Athabasca University Convocation 2022 Program

JUNE 17, 2022

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Land Acknowledgement Athabasca University respectfully acknowledges that we live and work on the Traditional Lands of the Indigenous Peoples (Inuit, First Nations, Métis) of Canada. We honour the ancestry, heritage, and gifts of the Indigenous Peoples and give thanks to them.

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National Anthem O CANADA

Ô CANADA

O Canada! Our home and native land!

FRENCH VERSION

True patriot love in all of us command.

Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

The True North strong and free!

Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,

From far and wide,

Il sait porter la croix!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Ton histoire est une épopée

God keep our land, glorious and free!

Des plus brillants exploits.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

KAKANATAHK

O CANADA

CREE VERSION

TRANSLATION OF CREE VERSION

Kakanatahk nitih’tawinan

Very clean, something our father gave to us.

Nisakihtanan Niwiyasowatenan

We love the law of the land

Wasetehihk tapwewinihk

From the heart is the truth

Kiwetin ehpicahk

The north is far

Nikweyac’kapawin

We all stand on guard

Kakanatahk

Very clean

Nikweyac’kapawinan

We all stand on guard

Kise Manito sawey’minan

Creator bless us

Ka kanatahk nikweyac’ kapawinan

Very clean, I stand on guard

Ka kanatahk nikweyac’ kapawinan

Very clean, I stand on guard Translation by Linda Krupnik-Houle, Saddle Lake Cree Nation

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Message from the President DR. PETER SCOTT I am so pleased to welcome you, your family, and friends to Athabasca University’s Convocation 2022, a wonderful event that celebrates an exciting milestone in your life.

Thank you for joining us for this virtual celebration, which allows so many of our graduands and their friends and loved ones to participate in convocation, wherever they may be across Canada and around the world.

Today is about you and your accomplishments. Balancing work, family commitments, and the rest of life’s challenges can be difficult, we know.

Your perseverance and hard work in getting to this place today deserves to be recognized and applauded.

I know you will put your AU education to good use, transforming your own lives and communities for the better. As a graduate, you will use your new knowledge and skills to advocate for others, and to champion equity and inclusion for all.

On behalf of the entire AU community, I want to congratulate you on this remarkable achievement and wish you every happiness and success in the future.

All the best, Dr. Peter Scott President, Athabasca University

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Message from the Board Chair BYRON NELSON On behalf of the Athabasca University Board of Governors, welcome to Convocation 2022!

Today, you join our community of AU alumni—a network of thousands of proud graduates living across Canada and around the world. I know you will continue to model our university’s values of integrity, community, adaptability, respect, and excellence in your personal and professional lives. You are a proud example of the rewards that come from hard work, determination, and commitment.

We are incredibly proud of your accomplishments, and wish you every success in the future. I look forward to connecting with you at future alumni events.

Congratulations!

Bryon Nelson, BA, LL.B. (Hons) Board Chair

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Ceremony Program Opening Procession O Canada Welcome Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Master of Ceremonies) Offering Dr. Peter Scott, President Opening Prayer Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence Chair’s Remarks Byron Nelson, Board Chair President’s Remarks Dr. Peter Scott, President The Petition Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic Invitation to Pledge Dr. Peter Scott, President The Pledge Chris Edwards, President, Athabasca University Graduate Student’s Association Karen Fletcher, President, Athabasca University Students’ Union Dr. Deborah Dell, Governor General’s Gold Medal Recipient Danica McKinnon, Governor General’s Silver Medal Recipient The Admission Byron Nelson, Board Chair

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CEREMONY ONE

CEREMONY TWO

Presentation of Degrees

Presentation of Degrees

Faculty of Health Disciplines

Faculty of Business

Entertainment Break Sarah Kowalevsky and Josh Mellot

Presentation of Governor General’s Silver Medal Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic

Honorary Degree Presentations Honorary Doctor of Laws Introduction – Dr. Frits Pannekoek, Professor of History Recipient – Roy Weasel Fat Faculty of Science and Technology Ribbon Story Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence Closing

Governor General’s Silver Medal Recipient Address to the Graduates Danica McKinnon, Bachelor of Management with Great Distinction Entertainment Break Sarah Kowalevsky and Josh Mellot Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Presentation of Governor General’s Gold Medal Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic Governor General’s Gold Medal Recipient Address to the Graduates Dr. Deborah Dell, Doctor of Education in Distance Education Ribbon Story Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence Closing

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Governor General’s Gold and Silver Medals The Governor General’s Academic Medals were created in 1873 by Lord Dufferin, Canada’s third Governor General, to commemorate outstanding academic achievement on a national scale. The medals are awarded on an annual basis to scholars who are enrolled in approved programs from Canadian universities and colleges, as well as high school students.

