Activities are now underway for this year's convocation. Click here for the Convocation 2011 website.

On Sunday, May 1, Father Charlie Cheverie, retiring UPEI chaplain, and Father Denis Grecco, Visiting SDU Scholar, con-celebrated Convocation Mass at the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre for graduates, family, friends, staff, and faculty.

Members of UPEI's Class of 2011 will gather again in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre on Saturday, May 7, to share convocation day, the biggest event of the academic year. Almost 900 students, the largest graduating class on record, will receive their degrees and diplomas during two ceremonies, the first beginning at 10:00 a.m. and the second at 2:30 p.m.

Events organized by the student-comprised Graduation Committee begin Wednesday and include barbecues, games, and socials events right through to Saturday night. For details, click here.

Senior class awards will be presented at 12:00 noon following convocation rehearsal on Friday, May 6 at the W.A. Murphy Student Centre. Awards and recipients will be printed in the convocation program.

On convocation day, UPEI will confer honorary degrees upon Danny Williams, QC, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador; Louis W. MacEachern, entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist; Teresa Mellish, the driving force behind the PEI-based, non-governmental organization, Farmers Helping Farmers; and Monique Collette, senior advisor to the Privy Council Office and former president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. (See UPEI News Release.)

Williams will address the morning convocation where graduates will receive the following degrees: bachelor of business administration; bachelor of business administration (co-operative education); bachelor of business in tourism and hospitality; bachelor of education; bachelor of education (french immersion); bachelor of education (human resource development); bachelor of science in nursing; doctor of veterinary medicine; master of science, faculty of veterinary medicine; master of veterinary science; master of education; master of business administration; and doctor of philosophy.

Mellish will speak at the afternoon ceremony where graduates will receive adult connections in education certificates (ACE); public administration diplomas; engineering diplomas; and the following degrees: bachelor of applied arts in print journalism; bachelor of arts; bachelor of arts (honours); bachelor of child and family studies; bachelor of integrated studies; bachelor of music; bachelor of music education; bachelor of applied science in radiography; bachelor of science; bachelor of science (honours); bachelor of science (co-operative education); master of science, faculty of science; and master of arts.

Charlotte Coulson, from Kensington, who will receive her bachelor of business administration degree, will give the valedictory address in the morning, and Amanda MacKinnon, from Montague, who will be awarded her bachelor of science degree, will address her fellow graduates at the afternoon convocation. Macebearers at the morning and afternoon convocations, respectively, are doctor of veterinary medicine recipient, Margo Edwards-Milewski, from Santa Rosa, California, and Kyle Murnaghan, from Charlotteown, who will receive his bachelor of arts degree.

The UPEI Wind Symphony has just released its 13th annual compact disc, Freebirds, a compilation of music performed during this past academic year.

Overall, this CD is an eclectic mix of a variety of contemporary works for the modern wind band. The title track, Freebirds, is a virtuosic double concerto featuring Wesley Ferreira and Jana Starling, clarinet professors at Mount Allison and Arizona State universities respectively. Works by Canadian composers are represented in John Estacio's fast paced work Frenergy, and Henry Kucharzyk's jazz-infected piece Some Assembly Required.

Among this disc's other prominent compositions are John Mackey's angry march, Xerxes, Arturo Márquez's salsa rhythmic dance, Danzón No. 2, Frank Ticheli's ethereal drama, Angels in the Architecture, and Benjanim Britten's renaissance inspired, Courtly Dances.

All selections on this disc were recorded live in front of capacity audiences at UPEI's Dr. Steel Recital Hall.

For each of the past thirteen years, the Wind Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Karem Simon, has devoted significant time and energy to the production of an annual compact disc. As a result, the Wind Symphony has amassed a collection of many of the finest works in the wind band genre. Its 2009-10 CD, Cathedrals, received the 2011 PEI Music Award for ‘Classical Recording of the Year.' In addition, the Wind Symphony's recording of Howard Cable's arrangement of O Canada was produced and distributed to all Prince Edward Island public schools in February.

CDs are available for purchase at the UPEI Bookstore in the W.A. Murphy Student Centre.

UPEI Women's Hockey continues to add to its roster and the latest additions are Islanders Samantha (Sam) Sweet and Melanie Matthews. Both women played with the Western Wind in the provincial midget AA female hockey league this past season and for Team PEI at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.

