“Today is a testament to the transformative power of a university degree – a Yorkville University degree.”
It was with those words from President and Vice Chancellor Dr. Julia Christensen Hughes that Yorkville University’s 2024 Convocation Ceremony in British Columbia kicked off last month.
In total, close to 150 Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) grads – with specializations ranging from Accounting and Energy Management, to Project Management and Supply Chain Management – were on hand at the Vancouver Convention Centre on Thursday, June 27 for the celebrations, which were presided over by Christensen Hughes and Yorkville University’s Provost and Executive Vice President Dr. Allyson Lowe.
Opening Comments
In her opening remarks to graduates, Christensen Hughes remarked on how delighted she was to be on hand to celebrate with this year’s grads, along with their family and friends.
“Each of you has worked tirelessly to reach this moment, and your dedication and your perseverance has paid off,” she told the assembled grads before they walked across the stage to collect their degrees.
“You have embarked on a journey of growth and learning, and you have emerged as graduates, equipped with the knowledge, skills and experiences that I have every confidence will propel you forward in both your careers and your personal lives.”
Lowe, meanwhile, encouraged all those grads in attendance to reflect on the importance of the day as both a “beginning and an ending.”
“It’s an end of your time together on our campus or with us online, but the beginning of a new part of your journey. This marks your extraordinary achievement and begins – or for some of you deepens – your professional lives, enhanced by the learning and experiences of your Yorkville education,” she said.
“As a graduate of Yorkville, you join a community of alumni who literally number in the thousands – they are all across Canada and, indeed, all around the world…We invite you to think of those alumni as your professional network. Look for them online, find them on LinkedIn, find them in your communities – and know that they are a source of connection for you as you move forward.”
Distinguished Convocation Speaker Ashley Dafel
Joining Christensen Hughes in her congratulations of Yorkville’s graduates was Ashley Dafel, Yorkville University’s CEO, who attended the event this year as the ceremony’s Distinguished Convocation Speaker.
The lessons imparted during Dafel’s inspiring speech to grads were threefold – all three representing the lessons he learned on his own, barrier-filled journey to success – from being abandoned by his parents at the age of 7 in his native Zimbabwe, to fighting to get an education by any means necessary, to ultimately earning his MBA and going on to a successful career in education, despite having never read a book until he was in high school.
“As you can imagine, (my childhood) marked a pretty dark side of my life – but it was on that dark side that I learned so many lessons that have helped me get to where I am today,” he said.
“I knew from at the age of seven that education was my way to survive, which was pretty ironic, because I was not in school at the time, but I just knew I had to get back. Most young children cherish the thought of not going to school, but I knew that I needed to get back.”
And so, he did – ultimately completing his elementary schooling at nine different primary schools, in two different countries and in two different languages, while also working to support himself from the age of 13.
Given the crumbling state of his foundational education building blocks going into high school, Dafel was initially placed in a class amongst those with the lowest grade point averages in his school. But with a lot of hard work and determination – plus the extra lessons in English, math and science he worked hard to afford – he ended up graduating amongst the top of his class, earning himself acceptance into the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, where he earned bis Bachelor of Commerce degree.
“Which brings me to my first life lesson to share: Graduates, as you leave here and you create a future for yourself, there will be barriers – and what you’ve got to decide is what you’re going to do with those barriers,” Dafel advised.
“You can climb over them, you can break them down, you can get around them, or you can accept them. The choice is yours. I ask that you don’t accept them but take the opportunity to break them down.”
Dafel’s second lesson was to encourage graduates to ‘embrace unconventional paths’, just as he did when, after earning his BComm, he chose not to immediately pursue his MBA (which he ultimately earned from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University), but to focus on building his family, while also carefully selecting work opportunities that “expanded on my formal studies, allowing me to develop graduate-type skills learned through the ‘school of life.’”
“Although I couldn’t get the formal education at first, I got it by doing. I got it by trying different things and moving around – and I was often criticized for it by people who looked at my resume and said, ‘You haven’t stuck to one industry or one function. You’re too scattered and all over the place. You need to get focused,’” he recalled.
