Accomplished Canadians to receive honorary degrees alongside Laurier graduands during Waterloo convocation

June 6, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Nearly 2,400 students will graduate from Wilfrid Laurier University during spring convocation ceremonies taking place June 10 to 14 at Lazaridis Hall on Laurier’s Waterloo campus.

Three accomplished Canadians will also receive honorary degrees during Waterloo convocation ceremonies. Sandra Horst, a chorus master with the Canadian Opera Company, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree during a ceremony taking place June 11 at 4 p.m. Mary Lou Morgan, an entrepreneur and food security advocate, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Letters Degree on June 11 at 9:30 a.m. Samantha Nutt, a humanitarian, medical doctor and founder of War Child Canada and War Child USA, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree on June 14 at 1 p.m.

Laurier faculty members and instructors will also receive awards during convocation ceremonies.

Two faculty members will receive the Faculty Award for Service Excellence and Community Engagement. The award recognizes full-time faculty members and librarians who, in addition to their teaching and scholarship, are leaders in service to the community and/or university. Kim Rygiel, associate professor in the Department of Political Science and at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, will receive her award during a ceremony taking place June 11 at 9:30 a.m. Ginette Lafrenière, associate professor in the Faculty of Social Work, will receive her award on June 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Four faculty members will receive the Donald F. Morgenson Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, Laurier’s most prestigious teaching award, for enriching the educational experience of students through notable approaches to teaching and learning.

Dana Sawchuk, associate professor in the Department of Sociology, will receive the award in the Sustained Excellence category during a ceremony taking place June 11 at 9:30 a.m. Sherilyn Van De Wynckel, lab instructor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will receive the award in the Innovation in Teaching category on June 12 at 9:30 a.m. Karin Schnarr, assistant professor in the Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, will receive the award in the Early Career Excellence category on June 13 at 1 p.m. Steve Sider, associate professor in the Faculty of Education, will receive the award in the Excellence in Internationalization category on June 14 at 9:30 a.m.

Two members of Laurier’s Board of Governors will receive the Distinguished Governor Award. John Bowey, a past chair of the board, will receive the award during a ceremony taking place June 10 at 9:30 a.m., while vice-chair Peter C. Ansley will receive the award on June 10 at 1 p.m.

As of June 5, 2,388 students qualified to graduate at Laurier’s Waterloo campus. At the university’s Brantford campus, 518 students graduated on June 4 and 5. Among all graduating students, 2,456 are earning undergraduate degrees, 302 graduate degrees and 148 diplomas.

All convocation ceremonies are ticketed events. For those unable to attend, live streams of the ceremonies will be available. View a complete convocation schedule for spring 2019.

Learn more:

• Laurier announces chorus master, food security advocate and humanitarian as honorary degree recipients
• Laurier celebrates teaching excellence with presentation of Donald F. Morgenson Faculty Awards
• Laurier honours Faculty Award for Service Excellence and Community Engagement recipients