The Brock Badgers are celebrating their graduating student-athletes who took part in Brock University’s 109th Convocation ceremony virtually on Friday, June 18.
The Class of 2021 includes about 60 student-athletes representing 27 teams graduating with degrees from Faculties of Applied Health Sciences, Education, Goodman School of Business, Mathematics and Science and Social Sciences.
Hannah Taylor, a Sport Management student, was a member of the Brock women’s wrestling team for five seasons.
“We cherish and celebrate the academic and athletic achievements our student-athletes have made that will help them secure a foothold on their future career path,” said Melissa Krist, Director, Brock Sports. “Brock Badgers have developed a skill set of leadership, teamwork, communication and, with this past year like no other, resiliency. We wish them continued success in their future endeavours and hope to see them back on campus, because once a Badger, always a Badger.”
Each graduand received their own personalized online experience with keynote addresses from Brock President Gervan Fearon and Chancellor Hilary Pearson and video messages from student leaders and others.
Graduates will be mailed a Convocation in a Box package containing their degree parchment, a Convocation program, an alumni pin, a copy of Surgite magazine, other information from the Brock University Alumni Association and a bag of Class of 2021 confetti.
The Badgers coaches submitted individual messages of congratulations, and well wishes shared across Brock Badgers’ social media platforms.
Logan Wilford, a Teacher Education student, spent five seasons with the Brock men’s fencing team.
Many of these student-athletes didn’t know that the 2019-20 season would be the last time they competed in red and navy blue as the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled their farewell campaign.
“Although I didn’t compete, I have so much to be thankful for, and many experiences at Brock University I can look back proudly on,” said women’s wrestler Hannah Taylor, a Sport Management student who helped the women’s wrestling team win four U SPORTS banners. “My teammates, coaches, and staff have helped me become the best version of myself and have impacted who I am as a wrestler and person so much so that it is difficult to put into words.”
For men’s fencer Logan Wilford, who won his first Ontario University Athletics silver medal in 2020, graduation is bittersweet.
“Graduating is exciting, but it is also a little daunting and sad. I am happy to have that feeling of accomplishment,” said Wilford, a Teacher Education student. “I will miss Brock and all the people I met along my post-secondary journey.”