Students who achieve the highest average are eligible to be recognized with a Governor General’s medal.

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2022 Gold Medal Recipient DR. DEBORAH DELL, Doctor of Education in Distance Education Deborah is a lifelong learner with a strong belief in technology-enabled learning and contemplative collaborative constructivist pedagogies. Prior to the doctorate at AU, Deborah completed both a master’s in counselling psychology and a master’s in adult education. She has an extensive career in health leadership, primarily in addictions and mental health. Her focus on holistic health programming serendipitously led to a later focus on workforce learning and training initiatives. She has written or led the development of numerous training courses, both in person and online. Each course or project has a specific focus on strength-based interventions, resiliency theory, and emotionally intelligent pedagogy. She completed a Delphi study on emotional presence in a community of inquiry for her dissertation.

In the future, she intends to combine the past practitioner knowledge with a continued research agenda that investigates the purposeful management and regulation of emotions in community-based learning design.

Deborah has invested in various volunteer efforts throughout her life, including developing learning programs for service dog certification for veterans and first responders living with PTSD. She was a long-time foster care and hockey billet provider. She has served on volunteer boards of national treatment efforts, national accreditation organizations, journal and conference review panels, federal government-led think tanks, and school councils.

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2022 Silver Medal Recipient DANICA MCKINNON, Bachelor of Management with Great Distinction Danica McKinnon grew up in British Columbia and Alberta. She stepped away from post-secondary education after finishing her first year at the University of Alberta to figure out what she really wanted to do in life. She spent several years volunteering and working full-time for a non-profit missionary organization. Her passion for travel and different cultures led her to move to Ireland for a few years and pursue her dreams of backpacking solo around Europe.

These life experiences proved invaluable, and ultimately led to a deep passion for excellent leadership, organizational culture, and impactful change in business.

Danica has now completed her Bachelor of Management degree, which has allowed her to land her dream job in management consulting.

Danica is a self-proclaimed coffee snob, wannabe wine connoisseur, and travel lover. She lives in Ottawa, Ontario with her husband, Matthew, and they are expecting their first baby in August.

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Convocation Scholarships 2022 These scholarships are awarded annually to the graduating students with the highest grade point average in a specific number of Athabasca University credits from each degree, diploma, or certificate designation.

DOCTORATE SCHOLARSHIPS Doctor of Education in Distance Education Deborah Dell Mae Doran Doctor of Business Administration David Markwell MASTER SCHOLARSHIPS Master of Business Administration Erika Brenna Chomiak Chelsey Goossens Master of Education Kimberly Hawley Faith Wierenga Master of Health Studies Gordie Tse Master of Arts Evan Supple

GRADUATE CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA SCHOLARSHIPS Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics Fahad Alshehab Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Management Abeba Yitbarek Graduate Certificate in Technology Based Learning Brandy MacLean Carlene Schneider Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design Alicia Sloan Kenton Kaupp Graduate Certificate in Information Security Iain Holness

Master of Nursing Natalie Thiessen

Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resource Management Leanne Tremblay

Master of Science Trevor Fuson

Graduate Diploma in Architecture Isabelle Nault

Master of Counselling Shelbi Snodgrass

Graduate Diploma in Counselling Charli Miller 11

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Convocation Scholarships 2022 Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology Talisa Chelick Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design Desiree Belter Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting Paula Craig

Bachelor of Management Danica McKinnon Bachelor of Professional Arts Erika Sigl Bachelor of Health Administration Danielle Meerveld

Graduate Diploma in Management Mei Sheung Liu

Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations Maria Aguirre Macias

Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management Christopher Hastie

