CALGARY – Chancellor Deborah Yedlin and President and Vice-Chancellor Ed McCauley announced the honorary degree and Order of the University of Calgary recipients for the June convocation ceremonies.

The honorary degree is the University of Calgary's highest academic distinction and is bestowed upon individuals whose notable achievements and community service merit recognition. These distinguished recipients address our graduating class at the convocation ceremonies, sharing words of wisdom they have gained through years of excellence and leadership in their fields.

The Order of the University of Calgary honours recipients who have a record of exemplary and distinguished service to the university. The nominees can be current or past members of the university community.

Among the recipients of the Order of the University of Calgary is Greg Vavra.

Vavra joined the University of Calgary Dinosaur football team in the fall of 1979 from Bishop Grandin High School in Calgary. Midway through his freshman season he became the starting quarterback and went on to establish numerous school and national records during his brilliant five-year career that concluded in 1983.

Vavra earned conference all-star honours four consecutive seasons (1980-83) and was Canada West Player of the Year in 1982 and 1983. In 1983 he was unanimously named Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union (CIAU) All-Canadian quarterback and winner of the Hec Crighton Trophy as the Most Valuable Player in Canadian college football.

On November 19, 1983, he concluded his varsity career when he quarterbacked the Dinosaurs to their first National Championship (Vanier Cup) triumph before a national television audience when the Dinos defeated Queen's University 31-21.

On November 4, 1983 Vavra had the distinction of having his uniform number "17" retired which was the first time a University of Calgary student-athlete was afforded the honour.

Vavra was University of Calgary Male Athlete of the Year in 1983 and was inducted into the University of Calgary Athletic Hall of Fame on October 12, 1995. In 2006, Vavra re-joined the Dinos men's football team, this time as a member of the coaching staff.

Greg graduated from the University of Calgary with Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law degrees and eventually played professionally in the Canadian Football League.