Athabasca University Convocation 2023

JUNE 16, 2023

CEREMONY PROGRAM | OPENING

Procession

O Canada

Welcome | Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic (Master of Ceremonies)

Offering | Dr. Alex Clark, President

Opening Prayer | Dr. Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence

Chair’s Remarks | Byron Nelson, Board Chair

President’s Remarks | Dr. Alex Clark, President

The Petition | Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic

Invitation to Pledge | Dr. Alex Clark, President

Graduands Respond | I do so promise

The Admission | Byron Nelson, Board Chair

CEREMONY ONE

Presentation of Degrees

Faculty of Science and Technology

Honorary Degree Presentation

Honorary Doctor of Science | Dr. Austin Mardon

Faculty of Health Disciplines

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

Governor General’s Medal Recipient Address to the Graduates | Michelle Monkman, Master of Nursing

Ribbon Story | Dr. Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence

Closing | Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic

Recession

CEREMONY TWO

Presentation of Degrees

Faculty of Business

Honorary Degree Presentation

Honorary Doctor of Letters | Wanda Dalla Costa

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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

Governor General’s Medal Recipient Address to the Graduates | Denys Pushenko, Bachelor of Arts with Great Distinction

Ribbon Story | Dr. Maria Campbell, Elder in Residence

Closing | Dr. Matthew Prineas, Provost and Vice-President Academic

Recession

LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT

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.

NATIONAL ANTHEM

O CANADA

O Canada! Our home and native land!

True patriot love in all of us command.

With glowing hearts we see thee rise,

The True North strong and free!

From far and wide,

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

God keep our land, glorious and free!

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

Ô CANADA

Ô Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,

Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux!

Car ton bras sait porter l’épée,

Il sait porter la croix!

Ton histoire est une épopée

Des plus brillants exploits.

Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

KAKANATAHK*

(CREE VERSION)

Kakanatahk nitih’tawinan

Nisakihtanan Niwiyasowatenan

Wasetehihk tapwewinihk

Kiwetin ehpicahk

Nikweyac’kapawin

Kakanatahk

Nikweyac’kapawinan

Kise Manito sawey’minan

Ka kanatahk nikweyac’ kapawinan

Ka kanatahk nikweyac’ kapawinan

O CANADA

(TRANSLATION OF CREE VERSION)

Very clean, something our father gave to us.

We love the law of the land

From the heart is the truth

The north is far

We all stand on guard

Very clean

We all stand on guard

Creator bless us

Very clean, I stand on guard

Very clean, I stand on guard

*Translation by Linda Krupnik-Houle,

Saddle Lake Cree Nation

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

This year, our popular virtual convocation allows AU graduands from across the country and around the world to connect for this wonderful milestone together, with in-person ceremonies in Edmonton, and homecoming celebrations in Athabasca, Alta.

Together, we celebrate your amazing achievement in the largest, most inclusive, and most exciting convocation in the university’s 53-year history!

Grounded in our home community of Athabasca, AU is not bounded by the limitations of traditional universities. We are online, flexible, and open to anyone, regardless of location, age, educational background, or life circumstances.

On behalf of the entire team at AU, I’d like to thank you, our wonderful graduands, for the hard work and dedication

you’ve invested in your education and in your future. To family members and friends, thank you too for the support and encouragement you’ve provided along the way!

Today, we all come together to celebrate your success and all these efforts. Recognizing the challenges of balancing work, family, and everyday life with university life, we applaud each of you for the perseverance and determination you’ve shown to reach your amazing life achievement. Well done!

We wish you every success in the future and hope you will stay connected to us, and to our wonderful, unique Athabasca University.

Congratulations!

Sincerely,

Dr. Alex Clark President, Athabasca University

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR

On behalf of the Athabasca University Board of Governors, congratulations to our AU class of 2023!

Convocation is the celebration of your educational journey, and of the hard work and dedication you’ve devoted to this pursuit. But it is also a new beginning, as you look to your bright future and join our community of accomplished and proud AU alumni.