Sam Sweet started her love of hockey after her very first ice session at Dave Cameron's ‘Sun'n'Ice Hockey Camp' in O'Leary, and joined the O'Leary Minor Hockey Association at the age of six.

Her Western Wind team captured the provincial midget AA championship in 2009-10 and Sweet was named MVP of the tournament as well as serving as assistant captain. She also was assistant captain of the 2009 PEI under-17 hockey team which captured the bronze medal at the Atlantic Challenge Cup.

In 2010, Sweet's hard work and dedication paid off when she was selected to attend the 2011 Canada Games as part of Team PEI. Named assistant captain, Sweet helped the team earn a seventh-place finish, the best ever in PEI female hockey history.

Sweet captained her 2010-11 club team which finished second in the provincial championship, but earned the right to represent PEI in the Atlantic Championship in Montague.

Coach Bruce Donaldson is very pleased that Sweet is suiting up for Panther hockey. He said, 'Sam was a key player for Team PEI's Canada Winter Games program this past year and was her club team's top scorer, leading them to the provincial championship game last month. Sam brings great work ethic to her game, always wants to compete, and has a great finishing touch around the net.'

Meanwhile, Melanie Matthews started playing hockey at the age of eight. She played peewee AAA boys hockey followed by five years of midget AA girls hockey. She has progressed through the PEI ‘Program of Excellence' since the age of 12 leading her to also make the 2011 Canada Winter Games team.

A defensive player, she always plays an aggressive game of hockey. Coach Donaldson explained, 'Melanie brings an aggressive style of play to the blue line, loves to mix it up, and competes at a high level at all times. She will add quickness on the back end, has a strong outlet pass, and plays with an edge.'

Matthews said, 'I am looking forward to entering my first year at UPEI in the Science program and continuing on with my hockey career as a Panther. It will be a challenge to manage hockey and a full course load, but playing with a university team has been my goal all along. Go Panthers Go!'

Donaldson added, 'It is always great to see top players stay on the Island to continue their hockey careers and, at the same time, gain a quality education at UPEI.'

As the largest graduating class in the history of UPEI prepared for convocation day, the university's Board of Governors was pleased to approve a balanced operating budget for 2011-12 at its May 5 meeting. Through careful financial management during challenging fiscal times, UPEI has been able to sustain its existing programs and services and support important new initiatives while keeping tuition rates among the lowest in the Maritimes.

'UPEI's budget for 2011-12 is all about doing our best while living within our means,' says President Wade MacLauchlan. 'It is a struggle to do everything we want to do to improve and to strive for excellence. Elsewhere, difficult choices are being made by universities to cope with budgetary reductions. At UPEI, we feel fortunate and proud to be able to present a balanced budget at this difficult time, and we appreciate that post-secondary education continues to be a priority for PEI.'

Provincial operating grants constitute 40 per cent of total UPEI revenue in 2011-12. In the latest provincial budget, UPEI's operating grant increased by 3 per cent which, in practical budgetary terms, is a 1.2 per cent increase when considered against the totality of UPEI activity, including the growing costs of expanded programming and increased student enrolment. The provincial government also contributed funds to support the introduction of a new kinesiology program and to continue the BEd kindergarten program.

Tuition fees represent less than 25 per cent of the total operating budget. Undergraduate tuition costs will rise by $9 per course, and international students will see a differential fee increase of $500 this year. Most other fees for 2011-12 will remain the same or increase minimally.

At the Atlantic Veterinary College, DVM students will see a tuition increase of $750. AVC tuition costs are competitive with similar institutions elsewhere. This increase partially reflects a response to a decrease in AVC's interprovincial funding from other provinces. New initiatives to reduce costs and increase revenue generation at AVC are being considered to offset the decrease in funding.

UPEI's strong fiscal management in recent years provides a stable base from which to approach future budgetary challenges. These include ensuring that the university pension fund is in a properly funded situation, and making essential investments to renew UPEI's information system.

To view the 2011-12 UPEI Operating Budget, go click here.

Several members of UPEI's faculty were honoured at the ‘Faculty Recognition Night' which was held recently in Stanhope. The annual reception and banquet, co-sponsored by the UPEI Faculty Association and the Office of the President, recognizes teaching and research excellence. It is also an opportunity to honour the service of retiring academic staff as well as to recognize those who have served UPEI for 25 years or more.

