Nearly 1,700 students are preparing to graduate from Simon Fraser University this week during Fall Convocation, which will see honorary degrees conferred on four distinguished individuals in recognition of their accomplishments, including:
• Stan Douglas, one of Canada's most acclaimed contemporary artists- Thursday Oct. 5 morning, 9:45 am ceremony
• Esther Duflo, one of the world's most highly accomplished economists-and the youngest recipient of the Nobel Prize for Economics- Thursday Oct. 5 afternoon, 2:30 pm ceremony
• Phyllis Webstad, founder of Orange Shirt Day, who is Northern Secwépemc (Shuswap) from the Stswecem'c Xget'tem First Nation, and who has tirelessly shared her personal story over the past decade to raise awareness of the residential school system-Friday Oct. 6 morning, 9:45 am ceremony
• Elder Larry Grant (sʔəyəɬəq | 洪禮興), a widely-respected educator and community leader who has played a major role in revitalizing Musqueam language, culture and presence throughout Metro Vancouver-Friday Oct. 6 afternoon, 2:30 pm ceremony
Graduating students include SFU's resident 'spiderman' Andreas Fischer, who'll receive both a master's degree and PhD in science after years of studying how spiders communicate-in a lab housing more than 4,000 spiders. Fischer is currently in Germany;
Twins Basil and Joanna Giannopoulos both receive engineering degrees after sharing the same academic path with the goal of graduating together, on Thursday morning;
Tlingit Elder Bessie Cooley has earned an MA in Indigenous Languages & Linguistics for her work documenting and preserving the northern Tlingit language. Cooley will attend her convocation ceremony on Thursday afternoon.
Faculty ceremonies are as follows:
• Thursday 9:45 am: Faculty of Applied Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, Faculty of Communication, Art and Technology
• Thursday 2:30 pm: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
• Friday 9:45 am: Beedie School of Business, Faculty of Science
• Friday 2:30 pm: Faculty of Environment, Faculty of Education
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES
Following the procession of graduands across the AQ pond into Convocation Mall, ceremonies begin with speeches from Chancellor Tamara Vrooman and SFU President Joy Johnson.
The honorary degree is then conferred (about 20 minutes into the ceremony) followed by the recipient's speech. After a class valedictorian address, the formal procession of graduands across the stage follows.