Welcome to the ever-growing network of thousands of AU alumni across Canada and around the world. I have every confidence that each of you will continue to model our AU values of integrity, community, adaptability, respect, and excellence in your personal and professional lives.

| BYRON NELSON

I hope you will take this opportunity to stay connected with AU and with your fellow graduates, who have built upon their educational accomplishments to lead rewarding and successful careers.

Congratulations on achieving this milestone! I wish you every success for the future, and look forward to connecting with you at future alumni events.

Sincerely,

Byron Nelson Board Chair

HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE

Dr. Austin Mardon, a lifelong learner, researcher, and mental health advocate, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree in recognition of his contributions to geography, academia, and working on behalf of people with mental illness.

He is the founder and director of the Antarctic Institute of Canada, a non-profit organization established after his participation in the 1986-87 Antarctic meteorite expedition for NASA and the National Science Foundation. Having discovered over 700 meteorites near the South Pole, Mardon’s passion for research remains unwavering. Aside from his accomplishments in astronomical science, Mardon is renowned for his advocacy in mental health. Diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1991, he has authored numerous academic articles on topics such as faith and schizophrenia, homelessness, medication, and income support.

“I was basically told by doctors that my life was over, about 30 years ago. They told me I would likely be homeless and dead in five years,” he said. “I had to find a purpose, so I made my purpose to be the volunteering, the lifelong learning, the publishing, the social connectedness, and the contribution to society as an advocate.”

His advocacy work has already earned him several prestigious awards, including the Order of Canada and the C.M. Hincks Award from the Canadian Mental Health Association.

HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS

Wanda Dalla Costa, the first First Nations woman licensed as an architect in Canada, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters degree for her work in collaborative design, Indigenous place-keeping, and climatic resiliency.

In her role as professor at Arizona State University and as the owner of Tawaw Architecture Collaborative, she works to increase Indigenous representation in architecture, particularly in urban areas. She advocates for Indigenous place-keeping, involving communities in the design process from the beginning.

Her approach challenges a prevailing view of architecture over the past 50 years, in which an architect from outside a community may not be able to understand and connect to local needs and aspirations.

“One of the models that we’re working within, we call it the Indigenous triad, where we’re trying to make sure that every space we design reflects worldview, lifeways, and identity,” Dalla Costa said. “If we can uplift all three, and create a building that connects to those local communities for all those three aspects, that’s one of the ways we measure success in our work.”

She has also conducted a popular workshop, “Decolonizing Design Equity,” as part of the Global Studio Lecture Series at AU’s RAIC Centre for Architecture.

2023 CONVOCATION SCHOLARSHIPS

DOCTORATE DEGREES

Doctor of Education in Distance Education

Jenaro Diaz-Ducca

Doctor of Business Administration

Christine Newton

MASTER’S DEGREES

Master of Business Administration

Christopher Stogowski

Master of Education

Jodine Wiebe

Master of Health Studies

Crystal Dobry

Geraldine Young

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.

