There were smiles, cheers and some tears of joy as more than 1,000 Brock University students received their degrees Friday, Oct. 18 during Fall Convocation.

The two ceremonies in Ian Beddis Gymnasium marked Brock’s 106th Convocation overall and 50th Fall ceremony.

Unlike Spring Convocation, which is spread over five days, Fall Convocation includes just two ceremonies covering all seven Faculties in a single day.

Kirsty Spence, Associate Professor in the Department of Sport Management delivers the morning Convocation address.

Distinguished Teaching Award recipient Kirsty Spence, who delivered the morning Convocation address, expressed what many were feeling Friday when she said “there are few other events that I love more at Brock than Convocation day.

“To share in the pride and joy that graduates emanate as they walk this stage and to meet parents and family members after all this time they have entrusted their own to us as Brock students is monumentous to me,” said the associate professor of Sport Management.

Spence encouraged the graduands to stay authentic to themselves and work to discover their purpose.

“Be inspired with the knowledge that it is you who gets to learn what is a good enough purpose for yourself and be full in yourself in doing so,” she said.

Delivering the afternoon address was Associate Professor of History Elizabeth Vlossak, who acknowledged that the new graduates might be feeling overwhelmed.

“Right now, you may feel scared and alone. The world and our future may seem pretty bleak. All around us, we’re confronted with challenges that seem insurmountable,” she said.

As a historian of 20th century Europe, Vlossak said she is sometimes saddened by society’s inability to learn from its past mistakes, but she believes studying the past also provides us “with powerful reminders of the amazing achievements humans are capable of and locates the inspiration we need in these dark times.”

“You are responsible for becoming attuned to what people are telling you is impossible and deciding if they’re actually right,” said Vlossak. “If they’re not, you must work as a society and a community to make the possibilities that will change the world for the better. Apathy is no longer an acceptable response. You leave Brock University today equipped with the skills, knowledge and experience to take up this challenge.”

Full archived video of both Convocation ceremonies can be found on the Brock YouTube page here.