This year, three faculty members were recognized for their outstanding achievements as researchers. Sanda Badescu, Modern Languages, Faculty of Arts; and co-winners from the Faculty of Science, Rabin Bissessur, Chemistry, and Lori Weeks, Family & Nutritional Sciences each received a UPEI Faculty Association Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement. These awards honour faculty members who have achieved significant and continuing productivity in scholarly research and/or artistic creation, and in so doing, inspire others to aspire to such achievement.

Dr. Gerry Mahar, UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan, and Dean of Science Dr. Christian Lacroix, far right, are shown with Scholarly Achievement Merit Award winners Dr. Lori Weeks, Dr. Rabin Bissessur, and Dr. Sanda Badescu. Four faculty members were recognized for their outstanding performance in teaching. Shelley Burton, Pathology/Microbiology; Wendy Carroll, School of Business; Marva Sweeney-Nixon, Biology; and Earlene McKinnon-Gray, Family & Nutritional Sciences (Sessional Teaching Award), each received a Hessian Merit Award for Excellence in Teaching. The awards are supported through an endowment to the University by the Hessian family of Georgetown.

James Miller, Companion Animals and Lowell Sweet, Mathematics/Statistics were both recognized for their years of service to the University as both have recently retired.

Luis Bate, Biomedical Sciences; Gerry Johnston, Pathology/Microbiology; Fred Markham, Pathology/Microbiology; Mary McNiven, Health Management; Thomy Nilsson, Psychology; Caroline Runyon, Companion Animals; David Sims, Biomedical Sciences; and Carmencita Yason, Pathology/Microbiology received pins in recognition of 25 years of service to UPEI.

About the Scholarly Achievement Merit Awards Winners

Dr. Sanda Badescu received her BSc in Physics in 1993 and BA in French and English in 1997 from the University of the West in Timisoara, Romania. She received her MA in Comparative Literature in 1999 and PhD in French in 2003 from the University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario. She joined UPEI in the Faculty of Arts in the Department of Modern Languages in 2003. Since joining UPEI, Dr. Badescu has been very active, presenting papers, organizing conferences and publishing, and very successful in applying for internal research grants. She has written one book: Madame de Sévigné et Michel de Montaigne: l'écriture intime à la lettre et à l'essai (The Edwin Mellen Press, Lewiston, New York, 2008) and was editor of another book 'From One Shore to Another: Reflections on the Symbolism of the Bridge' (Cambridge Scholars Press, 2007), a collection of essays from the proceedings of the bilingual conference entitled 'The Sea, The Land, The Bridge: (Hi)Stories of Communication' held at UPEI in August 2005. Dr. Badescu wrote the introduction 'On the Symbolism of the Bridge' to this book. From 2008 to 2009, Dr. Badescu served on the Language Laboratory Committee, which created a modern languages laboratory in the Robertson Library at UPEI.

Dr. Lori Weeks received her BSc in Home Economics from UPEI in 1991, MSc in Human Development from the University of Maine in 1994, and PhD in Adult Development and Aging and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from Virginia Tech in 1998. She was full-time administrator of Rosewood Residence Licensed Community Care Facility in Hunter River prior to joining the faculty at UPEI in the Department of Family and Nutritional Sciences in 2001. She is considered a national leader in gerontology research. Over the past several years, she has successfully written grants and fostered a number of local and international collaborations to support her research program, and currently holds just under $1 million in research funding. She publishes profusely; 10 refereed manuscripts and 17 abstracts or conference presentations in the last 5 years. Dr. Weeks has served on the UPEI Research Ethics Board since 2005, and became chair in 2008. She is also a valued mentor of students, having supervised or co-supervised 4 graduate students and 14 BSc honours undergraduate students. Lori also provides her expertise to the PEI Department of Health and Wellness, and currently serves on the Provincial Dementia Strategy Steering Committee.

