Anna Delooff knew she had done well in her studies at the University of the Fraser Valley, but she got a pleasant surprise when she found out that her marks had earned her the Governor General’s Silver Medal, awarded annually to the student with the highest grade point average in a bachelor’s degree program. Anna’s…

Miranda Rosehill put her trust in the University of the Fraser Valley when it came time to choose a university for her Master of Social Work degree. Two years later, she’s glad she made that decision.  Miranda is the 2026 recipient of the Governor General’s Gold Medal at UFV, after achieving a grade point average of 4.27.  Granted to students…

Life is a carnival to Bob Hauser. In fact, he grew up on the midway. In the outdoor amusement industry, you’re “in it” if you’re committed to working the carnival circuit, and “for it” if you love the lifestyle that accompanies it. As the longtime leader of West Coast Amusements, Bob is definitely “for it.”…

Neighbour, friend, donor. Paul Esposito Sr has been many things to the University of the Fraser Valley over the years, and on June 10 he’ll add honorary degree recipient to that list. Paul is being honored for decades of philanthropy and support of community causes in Abbotsford and around BC. Included in that generosity was…

Rochelle Prasad’s career in philanthropy, advocacy, and education began in her hometown of Surrey and has improved the lives of young people all over the world. From hanging out at the local recreation centre as a child to advising the United Nations on the importance of youth education, she’s come a long way in a…

David Jimmie has spent most of his life building bridges to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and businesses together. David, who will receive an honorary doctorate at UFV’s June 9 convocation ceremony, says that from a very young age he recognized the barriers that often existed between First Nations communities and the broader society around them. Those early observations helped shape his commitment to creating…

When 15-year-old Rick Hansen was thrown from the back of a pickup truck and left paralyzed from the waist down, dark times followed. There was a long time, he says, when he was overwhelmed by pain and fear, and hope for the future was in short supply.  In those moments, the teenager could never have guessed that…

The University of the Fraser Valley will recognize six inspirational Canadians by granting them honorary degrees at its convocation ceremonies in June. UFV will honour Nancy Patricia “Pat” Charlie, David Jimmie, Paul Esposito, Rick Hansen, Rochelle Prasad, and Robert Hauser. Nancy Patricia Charlie of Stsʼaʼí꞉les, known widely as “Auntie Pat”, is one of the most…

Mary Stewart never planned on being a teacher, until she found herself in the first-ever Halq’eméylem class at the Stó:lō Shxwelí Halq’eméylem Language Program through the Stó:lō Nation Agency. She was 36, with a UFV Social Services diploma under her belt and a permanent job lined up. But when the opportunity came to learn Upriver…

The University of the Fraser Valley welcomed the community to campus from June 10 to June 12 to celebrate Convocation over six ceremonies in its Athletic Centre. A total of 3,152 students earned credentials to graduate from UFV this academic year, and 1,601 attended Convocation and crossed the stage. Almost 6,000 guests attended Convocation over…

Jael Penner is a problem solver. Give her a computer and a challenge to overcome and watch her go. With a smile on her face and her fingers dancing across the keyboard, she’ll have a solution worked out in no time at all.  “It’s super rewarding and I kind of get a rush of adrenaline…

Eleanor Deacon is always looking for the next step, determined to keep learning and developing. In 2023, her quest for knowledge brought her to the University of the Fraser Valley, where she enrolled in the Master of Education in Educational Leadership and Mentorship program.  A teacher at a Chilliwack school, Eleanor graduates from the UFV…