Kwantlen Polytechnic University held its first university convocation ceremony and celebrated the graduation of its first students as a university.

"Our graduates will receive diplomas that proudly display our new name," said David W. Atkinson, president and vice-chancellor.

"I wish to extend my congratulations to all Kwantlen students graduating at our convocation ceremony."

This year’s convocation marks many firsts for the university.

It is an especially important event because it is Kwantlen’s first graduating class as a university. For the first time in Kwantlen’s history its certificates, diplomas and degrees were also conferred by Kwantlen chancellor Arvinder Singh Bubber, who is also the first Indo-Canadian to be appointed chancellor of a Canadian university.

During convocation, two graduates were honoured with the President’s Outstanding Graduate Award. Psychology graduate Cindy Parry and environmental protection in technology graduate Preet Bal were this year’s recipients.

Key to Kwantlen’s new mandate is an enhanced capacity to integrate research and external community engagement within a learning environment that places students at the centre of all that the university does.