Dr. Rabin Bissessur received his BSc (Honours) in Chemistry from University of Manitoba in 1987, MSc in organic chemistry from University of Rochester in 1989, and PhD in Chemistry with specialization in Materials Synthesis and Physical/Chemical Characterization from Michigan State University in 1994. He was a Research Fellow at Northwestern University, Lecturer at University of Mauritius, Research Associate at Laval University, and then Instructor at University of Northern British Columbia, prior to joining the faculty at UPEI in 1999. Bissessur is currently acting chair of the Department of Chemistry. This is his second win of the Merit Award for Scholarly Achievement; the first was in 2003. Since then, Bissessur's research productivity has if anything increased, further enhancing his national and international reputation in the field of nanocomposite materials. He has been NSERC-funded since 2002, collaborates extensively, and has been extremely successful in obtaining infrastructure grants from CFI, AIF and NSERC. He has also been funded by Innovation PEI and has received several internal research grants. He currently serves as the NSERC Scholarship Liaison Officer for UPEI. Since 2003, he has published 28 peer-reviewed papers and two book chapters, and 36 abstracts or conference presentations. Dr. Bissessur is also very active in the training of highly qualified personnel, including 17 summer undergraduate research students, 4th year research projects of 16 undergraduate students (11 Honours and 5 Majors), and 5 MSc graduate students. Rabin has equally excelled in teaching and was a winner of the Hessian Award for Teaching Excellence in 2007, and this year's winner of the UPEI Student Union Faculty of the Year Award in recognition for excellence in teaching.

About the UPEI Hessian Merit Award Winners

Dr. Shelley Burton has already been recognized as one of the outstanding teachers in the Atlantic Veterinary College with seven AVC teaching awards. She is an expert clinical pathologist, and teaches the subject in a lecture and laboratory course for second-year veterinary students, and in fourth-year clinical rotations. She is also heavily involved in the supervision and training of graduate students, and in the delivery of continuing education sessions for veterinary practitioners and pathologists regionally, nationally and internationally. Her students clearly appreciate the effort and enthusiasm Dr. Burton brings to her teaching.

Dr. Wendy Carroll has been teaching management at the undergraduate and MBA level in the UPEI School of Business since 2008, and appears to have come with a mission - closing the 'rigour -relevance gap'. In addition, and equally importantly, she is completely dedicated to her teaching and to her students. Carroll received the UPEI Graduate Student Faculty Member of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009, after being nominated by the MBA students.

Dr. Marva Sweeney-Nixon, in addition to leading an active research group in the Department of Biology, has a well-deserved reputation as an outstanding teacher. Sweeney-Nixon teaches two very demanding and high-enrolment core courses in the Biology program, as well as two senior courses in her specialty. She is unique in the department in that she insists on personally teaching all the labs (up to 3 per week) and tutorials (6 per week) in these courses, something that is very important to her since the small-group contact allows her to get to know all her students, and identify early any problems they are having.

Earlene MacKinnon-Gray has taught several Family Science courses, and her contributions are highly valued by the department. One of the courses she teaches is Family Science 491-Human Sexuality for which she has single-handedly maintained the required curriculum standards and kept the course up-to-date since she took it on in 2004. In teaching the course, and in dealing with a subject matter that is rather uncomfortable for some students, MacKinnon-Gray has based her teaching practice on the belief that, as she puts it, 'An active supportive environment-based on mutual respect, inquiry, support, and excitement-must be developed. Within this environment we all can learn from and with each other.'

A record number of 902 graduates received degrees, diplomas, and certificates today during convocation at the University of Prince Edward Island including the first graduates from the Master of Business Administration and Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing programs. UPEI's Class of 2011 gathered in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre for two ceremonies, the first beginning at 10:00 am and the second at 2:30 pm.

View Convocation Photo Gallery.

During the morning ceremony, Louis W. MacEachern, entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist, and Danny Williams, QC, former premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, received honorary degrees.

In his convocation address, Mr. Williams recounted his many ties with Prince Edward Island, remarking, 'I have had some wonderful times here in Prince Edward Island and, frankly, I was deeply touched and privileged when I learned that I would be a recipient of an honorary degree from this first rate institution of higher learning.'

Williams went on to challenge graduates, 'For some, it may be behind the scenes, quietly contributing to an organization. Or you might be called to the most noble of professions, and that is teaching our children. For others, it may be creating your own business, or you may be destined to serve in public office. Or maybe you will lend your talents to the volunteer sector. Or maybe you will choose the most important job of all, raising a family. But whatever path you choose, know that you can make a difference.'

UPEI also conferred honorary degrees upon Teresa Mellish, the driving force behind the PEI-based, non-governmental organization, Farmers Helping Farmers, and Monique Collette, senior advisor to the Privy Council Office and former president of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency during the afternoon ceremony. Mellish delivered the afternoon convocation address to graduates.