UNIVERSITY DIPLOMAS

Post Master’s Diploma Nurse Practitioner Jana Lok BACHELOR SCHOLARSHIPS Bachelor of Arts Kathleen Stahler Bachelor of General Studies Yuan Chen Bachelor of Nursing Kimberly Enns Bachelor of Science Jesse Howard

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Bachelor of Commerce Ashly Tchir

University Diploma in Arts Christine Hofmeier UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATES Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Inclusive Education Maureen Borges University Certificate in Accounting Rebecca Fersovitch University Certificate in Advanced Accounting Scott Binder University Certificate in Computing and Information Systems Ryan Latawiec

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University Certificate in Computers and Management Informations Systems Manisha Thakur University Certificate in Counselling Women Krysta Aronson University Certificate in e-Commerce Andrea Landega University Certificate in French Language Proficiency Tera Capps University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations Florene Ypma University Certificate in Management Applications Adrian Schuldhaus University Certificate in Management Foundations Marcus Critch University Certificate in Public Administration Jordan Flemming University Certificate in Heritage Resource Management Courtney King

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Honorary Doctor of Laws ROY WEASEL FAT An honorary Doctor of Laws will be conferred on Roy Weasel Fat in recognition of his leadership and dedication to developing post-secondary education grounded in Traditional Indigenous Knowledge.

Weasel Fat is currently the president of Red Crow Community College, located on Blood Tribe territory in Stand Off, Alta. In various roles with the college dating back to 1994, he has been instrumental in promoting the role of Traditional Blackfoot Knowledge in education for Blackfoot learners.

This work builds on Weasel Fat’s own early experiences with education.

He learned the Blackfoot language before he learned English, and recalls his grandmother sharing Traditional Knowledge through stories. But his experience in settler-run schools was one in which he felt Blackfoot Knowledge and culture was ignored.

“There was really nothing in the curriculum that taught about Indigenous People. It was always studying other cultures, rather than our own culture,” he said. “So that’s what Indigenous education is about. It’s to reclaim our identity as Blackfoot People and learning our language, so we can make better sense of our Blackfoot culture and identity.”

His work as Red Crow Community College president has included tireless efforts to secure funding to develop a new campus. When it opens in fall 2022, there will be room for up to 900 learners to get post-secondary education that’s rooted in Blackfoot culture.

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University Mace Created by Brian Clark, the University Mace is symbolic of the traditional talking stick commonly used by many Indigenous Peoples to express authority and power of the group.

The component parts of the mace were selected based on the artist’s perception of the wildlife that Indigenous Peoples in Alberta regard as being the most powerful and worthy of respect.

• The base is moose horn, chosen because of the way the moose feeds low for strength yet stands tall and strong in its domain.

• The shaft is pine and fir, fully twisted, challenging all directions at once.

• The bear claws reflect the balance of power by the strongest in nature.

• The bear teeth represent wisdom and solidarity.

• The arrowhead represents firmness and counsel.

• The stone eagle’s head represents guidance and spirit.

• The eagle and raven feathers represent mobility and wariness.

• The beads represent the human element, so lightly attached to nature.

The mace was donated to Athabasca University by Richard and Carol Aberg in June 1996.

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Academic Regalia Formal academic dress dates from medieval times and consists of a robe, a hood, and sometimes a distinctive hat.

The hood, once worn to protect the scholar’s head and shoulders in inclement weather, now is worn down the back and is kept in place by a neckband that rests on the shoulders. The type of degree an AU graduate holds is indicated by the colour of the lining or trim on their hood. As part of the official regalia, AU graduands also don a black cap and tassel. Graduands from certificate or diploma programs wear a standard plain black graduation gown with a black cap and tassel.

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Commerce

FUCHSIA

BURGUNDY

Bachelor of General Studies

Bachelor of Health Administration

GREEN

GREEN

Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations TAUPE

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Bachelor of Management

Bachelor of Nursing

TAUPE

LIGHT BLUE

Bachelor of Professional Arts RED

Bachelor of Science GOLD/ YELLOW

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MASTER’S DEGREES

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

Master of Business Administration

WHITE

ROYAL BLUE

Master of Counselling SMOKE BLUE

Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education

Master of Health Studies PEACH/ SALMON

ROYAL BLUE/ GREEN

DOCTORATES Doctoral gowns are black Cambridge style gowns, accented with the three colours Master of Nursing

Master of Science in Information Systems

LIGHT BLUE

GOLD/YELLOW

of AU’s Coat of Arms. The full sleeves terminate in a point and are turned back to the elbow to reveal the blue lining of the bell.

