UNBC welcomes back classes of 2020 and 2021 for the in-person convocation they missed - Action News
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British Columbia

UNBC welcomes back classes of 2020 and 2021 for the in-person convocation they missed

On Friday afternoon, hundreds of University of Northern British Columbia students who graduated in 2020 and 2021 will be able to attend the in-person make-up ceremony they missed due to the pandemic.

University graduates over the last 2 years attended virtual ceremonies due to COVID restrictions

UNBC class of 2022 attends an in-person graduation ceremony in May. On Friday, the university will organize an in-person make-up ceremony for the classes of 2020 and 2021. (University of Northern British Columbia)

Holly McVea graduated with a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George last year, but under COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings, she hadtocelebrate her graduation virtually.

OnFriday afternoon, McVea will deliver her valedictorian speech again at anin-person make-up convocation specifically for UNBC students who graduated over the last two years and had to attendtheir ceremonies online.

"When I turned on the [virtual] convocation, I was sitting alone in my basement suite, and I turned on YouTube," she said to Bill Fee, the guest host ofCBC's Daybreak North.

"But of course, it's still a little disappointing not to be able to have that in-person celebration."

Universities resume in-person graduation ceremonies

After a two-year pandemic-driven hiatus, higher institutions across Canada are resuming in-person convocations, with the class of 2022 being the first batch of graduates able to attend their big day in person and have their photos taken with family and friends.

TheUniversity of British Columbia (UBC) is also arrangingin-person make-up ceremonies next month foralumni who graduated over the last two years at both its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

McVea says the graduates of the last two years deserve the pageantry, handshaking and in-person reception of theirdiplomas, particularly in light of what they weathered during the pandemic.

"No undergrad degree is easy, and being able to do that during a global pandemic is an even greater achievement.

"There's so much isolation; you're not used to the same community, resources and study groups. Because we were able to go through such adversity, it's really important to be able to celebrate in person and finally see that moment."

UNBC's class of 2021 valedictorian Holly McVea says graduates who endured adversity during the pandemic deserve an in-person convocation. (University of Northern British Columbia)

Ella Thomason, who graduated with a bachelor of commerce degree from UNBC last year, agrees and says she's excited to physically meet her classmates many of whom she has only met in online classes and to receive the certificate by hand.

"Definitely, when we graduated, it felt a bit lacklustre we didn't really feel like we had graduated," she said. "This is a really good opportunity for closure because I feel like I'm actually taking that stuff and actually moving on to the next stage."

Ella Thomason, who graduated from UNBC with a bachelor of commerce degree last year, says it doesn't feel like graduation without the convocation. (University of Northern British Columbia)

Meanwhile, McVea is pursuing a master's degree in biology and says the experience of the pandemic helpedprepare her for the bigger challenges of an advanced-level academic program.

"Going through COVID and being self-paced absolutely gave me a little bit more sense of structure and a little bit more of an enhanced skill set to do independent study."


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With files from Daybreak North