2016 a year to celebrate at UFV

Enjoy a slideshow of images from UFV in 2016:

It was another year to celebrate at UFV, as students, faculty, and staff success helped make UFV a leader in the social, cultural, and economic development of the Fraser Valley.

Here are a few highlights from 2016:

More than 2,800 credentials were awarded at four Convocation ceremonies in June.

UFV awarded honorary doctorates to business titan Luigi Aquilini, lawyer and Paralympian Halldor Bjarnason, artist and activist Linda Frimer, and educator and community leader George Peary.

Top academic student medals were earned by Kristy Kardos, Alyssa Zucchet, Courtney Verbeek , and Rebecca Noort

Professor Martha Dow received the Teaching Excellence award, while the Research Excellence award went to Professor Derek Harnett. Employee excellence awards went to Jill Smith, Samantha Pattridge, and Green UFV.We celebrated alumni excellence by awarding Gary Bass and Shannon Thiesen with Distinguished Alumni and Distinguished Young Alumni awards, and cheering on Jason Beck as he launched his book on the 1954 Empire Games, Len Goerke as he earned a national police Order of Merit, and Adele Renaud as she was named one of BC Business magazine’s Top 30 Under 30

UFV was named one of BC’s Top Employers for the second straight year.

John Pankratz, partner in the Abbotsford accounting firm Friesen, Pankratz and Associates, was elected chair of the UFV Board of Governor, and the university launched a presidential search as President Mark Evered announced his intention to retire in 2017.

UFV celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Chandigarh campus and Bachelor of Business Administration in India.

Students excelled at home and abroad. Taylor Breckles and others travelled to Poland and other destinations on premier’s international scholarships. War vet Stephen Clews drew upon his military experience to succeed in nursing studies. Josh Friesen showed that physics and business are a good fit at his summer co-op job. Keenan Beavis brought his entrepreneurial spirit to his business studies. Jessica Alves combined her passions of equestrian riding and graphic design.

Kinesiology professor Roger Friesen had a thrilling Olympic experience, serving as sports psychologist to the Canadian cycling team.

Staff member Elaine Malloway was named hereditary chief of the Yakweakwioose First Nation.

The Coast Capital Peer Resource and Leadership Centre opened.

UFV reached out to its communities locally and globally through partnerships such as BioPod partnership with the City of Surrey and John Volken Academy, a multi-level mentoring program at Chilliwack Secondary, a land-based resiliency program at Seabird Island, Try a Trade (which brought 1,200 middle school students to the TTC), health clinics at our Five Corners location, the Champions for Health program in Antigua, and a hospitality immersion field trip to Vancouver.

UFV welcomed the community to campus by hosting the opening ceremony parade and welcome reception for the BC Summer Games in Abbotsford.

UFV signed memorandums of understanding with Chinook Helicopters and China’s Binzhou University.

UFV also reached out to the community through its season of theatre, President’s Leadership Lecture Series, general forums and lectures, microlectures, Airshow display, Cascade games, Career Fair, hosting of school science fair, and other events.

It was a big year on the programming front, as UFV launched majors or degrees in Theatre, Peace and Conflict Studies, Indigenous Studies, Education, Media Arts, and Agriculture. UFV also revamped its Bachelor of Arts degree to include more experiential learning, and invested $1.5 million in new teaching and learning innovation initiatives. Continuing Education launched a new Centre for Creative Development. These actions all reflect UFV’s five learning goals. UFV supported the BCTECH strategy through developments in agriculture and trades programming and research

It was also a year for sad goodbyes and remembering the past, as founding board chair and honorary degree recipient Doug Hamilton passed away, as did aboriginal leader and honorary degree recipient Ray Silver, retired chemistry instructor Nigel Dance, retired biologist Henry Speer, security officer Lorne Rowan, and retired Student Services professional Ellen Dixon.

UFV’s original building in Chilliwack was demolished after part of the old Chilliwack North campus was sold.