Congratulations to our Spring 2021 Graduates!!

Dear graduates in History, Classics, and Religious Studies,

I wanted to send you a short message of congratulations on behalf of the Department of History, Classics, and Religion*.

You are the third set of graduates to receive your degrees without the pageantry of an in-person Convocation ceremony in Jubilee Auditorium. Normally I would have been on the podium with a bunch of other professors in our doctoral academic robes, and I am very much aware of the toll Covid has taken on this final stage of your university studies.

However, we can also say that the pandemic adds distinction to your achievement in completing your degrees, and you can justifiably celebrate that. Sixty-one of you graduated today with your Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies, History, and Classics. Although I have only taught a few of you personally, I know our department, and I know that your professors will have held you to high standards and exposed you to a variety of learning styles, topics, and fascinating questions as you have worked on your degrees in the department (and across the University of Alberta).

You can each be proud of your accomplishment today, and I hope you will remember your years at the University of Alberta fondly as you move on to your next challenges, whatever they might be. Before that, however, I hope you have the chance for a great celebration with your families, supporters, or loved ones.

Please accept our department’s best wishes for your future as degree holders from the University of Alberta. Well done!

Sincerely,

Ryan Dunch

Chair, Department of History, Classics, and Religion*

*name change pending