The hoods, in the Oxford pattern, are spruce green, lined in a rich blue and have a 3 inch yellow border. Standard black Tudor hats are worn straight above the brow.

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Coat of Arms On August 15, 2011, Athabasca University received official armorial bearings from the Canadian Heraldic Authority. The main elements on the coat of arms include:

SHIELD

MOTTO

AU’s founding colours were blue and

AU’s motto, Learning for Life, is

green. The central white sections,

displayed beneath the shield in the

known as a Canadian pale, is taken

compartment section of the coat of

from the Canadian flag and here

arms, surrounded by poplar leaves,

represents an open gate, symbolizing

another central Alberta regional

AU’s commitment to accessibility

reference.

in education. The green triangle represents a spruce tree (and by association, central and northern Alberta), the letter “A,” and the idea of striving upward.

The supporters on either side of the shield are depicted as eagles or hawks, which are also represented in the AU mace. Eagles symbolize strength

CREST

and prowess and are known for their

The bear is both courageous and

wisdom. Taken as a whole, the coat

nurturing and is a significant spirit

of arms represents AU on several

helper in Woodland Cree culture. It

levels, referencing its central/northern

represents the West as well as wisdom

Alberta location and reflecting its

and knowledge. The bear is holding

strength, openness, tradition,

the AU mace, which symbolizes the

history, and wisdom.

authority of the university.

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SUPPORTERS

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The Ribbons The four colours of these ribbons—white, yellow, rose, and blue/black—represent the four seasons, the four parts of our being (spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional), the four hills of life, and the four directions.

This gift of ribbons is given to you, the graduate, as we honour and pay respect to the hard work you have put into your education.

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Elder in Residence, Maria Campbell, as part of her teachings, uses the following colours to represent these elements: White is for the North,

Blue or Black is for the West,

the season of Winter, old age, and the

the season of Autumn, mature

White Bear. It is a time of achievement,

adulthood, and the Black Bear. It is

knowledge, and understanding.

a time for reflection, dreaming,

Rose is for the East,

prayers, and harvest.

the season of Spring, babies and

Bears are protectors of family and

children, and the place of Red Bear. It

community and they are the medicine

is the time for new life and where we

keepers. As we travel through each

envision and plan for our future.

direction, we honour and respect all of

Yellow is for the South, the season of Summer, adolescence, and young adulthood. The place of the Yellow Bear and a time of growth and hard work.

wahkohtowin, the Cree law governing relationships to all things in our world— to the living and dead, animate and inanimate, spiritual, and physical beings.

As part of Athabasca University’s conciliation efforts with Indigenous Peoples, a gift of ribbons is being presented to you as a graduate of Athabasca University.

Historically, different coloured sticks were used as offerings in ceremonies but those were eventually replaced by cloth and ribbons. Our Elder in Residence, Maria Campbell, uses ribbons as offerings as part of this convocation ceremony.

With these ribbons, we honour your path to knowledge and the hard work you’ve done. We wish for you a balanced life in all of your being—spiritual, mental, physical, and emotional—on your path towards miyo-pimatisiwin, the good life.

Our best wishes on your journey.

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Welcome to the Athabasca University alumni family You did it!

As you continue to grow and move through your career and life, you remain a part of our AU family as a member of our alumni community.

You join a global network of innovators, leaders, advocates, changemakers, and community builders to shape the world of tomorrow, and we hope you will stay connected to AU. We look forward to continuing to celebrate your achievements as an AU graduate. Please share your accomplishments, wins, and stories with us!

Recognize your classmates and colleagues through our alumni awards program and get involved to contribute to the success of future learners.

Your journey with AU does not end here. The connections you have made, near and far, in person or online, are the heart of Athabasca University.

Visit alumni.athabascau.ca to learn more and stay connected.

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