Master of Arts

Lynn Long

Master of Nursing

Jessica Romaniuk

Master of Science

Shayne Pierson

Master of Counselling

Melissa Gee

Beth Richardson

Megan Duffy

GRADUATE DIPLOMA AND CERTIFICATES

Graduate Certificate in Data Analytics

Le Minh Duc Nguyen

Graduate Certificate in Information Technology Management

Abigail Kenny

Graduate Certificate in Technology Based Learning

Steven Montgomery

Graduate Certificate in Instructional Design

Coba Veldkamp

Graduate Certificate in Information Security

Jaimit Makwana

Graduate Diploma in Heritage Resource Management

Eleonora Sermoneta

Graduate Diploma in Counselling

Bahar Buberoglu

Graduate Diploma in Distance Education Technology

Carlene Schneider

Graduate Diploma in Instructional Design

Nadja Schlote

Graduate Diploma in Legislative Drafting

Janet Christian

Graduate Diploma in Management

Daniel Clement

Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management

Lynard Higoy

Post-Masters Diploma – Nurse Practitioner

Damandeep Gill

BACHELOR’S DEGREES

Bachelor of Arts

Denys Pushenko

Bachelor of General Studies

Michael Mroz

Bachelor of Nursing

Brettany Baird

Bachelor of Science

Christopher Cameron

Bachelor of Commerce

Karlon Loyek

Bachelor of Management

Carla Whynott

Bachelor of Professional Arts

Brian Armstrong

Bachelor of Health Administration

Laura Wilson

Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations

Aida Bahhur

UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATES

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Inclusive Education

Emma Hamilton

University Certificate in Accounting

Julie Bisson

University Certificate in Advanced Accounting

Heather Siggs

University Certificate in Computing and Information Systems

Bidyunmala Roy

Jaehyun Woo

University Certificate in Computers and Management Informations Systems

Michel Giroux

University Certificate in Counselling Women

Teresa Jenkins

University Certificate in Finance

Adrian Schuldhaus

University Certificate in Human Resources and Labour Relations

Heather Dorscher

University Certificate in Management Applications

Carrie Field

University Certificate in Management Foundations

Savannah Ugo

University Certifcate in Marketing

Phalyn Chenard

University Certificate in Public Administration

Mandy Deditch

University Certificate in Heritage Resource Management

Treva London

CLASS OF 2023 AT A GLANCE

1,963

TOTAL CREDENTIALS AWARDED. 6 GRADUATES ARE RECEIVING 2 CREDENTIALS EACH.

GRADS FROM 40 PROGRAMS

486 FACULTY OF BUSINESS

GRADS FROM CANADA

1,926 GRADS FROM ALL 10 PROVINCES AND 3 TERRITORIES GRADS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD

237 GRADS FROM CALGARY—MORE THAN ANY CITY

31 INTERNATIONAL GRADS FROM THE U.S., U.K., SOUTH AFRICA, MEXICO, JAPAN, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, AND MORE!

GOVERNER 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.

2023 GOLD MEDAL RECIPIENT

MONKMAN

Michelle Monkman is a First Nations registered nurse from Kinosao Sipi Cree Nation who has spent her career serving Indigenous populations working in urban and rural Manitoba. A graduate of the University of Manitoba, Michelle has worked in a variety of nursing roles and settings. Education has been her most recent focus as program lead for SE Health’s First Nations, Inuit, and Métis program team. Michelle finished her Master of Nursing, with a leadership focus, in August 2022 through Athabasca University. She spent her time in graduate school strengthening her capacity to advance Indigenous health and promote cultural safety.

In her everyday work, Michelle remains committed to advancing Indigenous health equity and health system transformation. She achieves this by educating health-care providers to meet the health needs of Indigenous Peoples more effectively and through

co-developing community health service solutions for Indigenous communities across Canada.

Michelle is a member of the Indigenous advisory committee for the University of Manitoba’s Ongomiizwin’s program. The group explores solutions to address Indigenous-specific racism. Michelle is also a member of an advisory committee for a Canadian Institutes of Health Research policy catalyst grant, which involves ensuring Indigenous perspectives are considered in the development of policy recommendations for the integration of genomics into nursing practice.

Michelle’s proudest achievements are her family. She has four children and a grandson.

2023 SILVER MEDAL RECIPIENT | DENYS PUSHENKO

Denys Pushenko is a nurse and a researcher with the Neuro International Collaboration. He was born and raised in Kyiv, the capital city of Ukraine, until making Canada his home in 2011. He lived and worked in Ontario until June 2022, before moving to Quebec and settling there with his family, who arrived in Canada last year after fleeing the war in Ukraine.

Denys has an extensive post-secondary education history. He earned a nursing diploma with honours from Sheridan College in 2013, an honours bachelor of science with high distinction from University of Toronto in 2020, and a Bachelor of Arts from Athabasca University in 2023.

Throughout his nursing career, Denys says he has gained valuable experience working in long-term care homes, home health care, community and public health, and he even worked in the film industry performing COVID testing for cast and crew of numerous Netflix shows filmed in Ontario.

He enjoys the fulfilment that comes from serving others. He volunteers with Erindale College Special Response Team—a University of Toronto division of St. John Ambulance for the past 6 years—first as an on-campus responder, then divisional training officer, and now as special operations officer. He also enjoys travelling, hiking, snowboarding, and mountain climbing.

