Rain doesn’t stop UBCO students from graduating

The rain didn’t stop the more than 1,600 UBCO students from graduating on Friday morning.

For the past two days, university students in Kelowna have been suiting up, lining up and walking across the stage.

Graduation is a time of anxious butterflies fluttering inside the stomachs of the local university students. It’s a time where students are excited to be finished post-secondary school, but nervous to become adults in the real world.

On Friday morning, the students walked through the Okanagan campus in their caps and gowns, through the pouring rain, into the gymnasium where they sat and listened to several speeches about this being the beginning of the rest of their lives.

Two special guests were also present at the UBCO convocation to receive honorary degrees.

On Thursday afternoon, Dr. Roberta Bondar, the first female Canadian astronaut to head into space, received an honourary degree.

On Friday morning, David Schindler, a scientist that worked to protect freshwater resources around the world, accepted his honourary degree.

This spring convocation marked 100 years of the University of British Columbia and 10 years of the Okanagan campus. Deborah Buszard, UBCO deputy vice-chancellor and principal of the Okanagan campus, said these anniversaries make this graduation ceremony even more special.

“Students at the Okanagan campus have the added distinction of graduating during the 10th anniversary year of UBC Okanagan. I offer my warmest congratulations to all graduates and their families on their achievements, and invite them to stay involved in the life of this great institution.”