Graduates from across Thompson Rivers University’s faculties and schools gathered Friday, Oct. 9, to celebrate their achievements at Fall Convocation, where they were encouraged to embrace new opportunities and use their education to make a difference in the world.
The ceremony brought together graduates, families, friends and faculty to recognize the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and personal growth.
In her address, TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Airini celebrated the determination and individuality of the graduating class.
“TRU attracts people who have to find a way, people who have no time for fear, and who have no interest in being the same as others,” she said. “You are the originals. What comes next is now in your hands.”
Chancellor DeDe DeRose reminded graduates that earning a credential marks not the end of learning, but the beginning of new opportunities to put their knowledge to work.
A call to transform
A highlight of the ceremony was the conferral of an honorary Doctor of Letters on internationally respected Māori scholar and advocate Dr. Graham Hingangaroa Smith, recognized for his transformative contributions to Indigenous education, scholarship and self-determination in Aotearoa New Zealand, British Columbia and at TRU.
Distinguished Professor Graham Hingangaroa Smith received an honorary Doctor of Letters from TRU at Fall Convocation 2026.
In his address, Smith challenged graduates to consider how they would use their education to create meaningful change.
“The measure of an institution is not just found in the numbers of graduate students it produces, nor in its global rankings,” he said. “Rather, it is found in what those graduates go on to do to transform the world around them.”
His message was a call to action.
“So my invocation to you all is simple: become a transformer,” he said. “Transforming starts now. Tomorrow is too late. Today is tomorrow.”
Smith emphasized that transformation begins with individuals but extends to their families, communities and beyond.
Perseverance and possibility
Graduate speaker Rene Dunkley offered a personal example of perseverance. Dunkley earned his Bachelor of Technology in Trades and Technology Leadership through TRU Open Learning in 2024 while working full time and raising three children. Unable to attend his own Convocation, he was invited by President Airini to join this year’s ceremony after the two met during a visit to TRU earlier this year.
“Drive isn’t about being the smartest person in the room,” Dunkley said. “It’s about showing up consistently when progress feels slow and refusing to quit when it would be easier to walk away.”
For Master of Education graduate Sohini Roy, completing her degree was a journey of personal and professional growth.
Coming to Canada from India, Roy faced the challenges of adapting to a new country and academic culture while pursuing her educational goals.
Reflecting on what she learned throughout her studies, Roy emphasized the importance of embracing challenges and remaining open to new experiences.
“What matters is the willingness to learn, adapt, and persevere,” she said.
“The challenges we encounter along the way can become valuable opportunities for personal and professional growth, shaping not only how we learn, but also how we understand ourselves as educators.”
As graduates move forward into careers, further studies and new opportunities, the ceremony’s message was clear: their achievements mark not only how far they have come, but the possibilities of what they can accomplish next.
Missed the celebration or want to experience it all over again? Watch the full Fall Convocation ceremony on Vimeo.
