UBC confers BASc degrees on 116 School of Engineering graduates
School of Engineering graduates convened for a group photo prior to the iron ring ceremony March 22, 2013 in the EME Building at UBC’s Okanagan campus. (Composite photo.)
Friday, June 7, 2013 was a day to celebrate at UBC’s Okanagan campus as 116 School of Engineering graduates were conferred with BASc degrees.
In all, 51 Civil, 51 Mechanical, and 14 Electrical engineering students received UBC degrees, joining the largest graduating class ever — 1,485 students — in Okanagan campus history.
In another rite of passage on March 22, 2013, graduating engineers were honoured with an iron ring ceremony in the EME Building. It was just the second time since the establishment of Camp 26 that UBC Okanagan engineering students were obligated on their own campus. A tradition that dates back almost a 100 years, iron rings symbolize a great accomplishment and help identify Canadian engineers to the rest of the world.
The idea of a ceremony for the Obligation of Canadian Engineers – when engineering students and Canadian engineers receive their rings – dates back to 1922, when seven past presidents of the Engineering Institute of Canada attended a meeting in Montreal with other engineers. Author and adventurer Rudyard Kipling responded to a call from the seven engineers with “The Ritual of the Calling of an Engineer” ceremony, to be administered by the Corporation of the Seven Wardens Inc.
It was instituted with the simple goal of directing newly qualified Canadian engineers toward a consciousness of their profession and its social significance, and indicating to more experienced engineers their responsibilities in welcoming and supporting the newer engineers when they are ready to enter the profession.
The full high-resolution group photo taken at the March 22nd iron ring ceremony can be downloaded here.
Congratulations to all Engineering graduates, and to the select few who received awards from the Association of Professional Engineers & Geoscientists (APEG):
• Samuel Yew (Mechanical), 2013 APEG Gold Medal Award in Engineering
• Emma Houiellebecq, APEG Achievement Award in Civil Engineering
• Brandon Born, APEG Achievement Award in Electrical Engineering
• Matthew Buat, APEG Achievement Award in Mechanical Engineering
Check out the 2013 Rising Star feature profile about Emma Houiellebecq. Other 2013 Rising Star features include Trevor Condon, Devyn Farr, and Cody Marwood.