“But I never listened to any of that…So I would encourage you all to embrace unconventional avenues. It may not be a straight line; there’s bends and curves and twists, but those who dare to explore will get the reward.”
Last but not least, Dafel urged graduates to ‘stay ahead of the curve’, noting his strong belief that every person should have at least two to three careers in their life.
“I don’t need to tell you the world evolves rapidly. To thrive, you need learn continuously, adapt quickly, fail early and embrace the ambiguity of change,” he urged.
BBA Accounting Student Graduation Speaker Kristina Hawkins
The importance of resilience and determination were also major themes in Kristina Hawkins’ address to her fellow Class of 2024 BBA – Accounting graduates.
A devoted mother of two, Hawkins first moved from Russia to Canada in 2016 armed with two Master’s degrees – in Chemical Engineering and Economics – and a determination to carve out a new path for herself and her family in her new home.
“Standing here today, I am overwhelmed with gratitude, joy and pride for all of us. Today marks the day when we celebrate not only academic achievements, but also the resilience and determination that brought us here,” said Hawkins.
“As a busy professional and a dedicated mom, my journey at Yorkville University had its fair share of challenges. Balancing work, family, and studies often seemed like an impossible task. However, Yorkville University provided an environment that not only respected but supported our unique situations.”
Crediting Yorkville’s ‘flexible’ program for allowing her and her classmates to thrive academically without sacrificing any responsibilities at home or at work, Hawkins extended her appreciated to Yorkville for crafting an educational experience that adapted to her and her fellow gradutes.
“It shows the university’s commitment to accessibility and success, which enabled all of us, from diverse backgrounds and with various commitments and challenges, to realize our potential and achieve our dreams,” said Hawkins, who now runs Oakton Financial Corporation – a Vancouver-based firm that specializes in bookkeeping and payroll services.
“To my fellow graduates, as we stand on the brink of new beginnings, let us take forward not only the knowledge we have gained, but also the spirit of resilience and adaptability that allowed us to overcome tremendous challenges. Let us be proud of what we have achieved!”
BBA Project Management Student Graduation Speaker Bhanu Partap Sood
For Bhanu Partap Sood, the very feat of graduating, much less being named Student Graduation Speaker, seemed like an impossible task when he first began his studies at Yorkville in 2022.
“If you asked me two years ago if I saw myself here, I would say I would be lucky to just graduate! So today, by the end of my speech, I hope anyone currently struggling can leave here with hope that things will work out eventually,” he said in his address to his fellow BBA – Project Management classmates, many of whom he credited for helping him turn things around.
“Two years ago, when I started my bachelor’s if you saw me, you would say ‘Wow! This guy is depressed!’ I was always thinking about just assignments and nothing else. But at Yorkville, I met some amazing friends who reminded me to not forget to live life and have fun.”
It was also at Yorkville that Sood – who went on to become one of Yorkville’s first Student Ambasssadors in BC – said he encountered professors like Brian Amouzger, who made class interactive and fun, and others like Tuyen Riddell, who was always available to lend an empathetic ear and reassurance that everything would work out in the end.
“So, thank you so much to all our Yorkville professors for making this an amazing experience,” he said of his time at Yorkville.
“And finally, I would like to take this moment to thank my family – and I hope you take this time to thank yours, too…We love them the most, yet we tend to thank them the least and the last.
“Remember in life, it is not the destination nor the journey that matters, but who you travel with.”
Closing Remarks & Cap Toss
In her closing remarks, Christensen Hughes took one last opportunity to wish all the graduates well before inviting them to toss their caps up in the air while letting out a “howl of relief or joy.”
“Warmest congratulations for all you’ve achieved. We couldn’t be more delighted to celebrate with you here today,” she said.
“Now, graduates, are you ready. One, two, three!”
President’s Awards
Bachelor of Business Administration – Accounting
Nicole Spooner
Bachelor of Business Administration – Energy Management
Arshdeep Kaur Gill
Bachelor of Business Administration – General
Amandeep Singh Gill
Bachelor of Business Administration – Project Management
Tarran Provak
Bachelor of Business Administration – Supply Chain Management
Naman Hasmukh Sanghvi