Charlotte Coulson, from Kensington, who received her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, gave the valedictory address in the morning, and Amanda MacKinnon, from Montague, who was awarded her Bachelor of Science degree, addressed her fellow graduates at the afternoon convocation.

MacKinnon said, 'We're UPEI graduates! Right from the start, from the minute we received that acceptance letter in the mail, we knew we were something different, and that we were destined to be something great. UPEI has prepared us for any obstacle, any challenge, and every success we will have.'

While a number of prizes were awarded at events leading up to Convocation, the Governor-General Medals were presented by Lieutenant-Governor Barbara A. Hagerman to graduate student Robert Déziel (Master of Science) of Charlottetown in the morning, and to undergraduate student Ashley Doyle (Bachelor of Arts) of Cornwall at the afternoon ceremony.

This year's Convocation Day capped a week-long celebration that marked many milestones for students, staff and faculty, and the University community. On May 1, Father Charlie Cheverie officiated at his final Convocation Mass as University Chaplain after 62 years at UPEI and its predecessor institution, St. Dunstan's University, as a student, professor, and campus minister. As well, 2011 will be Wade MacLauchlan's last convocation as UPEI president and vice-chancellor after 12 years at the helm.

The hockey world is abuzz about the performance of Nashville Predators star forward Joel Ward. Ward's stellar performance in the playoffs has sports pundits tracing his path to greatness, and finding it leads straight to UPEI.

Ward played four years on the UPEI Panthers from 2001-2005 before moving on to the Houston Aeros in the AHL. It's not a typical route to the NHL, but the hard-working Ward attracted the attention of the Minnesota Wild in a rare open tryout in 2006, eventually moving two years later to the Predators.

The NHL has featured the former Panther in one of its History Will Be Made spots for TV and YouTube.

May 5, Ward was the subject of an Inside Hockey profile on CBC Television Hockey Night in Canada.

See also:

Former UPEI Panther making big waves in NHL series, Charlottetown Guardian.

Pred's Ward making most of opportunity, Globe and Mail.

Ward hopes to win one for Mom, Fox News.

Resilient Predators stay alive, Sportsnet.ca.

From UPEI to Music City: Ward providing timely offence for Predators, The Tyee.

Ward's NHL road went through CIS-- University stint key to his development: Vancouver Sun.

On May 13, UPEI will wrap up a two-week strategic planning partnership workshop with representatives from Ethiopia, which was designed to demonstrate the University's commitment to enhance and strengthen its contribution to the development of the education sector in the Global South.

Dr. Tirussew Teferra, vice-president academic and Dr. Jeilu Oumer, faculty of Education, from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia arrived on May 2 and have been participating in a number of meetings with UPEI deans, staff, and faculty as well as stakeholders in PEI's research and development and post-secondary education sectors.

Sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency, UPEI's International Office and Lead Dean International and Dean of Education Tim Goddard developed the workshop with partners, the Association of African Universities and Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada. It has featured learning opportunities for both universities' representatives through a variety of sessions including those on the strategic planning process and risk management. Dr. Oumer and Dr. Teferra also delivered a public presentation on May 10.

Plans are already underway to continue the collaboration between UPEI and Addis Ababa University into the future.

Both government and opposition members celebrated University of Prince Edward Island President Wade MacLauchlan during the sitting of the Legislative Assembly, Thursday, May 12, some calling it ‘Wade MacLauchlan Day at the House.'

Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning Allan Campbell read a statement at approximately 3:00 pm and Leader of the Opposition Olive Crane tabled a resolution shortly after, both thanking President MacLauchlan for 12 years of service to UPEI and to the Province.

House Statement by Hon. Allan Campbell: "Wade MacLauchlan"
Motion No. 61: "Prince Edward Island thanks Wade MacLauchlan"

Many members of the Legislative Assembly spoke to support the motion, a number of them recounting their days at UPEI as students and how much growth they have since witnessed at the University as a result of President MacLauchlan's leadership. Others commented on specific improvements to both infrastructure and programming during MacLauchlan's tenure. All who spoke commended him for his passion and dedication to the University and, subsequently, the motion was carried unanimously. Leader of the Opposition Olive Crane greets UPEI President Wade MacLauchlan at Province House.

Representatives from the UPEI Board of Governors, Student Union, and staff and faculty joined MacLauchlan in the gallery for the proceedings.

President MacLauchlan finishes his term on June 30 with his successor, Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, beginning July 1.