Hard work pays off for 2,600 graduates
By Sushank Saha
Lance Writer
June 3, 2009
 For three days this semester, UWindsor will partially shed its diverse appearances, as the St. Denis Center will be serenaded by students attired in flowing black gowns and elegant hoods, indistinguishable in their hopes and dreams, and even fears.
From the June 17-19, upwards of 2,600 students, the first of the graduating class of 2009, will be returning back to campus to receive their degrees and diplomas, in essence, formalizing and recognizing the years of hard work that they have put in.
The 2009 spring convocation will be quite a traditional affair with the Chancellor and the Vice-chancellor greeting the graduates on stage and conducting additional hooding of PhD. students in honour of their educational achievement.
This will also be the first time in 10 years that a new president will be handing the degrees to the graduating students.
With regards to the ceremony, University of Windsor president, Dr. Alan Wildeman reflects on how meaningful his own graduation was.
“Graduation is a very exciting time. I remember my own graduation when I could barely contain myself with excitement and as president it is such a proud moment for me to see my students on the road to success. For the university too it is an honour to be able to serve the students,” he said.
Gregory J. Marcotte, Director of Registrarial Services and in charge of the convocation ceremony is also quite excited at the prospect of the university hosting more than 15,000 people over the course of the three days.
“The convocation ceremony is a very important event for the university and requires four months of coordinated effort from different departments. All of the members of the convocation committee, the staff here at the registrar’s office, other university staff members and the volunteers have worked very hard to organize this event and I hope the students and parents thoroughly enjoy the event.”
Marcotte, who is also the member of an Inter-university convocation committee indicated that the university has one of the lowest expenditures in comparison to other universities while providing the same professionalism and level of service. Arrangements have also been made for the presence of disinfectants throughout the facility in view of the swine flu epidemic.
For students whose families are unable to make it to Windsor for their graduation, a live Webcast has also been arranged and videos can be ordered from the university.
As is customary, Honorary Doctorate of Law degrees will also be conferred onto learned individuals who have served to be role models in society. The 2009 recipients list is as follows; Christopher Paul Curtis, Jeffrey Carl Simpson, Purdy Crawford, Janet M. Davidson and William Lawrence Twining.
Curtis, born and raised in Flint, Michigan and a resident of Windsor is an award-winning author of childrens’ literature. His books often contain references to local history.
Simpson is an influential Canadian journalist and has been the national affairs columnist for the Globe and Mail since 1984.
Davidson, graduate of the University of Windsor Nursing program is currently the COO of the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, Canada’s largest regional health system and has formerly served a term as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for the province of Alberta.
Twining, Emeritus Quain Professor of Jurisprudence at University College London and visiting professor of Law at Miami University School of Law and is a leading British legal scholar.
For more information visit http://uwindsor.ca/convocation.
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