During Spring Convocation ceremonies, June 7 to 10, Brock University will celebrate Master’s and PhD students for their academic and research excellence.
A total of 411 graduate degrees — 16 PhD, 395 Master’s — will be conferred.
Justin Maltese, a MSc student in Computer Science, will receive the prestigious Governor General’s Gold Medal for achieving the highest academic standing at the graduate level. Maltese, of Hamilton, attained a 98.5 average.
Spring Convocation will mark the first graduates from the PhD program in Interdisciplinary Humanities and from the Master’s program in Sustainability Science and Society.
Both programs have been at the forefront of the University’s directions to build transdisciplinary studies and research activities.
Brock established the Interdisciplinary Humanities doctoral program in 2011. The program brings together faculty and students from different disciplines across the University to collaborate on research questions from a variety of perspectives.
The graduate program in Sustainability Science and Society (SSAS) was launched in 2014. The program provides students an opportunity to study the social, economic, political, and biophysical challenges and to consider new ways of thinking about environmental sustainability.
“It’s always a landmark event for newer programs to celebrate the convocation of their first students,” says Mike Plyley, Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. “These students are like flagbearers. They signify a program’s wider impact as its students move forward to contribute their knowledge, creativity and skills in their field or through other academic and research pursuits.”
This convocation also holds special significance for Plyley as he completes his term as Dean on June 30.
“Convocation days are one of the best days on the job for a Dean,” Plyley says. “I’ve had the privilege to congratulate thousands of graduate students over the past five years. Watching our students cross the stage to accept their master’s or doctoral degrees provides you with a strong indication of the force of their potential in a world that will look to them to make society stronger and better. For a Dean, those are the times when you say to yourself that it just doesn’t get any better than this.”
2016 Convocation awards to Brock graduate students
Governor General’s Gold Medal:
Justin Maltese, Computer Science
Jack M. Miller Excellence in Research Awards
The FGS announces a list of Miller award recipients each year. At the time of graduation, students are given special recognition for the achievement. The following is a list of Miller award recipients who will be acknowledged at Spring Convocation.
Spring 2016 Convocation
Dimitrios Alexandropoulos, Chemistry
William John Gittings, Applied Health Sciences
Malisa Kurtz, Interdisciplinary Humanities
Stefon Jan Ross van Noordt, Psychology
Zahid Mohammad Rahman, Management
Phillip Wallace, Applied Health Sciences
Distinguished Graduate Student Award
Dimitrios Alexandropoulos, Chemistry
Michael Ayerh K Ayertey, Geography
Matilda Baptist, Biotechnology
Allan Campopiano, Psychology
Corey Jonathan Carlton, Business Economics
Kevin Daniel Caslin, Physics
Andrew Cheesman, Physics
Alison Edge, Biotechnology
Whitney Evans, Political Science
Renee Marie Henriette Girard, History
Christopher Scott Grawey, Critical Sociology
Steven Greenwood, English
Wade Alexander Hunt, Philosophy
Naomi Johnson, Applied Disabilities Studies
Malisa Kurtz, Interdisciplinary Humanities
Jeff Lakeit, Comparative Literatures and Arts
Justin Peter Maltese, Computer Science
Molly McMeekin, Classics
Kaitlin Louisa McNeill, Applied Disability Studies
Max Cale Merilovich, Biological Sciences
Joel Midgley-Volpato, Mathematics and Statistics
Samantha Lynne Julianne Morris, Sustainability: Science and Society
Li Mou, Business Administration
Ewelina Kinga Niemczyk, Educational Studies
Matthew Peter Casimir Nikitczuk, Earth Sciences
Kiel Graham Ormerod, Biological Sciences
Panagiota Perlepe, Chemistry
Irene Podolak, Applied Health Sciences
Stephanie Simoes, Philosophy
Zipparah Eileen Stephenson, Social Justice and Equity Studies
Kimberley Caitlin Tsujimoto, Child and Youth Studies
Rebecca Lynn Vos, Applied Linguistics
Jennifer R. Weiler, Education
Narnia Christine Worth, Psychology
Haiyue Xu, Management
Michelle Zahradnik, Applied Health Sciences
Spirit of Brock awards
Joshua Bowslaugh, Applied Health Sciences
Katlynne Smith, Education
Regan Fitzgerald, Goodman School of Business
Malisa Kurtz, Humanities
Chimaobi Amadi, Mathematics and Science
Antwi Boasiako, Social Sciences
Jack Noble Book Prizes
Jennifer R. Weiler, Education
Dr. Michael Kompf Book Prizes
Assuntina Del Gobbo, Education
Goodman Graduation Award
Marion Elizabeth Beckett, Business Administration
Neil Patrick Bourque, Business Administration
Regan Mckenzie Fitzgerald, Business Administration
Manuel Gloger, Management
Sunayana Gopal, Business Administration
Wenyan Gu, Accountancy
Jake Paul James Haskell, Accountancy
Jordan Molzan, Accountancy
Li Mou, Business Administration
Abdul Rashed Rahimi, Business Administration
Zahid Mohammad Rahman, Management
Martinus Benny Setya, Business Administration
Lixiong Wang, Business Administration
Yichun Wang, Accountancy
Haoxing Wu, Accountancy
Amik Zeshan, Business Administration