Looking ahead, Denys says he plans to continue his journey in the health-care field. He aspires to become a physician and make a positive impact in the treatment of neurological disorders in children and adolescents.

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.

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 colour of the lining or trim on a graduand’s hood distinguishes their degree. 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

FUCHSIA

Bachelor of Management

TAUPE

Bachelor of Commerce BURGUNDY

Bachelor of General Studies

GREEN

Bachelor of Health Administration GREEN

Bachelor of Nursing

Bachelor of Professional Arts

RED

Bachelor of Science

GOLD/

YELLOW

Bachelor of Human Resources and Labour Relations

TAUPE

MASTER’S DEGREES |

DOCTORATES

Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies

WHITE

Master of Health Studies

PEACH/ SALMON

Master of Business Administration

ROYAL BLUE

Master of Counselling

SMOKE BLUE

Master of Education in Open, Digital, and Distance Education

ROYAL BLUE/ GREEN

Doctoral gowns are black Cambridge-style gowns, accented with the three colours 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 three-inch yellow border. Standard black Tudor hats are worn straight above the brow.

Master of Nursing

LIGHT BLUE

Master of Science in Information Systems

GOLD/YELLOW

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 the graduates, as we honour and pay respect to the hard work they put into their education.

Elder in Residence Dr. Maria Campbell, as part of her teachings, uses the following colours to represent these elements:

| WHITE IS FOR THE NORTH,

the season of Winter, old age, and the White Bear. It is a time of achievement, knowledge, and understanding.

| ROSE IS FOR THE EAST,

the season of Spring, babies and children, and the place of Red Bear. The time for new life and where we envision and plan for our future.

| 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.

| BLUE OR BLACK IS FOR THE WEST,

the season of Autumn, mature adulthood, and the Black Bear. It is a time for reflection, dreaming, prayers, and harvest.

Bears are protectors of family and community and they are the medicine keepers. As we travel through each direction, we honour and respect all of 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 given to graduates of Athabasca University. Historically, different coloured sticks were used as offerings in ceremonies but those were eventually replaced by cloth and ribbons. Elder in Residence Dr. Maria Campbell uses ribbons as offerings as part of this convocation ceremony.

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

Our best wishes to the Class of 2023.

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

AU’s founding colours were blue and green. The central white sections, known as a Canadian pale, is taken from the Canadian flag and here represents an open gate, symbolizing AU’s commitment to accessibility 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.

CREST

The bear is both courageous and nurturing and is a significant spirit helper in Woodland Cree culture. It represents the West as well as wisdom and knowledge. The bear is holding the AU mace, which symbolizes the authority of the university.

MOTTO

AU’s motto, Learning for Life, is displayed beneath the shield in the compartment section of the coat of arms, surrounded by poplar leaves, another central Alberta regional reference.

SUPPORTERS

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 and prowess and are known for their wisdom. Taken as a whole, the coat of arms represents AU on several levels, referencing its central/northern Alberta location and reflecting its strength, openness, tradition, history, and wisdom.

YOUR AU JOURNEY ISN’T OVER.

You’ve just entered the Athabasca University alumni community, a global network of innovators, leaders, advocates, changemakers, and community builders.

A DOORWAY TO COMMUNITY

• Build your network by joining Alumni Connect, AU’s online networking and mentoring platform.

• Connect with fellow alumni through AU’s Online Book Club.

A DOORWAY TO ACCESS

• Enjoy lifelong access to AU resources like the library and on-demand career and well-being webinars, along with special alumni discounts and offers.

• PowerED™ would like to celebrate with you! Boost your professional skills with innovative and on-demand micro-credentials through PowerED.ca. Register before Sept. 30, 2023, and use the voucher code augrad30 to receive 30% off your purchase. Offer valid for all PowerED™ programming except the Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification™ and Project Management courses.

A DOORWAY TO TRANSFORMATION

We look forward to celebrating your achievements as an AU alum. Share your stories with us, recognize your classmates and colleagues through our alumni award program, and get involved to contribute to the success of future learners.

athabascau.ca/alumni

Scan this for our convocation playlist!