The final of Brock University’s nine Spring Convocation ceremonies was held Friday in front of a packed house inside Ian Beddis Gymnasium.

Nearly 400 graduating students from the Faculties of Humanities and Mathematics and Science crossed the stage to receive their degrees.

Delivering the Convocation address was Assistant Professor of Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures Nigel Lezama, who told the students the physical degree they were about to receive holds deep meaning.

“Think back to who you were five years ago. Think about what you knew and what you thought you knew,” Lezama said. “Your degree symbolizes this intellectual growth.

“That piece of paper is a symbol of your potential to continue challenging yourselves and the systems that govern your lives,” he said.

Lezama, the Faculty of Humanities recipient for the Excellence in Teaching award, told the grads they were on the cusp of the best time of their lives.

“Many will tell you that life is short and to start your career as soon as possible,” he said. “But you’re young, you have lots of time to settle down into a career. Make the most of your freedom and the plethora of choices your education has given you.”

Friday’s ceremony included an emotional presentation of a degree posthumously to the family of Jennifer Popescu, who died suddenly last month. Popescu was 21 years old and had just completed her four-year Biomedical Sciences program. She was set to begin a master’s degree at Brock this fall.

Watch a timelapse video of Friday’s ceremony below:

FULL REPLAY: Faculty of Humanities; Faculty of Math and Science, 10 a.m. Ceremony