(Photo courtesy Lethbridge College)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge College’s Convocation ceremony going virtual May 28

May 14, 2021 | 10:46 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – COVID-19 is once again changing up how Lethbridge College students celebrate their graduation.

The post-secondary institution has announced that its Convocation ceremony is going virtual. Students graduating will be able to celebrate from their own home by going to Lethbridge College’s website and social media pages on May 28 to view videos and messages that commend their achievements during their time at the school.

Initially, the college had planned a drive-thru Convocation ceremony. Unfortunately, due to surging case numbers in southern Alberta and enhanced public health measures, the drive-thru plan has been scrapped.

The enhanced measures also necessitated cancelling the annual Honour Night Festivities for Indigenous graduates.

Lethbridge College’s President and CEO Dr. Paula Burns said, “this year’s graduates are a unique class, the only class to have ever completed the bulk of your program in the midst of a global pandemic.”

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“In addition to building skills in their programs, they have learned adaptability and resilience skills that will last a lifetime. We look forward to fully celebrating our graduates in a safe and interactive manner.”

For the first time in the institution’s history, it’s shifting from holding one annual April convocation ceremony immediately after exams to two true graduation ceremonies where students receive their official parchments once all final marks have been calculated – one in late May and one in October.

During its Spring Convocation, the college will honour more than 1,100 graduates. Of those, 312 received an honours graduation statement on their credentials, including 22 who earned honours with great distinction.

The online event will also honour the college’s first Valedictorian, Ashley Pierson; the college’s Governor General Award recipient, Harrison Hadford from the Civil Engineering Technology program; and the Honourable Murray Sinclair, who will receive an honorary degree.

More on the May 28 online Spring Convocation is available here.