Brock University President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg (right) during Brock's 113th Convocation, which took place from June 12 to 16.Dear Badgers,
What a fantastic week!
Convocation is a special time on any university campus, but as someone experiencing it at Brock for the first time, I have to tell you that the energy and enthusiasm here is unmatched by anything I’ve ever experienced.
Together we celebrated the achievements of 3,500 grads — including those community-minded leaders honoured with Spirit of Brock medals — as well as some of our top researchers and educators.
We also recognized three outstanding individuals — hockey executive Kyle Dubas (BSM ’07), Indigenous entrepreneur Jenn Harper, and champion of women in business Deborah Rosati (BAdmin ’84) — with well-earned honorary doctorates.
Watching our graduates cross the stage in the Ian Beddis Gymnasium this week, I was reminded once again of the transformative nature of education.
Students arrive at Brock with hopes, dreams and aspirations: of bettering themselves, their communities, their world.
They leave here having developed the skills necessary to do just that.
Those who crossed the stage this week are our future nurses, entrepreneurs, playwrights, scientists, business and political leaders, sports executives, accountants, doctors, historians, geographers and more.
Indeed, they are our future, period.
At Brock, we’ve cultivated a strong culture of curiosity, one that encourages our students and researchers to pursue their passions, explore new ideas, challenge conventional wisdom and make breakthroughs each and every day.
As I told the Class of 2023 during my Convocation address, I very much hope they go out into the world and embrace that curiosity.
Because if they’ve learned anything at Brock, it’s that curiosity has the power to open doors and create new opportunities.
In fact, it’s this culture of curiosity that has helped to propel Brock to the top of significant university rankings, expand our research enterprise, and attract a growing number of prospective students, among many other recent successes in which our new grads (and all of us!) take so much pride.
My heartfelt thanks to everyone on campus for making this week so special for our newest alumni and their families, and for formally welcoming me as President and Vice-Chancellor at Monday’s installation ceremony.
Brock truly is a remarkable place.
Surgite!
Lesley Rigg
President and Vice-Chancellor
Brock University
