For student Sasha Morneau, crossing the stage and shaking UFV President Mark Evered's hand during her convocation ceremony was much more than the end of her undergraduate degree - it was the end of a long and arduous journey. During her time at UFV, Sasha persevered through a series of hurdles that might have stopped…

Families and friends from the Fraser Valley and beyond gathered to cheer as more than 2,100 students graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley on June 11 and 12. It’s always a festive atmosphere at the Abbotsford Centre for UFV Convocation. There were four ceremonies spread over two days this year, and more than…

His personality isn’t the only thing that’s electric about Etienne Dreyer, who at age 19 recently finished his undergraduate education before many even start. With a near-perfect 4.10 GPA, Dreyer is the youngest-known person to graduate from the University of the Fraser Valley’s Bachelor of Science program. He first caught the eye of future instructors…

When Sukhvinder Singh Mangat started his Criminal Justice degree program at UFV four years ago, his professor told him studying for his degree would be a transformational experience. Mangat was skeptical. “I was reluctant to believe this. How can simply completing a series of courses result in such a transformative change?” Mangat recalls. “Well, four…

Effectively fighting for the rights of refugees and immigrants from 144 countries takes 12-hours a day, seven days a week. And Shirzad Ahmed wouldn’t have it any other way. For his dedication to human rights, Shirzad will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of the Fraser Valley at 10 a.m. on…

Movement and expression have defined Margo Kane for more than 40 years during an accomplished professional performance career. You can’t categorize her, and you can’t keep her still. A seemingly endless well of perpetual energy helps this dynamo tell her own story, express herself as an artist, and facilitate the sharing of many stories reflective…

From a child gazing full of wonder at Yellowstone National Park’s gushing geysers to a young woman surviving blasted rock and ash near Mount St. Helens, volcanologist Catherine Hickson has had her adventures. Now she’s ready to embark on her latest after being awarded an honorary degree from the University of the Fraser Valley. She…

Ginny Dennehy didn’t plan to be a crusader for mental health. Or to be heading into her golden years watching her friends attend their children’s weddings and becoming grandparents, with no prospect of doing so herself. But after losing her two children in separate tragedies, that is the course her life has taken. Ginny and…

Call it kitchen-table philanthropy. Fundraising without the frills. Every year, the women of the Crystal Gala Foundation put on a breathtakingly fancy and painstakingly planned gala fundraiser. Their goal? Raising money to support women undergoing breast cancer treatment in the Fraser Valley. Since inception in 1999 the group has raised $1.8 million in support of…

Kind, caring, and incredibly capable, Certified Dental Assistant graduate Heather Bakker is UFV’s 2015 Lieutenant Governor’s Medal recipient. Bakker received her medal at the June 11 UFV Convocation ceremony. The Lt. Governor’s Medal is awarded to students graduating vocational or career programs less than two years long who excel in their studies and contribute to…

Natalie Ng had every right to be nervous. Twenty years had passed since her last university experience, but volunteering at her children’s school library renewed a passion for learning. The Lower Mainland resident called around, finding what she wanted through an advisor at the University of the Fraser Valley. Ng’s family encouraged her return to…

The term ‘born to teach’ applies to few educators as accurately as it does to Jan Lashbrook Green, this year’s recipient of the University of the Fraser Valley’s Teaching Excellence Award. The honour arrives just in time for Lashbrook Green, who retires this spring after dedicating the last four decades to the field of education.…

The University of the Fraser Valley will confer four honorary doctorates this year, recognizing Canadians who have made outstanding contributions to their field. Shirzad Ahmed, Ginny Dennehy, Dr. Catherine Hickson, and Margo Kane will each attend one of UFV’s four Convocation ceremonies to receive an honorary degree. The ceremonies will be held June 11 and…

Do you know an individual or a group who has made the Fraser Valley a better place to live? Those people who make everyday contributions to their community but may not be recognized? Consider nominating them for the UFV Betty Urquhart Community Service award. Betty Urquhart was one of the first employees of Fraser Valley…