Ongoing convocation ceremonies celebrate student success
Tamara Khandaker
Contributor
Loud cheers erupted at the Rexall Center Tuesday morning as the second group of students from the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies were proudly declared York University graduates.
In separate ceremonies on June 10 and and the week of June 13 to 17, students of several disciplines and many faculties are also being honored for completing another milestone of their academic journey.
Chancellor R. Roy McMurtry began the ceremonies with a congratulatory speech. York President Mamdouh Shoukri wished the graduating class well and encouraged the graduates to use the skills and knowledge they gained at York for the betterment of the country.
But students weren’t the only ones being honoured this afternoon. A teary-eyed Dr. Eva Karpinski was awarded the President’s University-Wide Teaching Award as her former students voiced their praise.
The university also presented CBC News Chief Correspondent Peter Mansbridge with an honorary doctorate degree. In a lighthearted address to the graduates, he congratulated the class on obtaining their degrees the “hard way.”
Mansbridge also mentioned Twitter, launching a discussion about what he believed were the greatest challenges for the next generation.
“Twitter, Facebook, and all other forms of social media have all made the world move incredibly fast,” he said. “No generation has an easy path to success.”
“You’ll have to be smarter than any generation has ever been,” he advised. “You’ll have to be more flexible, learning every day just to keep up with the advancements in your field.”
The atmosphere was one of pride and joy. The graduates exited the Convocation Pavillion and were showered with hugs, kisses, and flowers. While many were relieved to be finished, others were cautiously optimistic about what the future holds.
Trish Roman, who graduated with a BA in International Development Studies, plans to work for a few years before going back to school for a Masters and has concerns about entering the job market during a recession.
“It’s difficult because I was recently employed, but the job is not in my field at all,” She said, although she remains positive that, with more experience, she will be able to obtain a position closer to her field of study.
Susan Gowri Rajendran, an MA graduate in humanities, is not as concerned. “I’m confident because I’m educated,” she said. “I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.”
She plans to work in the coming year, and to eventually complete a PhD in English literature.
Ceremonies will continue throughout the week at the Rexall Centre.
Live and archived webcasts of the ceremonies can be viewed at
http://www.yorku.ca/mygrad/archives/webcasts
