Hundreds of students graduated from Vancouver Island University's science, arts, business and vocational programs this week.
The university hosted morning and afternoon convocation ceremonies at Nanaimo's Port Theatre Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Ceremonies also included awarding of four honorary doctorates of letters to notable Canadians, including Raffi Cavoukian, singer songwriter; Wade Davis, anthropologist, ethnographer, author, photographer and filmmaker; Takao Tanabe, one of Canada's most important painters and Shelagh Rogers, broadcast journalist. Crawford S. Holling, forest entomologist, received an honorary doctorate of science.
Distinguished alumni awards were also presented to Serene Kerpan, who graduated in 2008, and received the Early Achievement Award. Malerie Meeker was presented the Distinguished Alumni - Service to Society Award.