Rehab Med’s Spring Class of 2020 takes convocation celebration virtual

There is wine in the air... a feeling of excitement, of expectancy... great things are about to happen. 

The university’s first president, Henry Marshall Tory, wrote those words to his wife when the university was founded. They rang just as true this week as Bob Haennel, dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine quoted them to kick off the faculty’s convocation celebrations on Saturday, June 6 to congratulate our newest graduates from the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine's MSc in Occupational Therapy, MSc in Physical Therapy, MSc in Speech-Language Pathology and MSc and PhD recipients from the rehabilitation science program.

Normally held as an in-person reception, this year’s festivities were moved online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response. Students, faculty and staff submitted video messages and tuned in to YouTube together on June 6 to view the collection of greetings. 

“The world needs your innovation, your work ethic and your resilience,” said Haennel. “Great things really are about to happen for you and because of you.” 

A number of student awards were also announced during the celebrations, including the winner of the Dean’s Medal. The Dean’s Medal is the highest award given by the faculty, and is given to the student who has earned the highest average in courses taken at the University of Alberta credited toward their degree. This year’s medal was award to Sophie Cutt from the Department of Physical Therapy. 

Awards were also presented to graduating students by the Department of Occupational Therapy’s Mary Forhan and the Department of Physical Therapy’s Mark Hall and Heather Bredy. Congratulations to all award recipients: 

• Nicole Baker, MScOT: Medal in Occupational Therapy. Awarded to a student in the graduating class who has demonstrated outstanding scholarship through graduation with distinction and who has most exemplified peer recognized professional behavior through leadership and personal qualities.
• Alexandra Boran, MScOT: The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists Award. Awarded to the graduating student who has achieved the highest standing in the theory of occupational therapy during the entire program.
• Mark Cameron, MScPT; Jenna Doberthien, MScPT; Carly Spaulding, MScPT; Sarah Sheedy, MScOT: Jim and Fran Vargo Goodwill Award. Recipients are selected on the basis of demonstrated qualities of comradeship and congeniality, and an ability to promote feelings of friendship and goodwill throughout the Faculty.
• Laura Campbell, MScOT; Enoch Chan, MScPT: Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine Student Clinical Award. Recipients are selected on the basis of skills and attitudes demonstrated in advanced clinical placements.
• Sophie Cutt, MScPT: The Canadian Physiotherapy Association Prize. Awarded annually to the graduating student with the highest aggregate percentage in academic and clinical physiotherapy subjects during the entire program.
• Taryn Erickson-Montague, MScOT: Harvey and Dorothy Miller Graduate Scholarship in Innovative Occupational Therapy. Selection is based on superior academic achievement, demonstrated strong clinical skills, and innovation in clinical fieldwork placement and its impact on enabling broader client participation in society.
• Anna Merino, MScOT: Lisa Lynn Leinweber Memorial Scholarship. Awarded annually to a student in the graduating class who has achieved a balance between academic life and extracurricular activities, has demonstrated leadership qualities academically and personally, and has achieved outstanding scholarship and academic achievement.
• Emma P., MScOT: Canadian Occupational Therapy Foundation Future Scholar Award. Awarded to a master’s student with an emphasis on research in their professional program.
• Lianne Pettigrew, MScOT: Dr. J. R. Fowler Memorial Book Award. The recipient is chosen on the basis of academic standing, personal qualities and contribution to the Faculty.

While moving the convocation celebration online meant that students and faculty had to embrace a new way of sharing their congratulations and farewells, it also made it possible for family and friends to join in from around the world—approximately 25 per cent of viewers watched from outside of Canada. 

Thank you to everyone who joined in on our live-stream celebration. A heartfelt congratulations to all of our graduates! 

The University’s first virtual convocation will take place on Friday, June 12, at 10:00 a.m. MDT. To view the ceremony live, visit the University of Alberta home page that morning for the live-stream link.