CALGARY – Led by Canadian women's hockey icon Hayley Wickenheiser, University of Calgary Dinos student-athletes and athletic therapy students are receiving more than 70 degrees at the campus's annual convocation ceremonies this week.

The ceremonies, presided over by Chancellor Jim Dinning, opened Monday in the Jack Simpson Gym and continue through the end of the week, with nearly 5,000 total graduates joining the University of Calgary's more than 150,000 alumni in 148 countries around the world.

"It's a very proud week for all of us," said Athletic Director Ron Wuotila. "Seeing our student-athletes complete their educations and receive their degrees is rewarding for all of our coaches and staff. We congratulate all of our graduates and welcome them to our alumni group. We hope they will maintain their ties with the Dinos, and that they will always be proud to be a Dino."

Student-athletes must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0 in three or more courses per semester to remain eligible, in addition to training and competing in their sport. This demanding schedule fosters a sense of community among the student-athlete population as athletes aspire to perform in their sport and in the classroom.

For Wickenheiser, her trip across the stage was the culmination of more than 15 years of hard work as she received her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree.

"I think I actually started my degree in '96, so it's been a 17-year process," Wickenheiser told UToday earlier this week. "I've been chipping away at it, but I always had the idea in mind that I would finish my degree. It was always a goal of mine, and it's something that I'm very proud to do."

A fellow Dinos hockey star, men's team captain Brock Nixon, pointed out the perfect synergy between academic life and the demands of his sport as he received his Bachelor of Kinesiology and Bachelor of Education degrees.

"Balancing academics and sports at the university level is a challenge for all student athletes," said Nixon, who just wrapped up a stellar five-year career with the Dinos. "I think being in education provides a larger challenge as the student teaching practicums require a full-time commitment. Through flexibility of coaches, teachers, and university staff, I was able to make it work and have fulfilled commitments to my team and the Faculty of Education."

Convocation ceremonies are often emotional as families and students celebrate successes and look to the future – but one especially poignant moment came during Monday afternoon's ceremony for the Schulich School of Engineering. Noreen Kendall walked across the stage to a standing ovation, accepting her daughter Danielle's degree in mechanical engineering posthumously. Danielle Kendall, a member of the Dinos track and field team that helped capture the CIS national championship last March, died tragically in a hiking accident earlier this month in Ecuador.

In memory of Danielle, the Kendall family has established the Danielle Kendall Memorial Scholarship, which will be a perpetual legacy to support future students who exemplify her talents and strengths in athletics and academics.

To donate to the Danielle Kendall Memorial Scholarship, please visit http://netcommunity.ucalgary.ca/danielle

2013 University of Calgary Dinos Graduates

Athletic Therapy
Arzoo Avasthi, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Alie Briere, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Lindsay Ibey, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Courtney Kapustianyk, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Adam Kositsky, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Chantel Szwarc, BKin (Athletic Therapy)
Maddie Thomas, BKin (Athletic Therapy) – With Distinction
Courtney Van Beers, BKin (Athletic Therapy) – With Distinction
Jade Viegas, BKin (Athletic Therapy)

Women's Basketball
Alex Cole, BA (International Relations)
Esther Graff, BSc (Natural Sciences); BEd
Megan Lang, BKin (Leadership, Pedagogy, and Coaching); BEd
Megan Schaufele, BA (Communications Studies)

Field Hockey
Carolina Romeo, BSc (Mechanical Engineering)

Football
Reed Alexander, BCC
Kirby Fabien, BA (Economics)
Greg Frost, BComm
Wyatt Getty, BA (Communications Studies)
Hugues-Marin Kalonji, BA (Economics)
Steven Lumbala, BComm
Quinn McCaughan, BCC
Taylor Nill, BComm
Tye Noble, BCC
Kiefer Olson, BCC
Doug Perry, BComm
Byron Roberts, BA (Communications Studies)
Richard Snyder, BA (Communications Studies)
Josh Symons, BA (Communications Studies)

Men's Hockey
Corey Banfield, BEd
Ryan Gillen, BComm
Brock Nixon, BKin (Leadership, Pedagogy, and Coaching); BEd
Jerrid Sauer, BKin

Women's Hockey
Erin Davidson, BA (Psychology)
Jennifer Mallard, BNurs
Tanya Morgan, BKin (Mind Sciences in Kinesiology)
Hayley Wickenheiser, BKin – With Distinction

Women's Rugby
Leah Conforti, BEd

Men's Soccer
Ben Cole, BComm – With Distinction
Jeff Marsden, BSc (Geomatics Engineering)
Neto Miguel, BSc (Mechanical Engineering)
Andrew Pelehos, BComm

Women's Soccer
Salina Kanji, BSc (Kinesiology)
Tessa Miller, BKin (Leadership, Pedagogy, and Coaching)
Caitlin Milne, BSc (Mechanical Engineering) – With Distinction; BA (International Relations) – With Distinction

Swimming
Jason Block, BComm
Julianne Brown, BKin
Jessika Craig, BA (Communications Studies/History)
Breanna Hendriks, BA (Sociology)
Colin Miazga, BSc (Geophysics)

Track & Field / Cross Country
Travis Brown, BKin
Rhys Clark, BSc (Kinesiology)
Sam Dorosz, BSc (Mechanical Engineering)
Adam Elford, BEd
Grace Kary, BSc (Exercise and Health Physiology) – With Distinction
Danielle Kendall, BSc (Chemical Engineering) – With Distinction (posthumous)
Taylor Lick, BHS (Honours) (Biomedical Sciences)
Kelsey Lotwin, BKin
Curtis Merry, BComm
Danielle Parrish, BA (Anthropology)
Mark Pierzchajlo, BCS
Bridget Pyke, BSc (Exercise and Health Physiology) – With Distinction
Todd Rigaux, BSc (Civil Engineering)
Lexi Schaerz, BEd
Matt Spendiff, BSc (Mechanical Engineering)
Robyn Webster, BA (Development Studies)

Men's Volleyball
David Egan, BSc (Environmental Science)
Andrew Visser, BA (Archaeology)

Women's Volleyball
Lindsey Doland, BA (Development Studies) – With Distinction

-UC-