PHOTOS: VIU graduates receive degrees, ready to make way in the world

Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, June 10, 2026

Autumn Clark, valedictorian, left, and Louise Stern, Vancouver Island University bachelor of social work instructor, prior to the convocation ceremony at the VIU gym on Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Sadie Thomas prepares to receive her degree on Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Takeo Tonogai, left, Yagnik Valand, Rylan van Kooten and Liam Walsh converse outside the Vancouver Island University gym prior to the grad ceremony on Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Christina Harry, left, and Christina Gustafsson, prep at the VIU trades centre prior to their graduation on Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Nevan Webb is contemplative prior to Vancouver Island University convocation the afternoon of Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Jasmeen Turna left, and Jessica Tang triumphantly graduated from Vancouver Island University Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

Judith Sayers, chancellor, and Dennis Johnson, interim president and vice-chancellor of Vancouver Island University, on the stage at convocation the afternoon of Tuesday, June 9. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

One door closed and another opened as university students in Nanaimo turned the tassels on their grad caps and received their degrees.

Convocation ceremonies took place at Vancouver Island University’s Nanaimo campus this week, with graduation for students in the faculty of health sciences and human services on Tuesday, June 9.

In his speech, Dennis Johnson, VIU interim president and vice-chancellor, lauded the pupils for reaching a major milestone, through resilience and determination, even when graduation seemed a far way off.

“Today is a celebration of that journey, the hard work, the late nights, the deadlines, the group projects, and for some families, years of politely asking, ‘So when exactly do you graduate?’” quipped Johnson.

Their paths going forward will differ, he said.

“Success will look different for each of you,” said Johnson. “For some, it will mean a first job. For others, it could be graduate school, a new opportunity, a new community, or a long held goal finally coming into view. And for some, it may be simply taking a breath and taking some time to consider what comes next.”

Judith Sayers, in her final term as VIU chancellor, said she hoped the grads would put their skills to good use.

“There are so many needs in this day and age, whether it’s the new technological advances, whether it’s trying to protect Mother Earth for future generations, [or] developing new research and new ideas, and just to use what you’ve learned in a greater way,” she said.

Autumn Clark, valedictorian, who graduated with a bachelor of social work, was originally a student midwife who transitioned to social work because she “really loved sitting with people in their greatest joys and greatest griefs” and thought it aligned with her values. She spoke of the work it took.

“The assignments often got in at 11:59 p.m. for a midnight deadline, and there were many seminars with a feverish kid on my lap, and we kind of built like a mutual cohesion within the cohort that we had that really propelled all of us to move forward in a good way,” she told the News Bulletin.

She said she was proud of her accomplishment and having her children “be able to see a powerful woman step into leadership roles and have them know that we can do hard things.”

VIU will also hold the Semélshun Indigenous Graduation Recognition Ceremony Thursday, June 11.