael Klein will sing the national anthem. Follow along online.
Pat Mooney will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws and address Convocation. Mooney is co-founder and executive director of the ETC Group, an international civil society organization that works to address the socioeconomic and ecological issues surrounding new technologies that could have an impact on the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people. Over a fifty year career, he has championed the protection of plant genetic diversity and the livelihoods of small-scale farmers around the world. He has received many awards, including The Right Livelihood Award that honours those offering visionary and exemplary solutions to the root causes of global problems, and the Pearson Peace Medal from the United Nations Association of Canada.
Brandon Gaffoor will deliver the valedictory address.
Emma Fisher-Cobb will receive the Alumni Gold Medal.
Departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement will go to:
- Environment, Resources and Sustainability — Sara Ann Ganowski
- Environment and Business — Emma Fisher-Cobb
- Geomatics — Jack Jia Run Su
- Geography and Aviation — Eric Cheng
- Geography and Management Studies — Samantha Maria St. Amour-Gomes
- International Development — Alana Danielle Meier
- Knowledge Integration — Jillian Renee Anderson
- Planning — Michael Allen Wideman
Receiving Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies Awards at the Master's level will be William Towns, and at the Doctoral level, Jeremy Pittman.
Tuesday's notes
The School of Planning’s Undergraduate Advisor Linda Youngblut is retiring after 39 years of dedicated service to the School and the University of Waterloo. A retirement celebration will be held at School of Planning’s Patio (EV3 3rd Floor) on Thursday, June 22, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. To RSVP, contact Taylor Ertel by sending an email to t3ertel@uwaterloo.ca.
The Faculty of Engineering is presenting a Distinguished Lecture Series event featuring Professor Chunli Bai, president of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China, on Saturday, June 17 entitled "Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in China: From Fundamental Research to Applications." Professor Bai will be receiving an honorary degree on Saturday, and will provide an overview of nanoscience and technology development in China, including the national strategy, funding resources and most recent research achievements across the nano R&D spectrum, from fundamental research to applications. Professor Bai will also present the challenges ahead and the future planning of China and CAS in the area of nano science and technology.
The free public lecture takes place at 3:00 p.m. in QNC 0101.