About 1,000 Brock University students will begin a new chapter in their lives on Friday, Oct. 13 as they cross the stage to receive their degrees at Fall Convocation.

Brock’s 114th Convocation will commence with a ceremony at 10 a.m., followed by a second at 2:30 p.m., both inside the University’s Ian D. Beddis Gymnasium.

The morning ceremony will include students from the Faculties of Applied Health Sciences and Social Sciences, while the afternoon ceremony will focus on students from the Faculties of Education, Humanities, Math and Science and the Goodman School of Business.

Among the awards that will be part of Friday’s ceremonies are the Governor General’s Silver Medals, presented to the two undergraduate students with the highest academic average of the class of 2023. This year’s recipients are Mohammed Abbas, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences in June, and Daniel Belanger, who also graduated this spring with a Bachelor of Arts in Classics with a specialization in Greek and Roman Studies.

Also being awarded Friday are two Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medals to students who best exemplify the spirit of the University’s namesake, Maj.-Gen. Sir Isaac Brock, by demonstrating qualities of leadership, courage, innovation, inspiration and community involvement. This fall’s recipients include Bachelor of Recreation and Leisure Studies student Ashley Giroux and Master of Arts in Social Justice and Equity Studies student Raadhiyah Zowmi (BSc ’21).

In addition to participating in leadership and volunteer experiences on campus, Giroux was deeply engaged in experiential learning throughout her degree, with therapeutic recreation practicum placements at a long-term care home and a recreational respite program that supports people who have a disability, struggle with mental health or face social isolation.

Zowmi devoted herself to student leadership and uplifting initiatives for equity, diversity and inclusion during her time at Brock. She completed her graduate research on barriers to adequate mental health care in the South Asian diaspora and converted her coveted graduate co-op placement with Global Affairs Canada into a part-time position as a Junior Analyst in the South Asian Division.

Tickets will not be required to attend Fall Convocation, but there is a two-guest limit per graduand and all guests will be required to check-in prior to entering the ceremony. Guests are encouraged to have the name and student identification number of the graduand they’re celebrating present at check-in.

Both ceremonies will also be livestreamed at brocku.ca/livestream

Complimentary parking will be available for Fall Convocation. Please follow the directional signage to Lot B and Lot D. If these lots are full, overflow parking will be available in Lots 1 and 3. Accessible parking is also available in Lot P.

For more information about Brock’s Fall Convocation, visit brocku.ca/convocation