St. FX University conferred nearly 300 degrees and diplomas at Fall Convocation Saturday.
St. FX President Dr. Andy Hakin addresses graduates at Fall Convocation (St. FX University photo)
School President Dr. Andy Hakin congratulated the students for their achievement, saying it’s a day when their academic endeavours and hard work have been fully recognized. He says Convocation celebrates the achievements, but also invites graduates to pause on what is next.
The university also awarded an honourary degree to award-winning and political cartoonist Bruce MacKinnon.
MacKinnon has received 10 National Newspaper Awards and 23 Atlantic Journalism Awards. He is also the recipient of numerous international prizes.
St. FX University has honored one of Canada’s premier editorial cartoonists at Fall Convocation Saturday, Bruce MacKinnon of the Halifax Chronicle Herald.
Bruce MacKinnon, an award winning illustrator at the regional, national and international level was conferred an honourary degree at the ceremony.
Bruce MacKinnon, speaking at Fall Convocaiton. (St. University photo)
In a speech filled with humour, the Antigonish native spoke fondly of his deep connection to St. FX; his father Neil MacKinnnon, taught history at the university for 30 years. He played hockey at the old St. FX rink, cheered Coach Steve Konchalski’s X-Men Basketball team, playing football with his high school friends at Memorial Field, worked part-time at the university cafeteria and drew cartoons for the Xaverian student newspaper and The Casket newspaper.
MacKinnon encouraged the audience to visit the St. FX Art Gallery to view the works of student and regional artists.
St. FX University presented three awards at its Fall Convocation Saturday recognizing outstanding educators and community partnerships.
Dr. Donnelly Archibald, a senior lab instructor in the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences received the Outstanding Staff Teaching Award. He is recognized for his extraordinary research program, securing more than $2 million in external funding to support undergraduate and graduate research.
The St. FX Outreach Award goes to Philosophy Professor Dr. Steven Baldner. Baldner is best known for his coordination of Classic for Classics, a week-long event held every summer at the university since 2009, where participants read and discuss the importance of philosophy.
Theatre Antigonish is the recipient of the Community Partner Recognition Award, for its five decades serving students and the regional community. Theatre Antigonish showcases students in its productions, and have the opportunity to work with professional theatre members including playwrights, actors, stage managers and designers.