The University of Regina (U of R) marked fall convocation on Thursday, with 1,132 students graduating with degrees. “I feel the excitement and I also feel how proud people are of their loved ones when they cross the stage,” said President & Vice-Chancellor Jeff Keshen. “I tell people, ‘Soak it up, because this has been a journey that’s been defined by many triumphs but also many challenges.” “I heard about it a couple weeks ago that I got it, I was so excited,” said Madison Sagert, winner of the President’s Medal. “It just symbolizes my hard work over the last four years and my dedication to my academic and professional growth.” Sagert finished her degree with a 95 per cent average. “I’m just very touched and honoured to receive this, especially from the place I call home,” said Ruth Smillie, who was awarded with a doctor arts honoris causa. After moving around Canada for much of her life, Smillie has been a trailblazer in the Regina theatre community, serving as CEO of the Globe Theatre for more than two decades. When she started out at the theatre in the late 1990’s, she knew just a few full time actors in the city. Receiving the award on Thursday was a full circle moment. “The idea of becoming a theatre artist was a really long shot and pretty improbable,” she said. “I’d say it’s full circle of being here and being honoured for my work in theatre, it’s lovely.” “Without Ruth’s contributions over so many years, the globe would not be where it is today. We wouldn’t be seeing the productions that we’re seeing coming into Saskatchewan, into Regina,” Keshen said. “Darke Hall has been not just revitalized in terms of its physical structure with the campaign to reestablish Darke Hall towards glory, but Ruth has been an essential part of that to energize the human quality to Darke Hall.” In the morning convocation, Regina’s Pam Klein was also honoured with an honorary Doctor of Laws, after building a career in advertising at the Phoenix Group, and her countless contributions to the community. For many, their studying careers will not just end at convocation. Sagert, who finished with a bachelor’s degree of kinesiology, will be staying at the U of R for a masters of science and kinesiology. “It definitely was a transition moving into university, definitely to change a little bit of my study habits.” she said. “I have a lot of time management, if I know that I have an exam, I’ll be studying way ahead of time and just trying to juggle everything. A lot of it is time management to get to achieve those grades.” According to Dr. Keshen, after the U of R’s convocation in the spring, the alumni total will amount to over 100,000 in the university’s history.
