Waterloo turns it up to nearly 6,000 degrees

A total of 4,878 undergraduate and 974 graduate students will receive degrees at Waterloo's 108th convocation, taking place June 10 through June 14. Over the next five days, the graduating classes across all six faculties will receive their degrees, both undergraduate and graduate.

A number of honorary doctorates will be handed out this week, including one given to retired astronaut and Adjunct Professor Chris Hadfield, who receives an honorary doctor of science from the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences (AHS) today at 10:00 a.m. (more on that below).

All of the convocation ceremonies take place in the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) on the Waterloo campus. Receptions will follow in the Great Hall of the Student Life Centre after each ceremony.

For the list of all honorary doctorate recipients and ceremony times, please consult the news release.

 

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AHS, Environment ceremonies today

The pomp and circumstance begins at 10:00 a.m. with the Applied Health Sciences ceremony. 369 students will receive their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Retired astronaut and Professor Chris Hadfield will receive the first honorary degree of Convocation, a Doctor of Science. Colonel Hadfield is a graduate of Royal Military College where he earned his degree in mechanical engineering, after which he undertook post-graduate research at the University of Waterloo and then earned a master’s degree in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee. He served for 25 years as an air force pilot and in 1992 he launched his impressive career as an astronaut; today he is recognized worldwide as a respected leader in space exploration. His tremendous achievements as an astronaut are highlighted by three space flights, two space walks, and the distinction of being the first Canadian to serve as Commander of the International Space Station. Hadfield will address Convocation after receiving his degree.

Gregory D. Mittler will deliver the valedictory address.

Professor Stuart McGill will be recognized with the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

Ian Curtis Smith is the recipient of the 2014 Governor General’s Gold Medal for Highest Standing in a PhD program at the University of Waterloo. There is only one such award given each year.

Ami Richter will receive the Applied Health Science Alumni Achievement Award.

Farhan Asrar will receive the Applied Health Sciences Young Alumni Award.

Maja Vermeulen will receive the Alumni Gold Medal.

Departmental Awards for Distinguished Academic Achievement recipients include:

• Erica Anders, School of Public Health and Health Systems
• Samantha Anders, School of Public Health and Health Systems
• Maja Vermeulen, Kinesiology
• Sara Anne Ralph-Bollenbach, Recreation and Leisure Studies

A graduate student involved in space-flight research that includes data collection and analysis with Professor Chris Hadfield will receive a master of science in kinesiology at the AHS ceremony. Katelyn Fraser has worked in Professor Richard Hughson's lab for five years, beginning as a co-op student. Fraser will receive the "Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies" award.

Roy Cameron will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Professor Cameron is executive director of Homewood Research Institute. In his previous roles as executive director of the Propel Centre for Population Health Impact and the Centre for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluation at the University of Waterloo, he played a key role in designing and developing world-class research centres. As a leader in building population health intervention research capacity through transdisciplinary models in Canada, he has reshaped the field of cancer research worldwide and his work has enhanced policies and programs that have improved the quality of life for those touched by cancer.

This afternoon, 624 Environment students will receive their degrees, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

Vukan R. Vuchic will receive an honorary Doctor of Environmental Studies. Professor Vuchic was born in Serbia in 1935. He completed his undergraduate degree in transportation engineering at the University of Belgrade in 1960, and in the same year moved to Hamburg, Germany, where he worked for the transit agency. In 1961, he immigrated to the United States and studied at the University of California, Berkeley, where he obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees. From 1967 to 2010, Professor Vuchic conducted research and taught at the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the UPS Foundation Professor of Transportation Engineering and where he made seminal contributions in the field of urban transportation. Professor Vuchic will address convocation.

Jillian Osterman will deliver the valedictory address.

Professors Jean Andrey and Jennifer Clapp will be awarded for Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

Receiving the Alumni Gold Medal in recognition of academic achievement will be Dilys Huang.

Departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement recipients include:

• Soojin Kim, Environment and Business
• Natalie Ognibene, Environment and Resource Studies
• Jamie Ingall, Geography and Aviation
• Amelia Snow, Geography and Environmental Management
• Zidong Zhang, Geomatics
• Danielle Laperriere, International Development
• Cynthia McLauchlan, Knowledge Integration
• Dilys Huang, Planning.

Receiving the Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Studies at the Master's level is Zzahra Jaffer, and at the PhD level is Joshua King.

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Sociologist honoured with award, other notes

Associate Professor Martin Cooke has received the Angus Reid Practitioners/Applied Sociology Award issued by the Canadian Sociology Association.

The award "has been created to recognize sociologists who undertake community action projects that bring social science knowledge, methods, and expertise to bear in addressing community-identified issues and concerns" and "celebrates a Sociologists’ contribution to sociological practice that has served as a model for working with a community, organization or public service."

Cooke works with both the Department of Sociology and Legal Studies and the
School of Public Health and Health Systems.

There's still time to RSVP for the thank-you reception for Geoff McBoyle on Wednesday, June 18. McBoyle's 45-year career at the University of Waterloo has included stints as Chair of the geography department from 1975 to 1978, Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies) in the Faculty of Environmental Studies (now known as the Faculty of Environment) from 1985 to 1992 and again from 1994 to 1995, and Dean of Environment from 1997 to 2004. In 2007 he was named the University's Associate Vice-President, Academic. Though he retired officially in 2008, he continued to serve as associate vice-president until 2013. Most recently, he took on the role of Vice-President, Academic and Provost, first in October 2010 to April 2012, and then from January 2013 to the present. He will remain in the position until June 30.

The thank-you reception will take place from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 18 in Village 1's Great Hall. Remarks will begin at 4:30 p.m.

 

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