Registrar Larry Batt (far right) and Assistant Registrar Garry Hansen (far left) lead the Summer Convocation procession through the main gates.

St. Thomas graduated 123 students at the University’s second Summer Convocation ceremony on July 25.

University President and Vice-Chancellor Daniel O’Brien conferred degrees upon 59 Bachelor of Education graduates, 20 Bachelor of Social Work graduates, 42 Bachelor of Arts graduates, one Bachelor of Applied Arts in Gerontology graduate, and one Certificate in Gerontology graduate.

The University recognised two honorary fellows this year. Dennis Cochrane (B.A., B.Ed., M.Ed.), an outstanding advocate of education, served as New Brunswick’s Deputy Minister of Education from 1998-2001. He was recently appointed to the position of Nova Scotia’s Deputy Minister of Education. Described as an ‘educator’s educator,’ Mr. Cochrane has been involved in teaching from the school to the bureaucratic levels. Having worked as a teacher, vice-principal, principal and superintendent, his dedication to the youth of Atlantic Canada is extraordinary.

St. Thomas also acknowledged the contributions of Edmund Stanley Matheson (M.S.W., R.S.W.), a retired social worker who trained and supervised the first psychiatric social workers in mental health clinics in Saint John, Moncton, Fredericton and Edmundston, and Campbellton’s Restigouche Hospital. Mr. Matheson’s background also includes being co-founder of the New Brunswick Association of Social Workers (NBASW) in 1964. He has given over 80 combined years of service to non-profit organisations.

Dr. O’Brien announced medals for the top scholars from the Bachelor of Social Work and Bachelor of Education programmes. Wendy Catherine Mitchell, of Montreal, PQ, won the University Medal for Academic Excellence: Bachelor of Social Work. Danielle Marie Grant, of Meductic, NB, was awarded the University Medal for Academic Excellence: Bachelor of Education.
Graduating students Angela Conrad (BSW) and Noella Donovan (BEd) spoke on behalf of their respective graduating classes.

Dr. William Spray, who was named Professor Emeritus at the University’s Spring Convocation, presented the Convocation address.