Brock University will celebrate the accomplishments of thousands of new graduates as they cross the Convocation stage next week and embark on the next steps in their career journeys.

Years of hard work will culminate in the milestone moment that will see about 3,000 students receive their degrees. Brock’s 119th Convocation will include seven ceremonies held from Tuesday, June 9 to Friday, June 12 in the University’s Ian Beddis Gymnasium. Ceremonies will take place at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day, with the exception of Friday, when only a morning ceremony will be held.

In addition to celebrating the Class of 2026, Brock’s Convocation will recognize the achievements and contributions of Tim Johnson, a champion of Indigenous history who will be presented with an honorary doctorate.

Johnson, President of the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations, will receive the honour and deliver the Convocation address on Thursday, June 11 at 10 a.m.

For those unable to attend Convocation, all ceremonies will be livestreamed online at brocku.ca/livestream

Tickets will not be required to attend, but there is a two-guest limit per graduand. 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 with them at check-in.

Complimentary parking will be available exclusively for Convocation guests for all ceremonies. Directional signage will lead guests to Lots D and B, with accessible parking located in Lot P. If these lots fill, overflow parking will be available in Lots 3 and 2. Carpooling and ride sharing are highly encouraged.

For more information, visit brocku.ca/convocation

Below is a schedule of this year’s Convocation ceremonies, along with some of the many highlights:

Tuesday, June 9, 10 a.m. — Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

• Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Ivie Omoregie and Larissa Lobo will be honoured for their academic excellence and community involvement. Omoregie founded the Black Nursing Students’ Association, offering support for students navigating academics and clinical placements, while Lobo’s research examining online risk behaviours and youth resiliency is gaining ground in her field.
• Assistant Professor of Health Sciences Michelle Vine, the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, will deliver the Convocation address.

Tuesday, June 9, 2:30 p.m. — Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

• Associate Professor of Kinesiology and Canada Research Chair in Neuromuscular Mechanics and Ergonomics Michael Holmes will deliver the Convocation address. Holmes is this year’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Excellence in Research Award recipient.

Wednesday, June 10, 10 a.m. — Faculty of Social Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology graduand Aishah Sonekan and Master of Arts in Sociology graduand Ben Sterling will be honoured with the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal. Sonekan has dedicated her time to enhancing the student experience, supporting key initiatives such as Brock’s Black History Month and African Heritage Month celebrations. Driven by his own personal experiences, Sterling is using research to create meaningful change. He has examined how “at-risk” labels and youth justice reforms may be expanding systems of surveillance and control rather than reducing harm.
• Linh Dang will graduate with a Master of Arts in Applied Disability Studies. Her impactful research has focused on the experiences of women international students with disabilities who have pursued higher education in Canada.
• Karen Louise Smith, Associate Professor of Communication, Popular Culture and Film and the 2025 Chancellor’s Chair in Teaching Excellence recipient, will deliver the Convocation address.

Wednesday, June 10, 2:30 p.m. – Faculties of Social Sciences and Humanities

• Robert Tremblay, a 66-year-old retired Major with the Canadian Army, will graduate following his adventure-filled time in Brock’s Classics and Archaeology program. During his degree, he undertook three European archaeological expeditions, completed more than 60 underwater dives in the Ionian Sea and excavated ancient artifacts on the Island of Pantelleria.
• Jackson Tinker, who will cross the stage with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, has turned an internship with the Township of West Lincoln into a full-time position supporting the municipality with its preparations for the upcoming election.
• PhD in Interdisciplinary Humanities graduand Maya Karanouh and History of Art and Visual Culture graduand Natalia Rodrigues-Rana will be honoured with the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal. Karanouh designed and built the Small Business Generative AI Ethics Hub, an artificial intelligence (AI) enablement platform to help small and medium enterprises navigate complex AI technology. In her role as the Brock University Students’ Union’s Vice-President of University Affairs, Rodrigues-Rana has led several campus initiatives focused on student wellness, accessibility, mental health and community belonging.
• Dramatic Arts graduand Nav Brar will be recognized as the 2026 recipient of the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts Textile Award. Brar discovered his passion for designing and building costumes at Brock while learning technical skills that helped him to create memorable costumes for the University’s productions and mainstages.
• Donna Szőke, Associate Professor of Studio Art, will deliver the Convocation address.

Thursday, June 11, 10 a.m. – Faculty of Education

• Champion of Indigenous history Tim Johnson, President of the Niagara Academy for Indigenous Relations, will deliver the Convocation address and be presented with an honorary doctorate from Brock.
• Concurrent Teacher Education graduand Rachel Wakayama will be honoured with Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal for her commitment to community impact. Wakayama volunteered extensively with Brock International and used her French language skills to support K-12 literacy at the Brock Learning Lab.
• The first cohort of Concurrent Teacher Education graduands with expertise in Interactive Arts and Science will cross Brock’s Convocation stage. The program equips teachers with the theoretical knowledge and technical skills they need to thrive in the classrooms of tomorrow that are increasingly shaped by technology.

Thursday, June 11, 2:30 p.m. – Faculties of Education and Mathematics and Science

• Roxanne Dekeyser, a Master of Science in Chemistry graduand, and Kevin Olenic, a Master of Science in Computer Science graduand, will receive the Governor General Gold Medal recognizing the highest average among graduate students in the Class of 2026.
• PhD in Educational Studies graduand Ashley Grover will be honoured with Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal for her commitment to community impact. Through her research, Grover explored memoirs to learn about trauma, helping others make sense of their own lives and feel less isolated and alone in their experiences.
• Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience graduand Lucy Teminski and PhD in Biological Sciences graduand Melanie Denomme will receive the Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medal for their impactful research and community contributions. Teminski dedicated her time through co-ops in both research and health-care settings, while Denomme’s research has been aimed at improving welfare standards of bearded dragons in captivity.
• Isabella Favero will earn her Master of Education having gained valuable insights through her research exploring the importance of digital tools in supporting literacy for young learners. PhD in Educational Studies graduand Nisreen Mohamad Alameddine will also cross the stage having explored the experiences of newcomers in Canadian schools.
• Assistant Professor of Chemistry Divya Kaur Matta, recipient of the 2026 Faculty of Mathematics and Science Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.

Friday, June 12, 10 a.m. – Goodman School of Business

• Professor of Marketing and Consumer Psychology Antonia Mantonakis, recipient of the 2026 Goodman School of Business Award for Excellence in Teaching, will deliver the Convocation address.
• Board of Trustees Spirit of Brock medallists Fatima Maqbool and Alycja Kyra Kinio will be honoured for their student leadership. Maqbool, a Bachelor of Accounting graduand, dedicated time to supporting the student experience while leading Goodman’s largest competition team. Kinio, a Master of Business Administration graduand, mentored undergraduate students while also sharing her experience at different campus speaking engagements.