Some 1,200 graduating Camosun students crossed the stage in blue gowns in June to honour their achievement and celebrate in community. Held on the college’s Interurban campus, six convocation ceremonies took place from Tuesday, June 17 until Thursday, June 19 and were organized by each of Camosun’s six schools and centres. This year, over 2,000 students graduated from the college.
Camosun Strategy, Planning, and Transformation executive director Jennifer Stone says that in addition to student success, the convocation ceremony recognizes the support networks that bolster students’ post-secondary accomplishment.
“I love the energy of Camosun convocations because I just find them really family friendly, and it’s about celebrating everyone,” says Stone. “Obviously, we’re there to celebrate the students, and they’re amazing accomplishments, but I think we also give a lot of credence to family and friends… who are there and help students get through it… So to me, the energy is just such a celebration of accomplishment and support. I just find it super positive. It’s honestly hard not to get emotionally wrapped up in it because it’s so special.”
Stone says this year’s convocation theme, “Your path to success,” is a reminder of the nuanced fulfillment that students can find before and after their time at Camosun.
“There’s many different paths to success, and there’s many different definitions of what success is to each and every student,” she says. “And so what I find so great about Camosun is that we create space for that, and we celebrate that, whatever that means to each and every student. What their path to success might look like is going to be different from the student sitting next to them, or what my journey to success might look like, or how I might define that. And it’s finding that for themselves, and creating space for that, and the right support, and the right service to see that through.”
Stone says the ceremonies were executed superbly, thanks to the planning committee as well as the staff and faculty who attended the event in support of this year’s graduates.
“I think our planning committee… did an incredible job in terms of thinking of every detail and planning ahead and making sure that guests felt welcome, and each event has its own personality a little bit. So I think they do such a great job of planning for that and making sure those events run really smoothly,” she says. “I was super impressed all the way through. I went to every single convocation event, and it was incredible to be a part of.”
Convocation ceremonies offer graduates an opportunity for collective celebration, Stone says. As a witness to the event, she has seen convocation provide joyful closure for students and attendees.
“It’s a wonderful way to celebrate with your family and your friends, and it’s their opportunity to be a part of that journey in that celebration of that journey with you. There’s something, to me, magical about watching students cross the stage. I see them go up the ramp, I see them receive their little certificate and shake hands with our board chair and president, and there’s something that happens when they come down the ramp. And just being able to be a part of… that pride and that celebration is really powerful,” she says. “I think it’s a great way to wrap up your time at Camosun and celebrate all of that hard work.”
Students often bring their unique flair on stage—a dance move, a zany gesture, a sentimental belonging. Stone says this year her favourite moments were those that honoured family and nationality.
“There’s some lovely examples of students holding up flags from home countries, which is great. Then you can always hear their cheering section go wild, which is always super fun. One particular student brought a lovely portrait of her grandfather that she carried across the stage, and that was quite emotional, I think, for a lot of people. It was quite profound what she did, carrying that across the stage. And I always love seeing moms and dads walk across the stage with their kids,” says Stone. “I just think that’s so cool when they’re able to do that.”