It’s that special time in the annual cycle of York University. Starting last Friday, more than 6,000 undergraduate and graduate students began crossing the convocation stage to shake a gauntlet of hands and prepare to receive their diplomas. As ever, families of graduands are being encouraged to cheer and clap as their loved one takes the stage.
Eleven exceptional figures, from CBC TV News anchor Peter Mansbridge to York geography Professor Emeritus John Warkentin, are receiving honorary degrees (see YFile, June 8). Their words, along with those of Chancellor Roy McMurtry and President & Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri, should provide important life lessons and advice to each graduating class.
This year, as part of the spring ceremonies, a new pre-event show highlights York University’s pride in the many achievements of the class of 2011. There are 13 cermonies in all, 12 at the Centre for Excellence at the Rexall Centre on the Keele campus and a final one at Glendon next Saturday. Many of the University’s faculty and staff attend the ceremonies, which are staffed by some 70-80 paid student employees and 40 York volunteers.