More than 2,000 degrees will be awarded at Memorial University’s annual spring convocation at the St. John’s Arts and Culture Centre this week. There will be eight sessions of convocation from May 25-28, 2010, which will be broadcast live via the Internet during each event.
In addition, outstanding individuals from the worlds of business, politics and academia will be awarded honorary degrees during the convocation ceremonies.
The honourees include dancer and choreographer Christopher House; businessman and philanthropist Rex Anthony; Hall-of-Fame hockey player George Faulkner; doctor and Salvation Army officer Dawn Howse; and a leader of the provincial filmmaking community, Paul Pope.
The Princess Royal, the daughter of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree in a special convocation ceremony in St. John’s on April 23. Humanitarian Stephen Lewis was to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree at the Sir Wilfred Grenfell College session of convocation in Corner Brook on May 14 but was absent due to illness. His honorary degree will be conferred in person at a later date.
Honorary degree recipients are chosen from nominations from the public by the Senate, the university's academic governing body, after a careful examination of the grounds for their nomination. The honorary doctorate degree is designed to recognize extraordinary contribution to society or exceptional intellectual or artistic achievement.
The awarding of honorary doctorates, an important feature of Memorial's convocation, serves to celebrate both the individual and the university, as well as to inspire graduates, their families and guests.
Memorial’s President and Vice-Chancellor pro tempore, Dr. Christopher Loomis, will deliver his report to convocation during the 10 a.m. session of convocation on Friday, May 28.
The university is also developing a convocation supplement in collaboration with The Telegram. The May 29 feature — bound to be a popular memento for graduates and their families – will feature the names of the graduates together with stories on the notable achievements of some graduates.
