Congratulations to the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021!

The entire University of Manitoba community is delighted to celebrate you and your UM graduation in person – and the time for that long-awaited celebration is now here!

UM’s 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration on March 11, 2023 at the RBC Convention Centre will include formal convocation regalia (cap and gown), crossing the stage, hearing your name called, special speakers, a post-ceremony reception and more.

Watch our social media channels for live coverage on March 11.

Ahead of the celebration, you can catch up with some of our 2020 and 2021 grads at the links below:

• Sandy Deng [BSW/20] 
• Mackenzie Booker [BA(Geog)/19, Dip.Agric/21] 
• Braden Ganetsky [BSc(ME)/21] 
• Pete Giesbrecht [DipAgric/20] 
• Dana Malenko [BMus(MusEd)/20, BEd/22] 

 “My university path has loops, bridges, trap doors, and fallen trees, but I learned more about myself with every change I made. If I had stuck to the first thing I chose, I know I would not be happy and I would have missed out on learning everything that I have,” she says. 

Booker graduated from the School of Agriculture in 2021 with a diploma in agriculture. Now, post-graduation, she says she’s happy with how everything turned out because she’s found a career in agriculture that suits her skills and interests. 

“The program allowed me to network with a lot of different groups and exposed me to various careers. I learned about ag tech, marketing, sales and agronomy so it gave me the experience and knowledge to decide on a career I like and am interested in.”  

Before settling on ag, Booker followed her interests in geography and environmental studies, architecture and design, as well as psychiatric nursing. While working her summer job with the department of soil science, she realized that concepts of agriculture resonated with her values and allowed her to make deeper connections to her family and their family history. 

“I’m curious and I want to try things before I rule them out, so I’m going to continue to keep all my doors open in ag,” she says. “I’m now working on my Certified Crop Advisor certification, which is more on the agronomy side of ag so I can add that knowledge to my buying and sales background as well.” 

Booker admits that jumping around and trying different career options and not finding something you like can be discouraging, but for her there was always an element of optimism and hope that the next thing she tried could be the one to stick. And now she’s excited to take the time to celebrate her jump into ag at UM’s 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration. 

“I’m excited to celebrate with people I’ve built connections with and for my family to see me walk the stage and really take in that moment.” 

Post-graduation, Ganetsky still maintains that belief and remains in contact with the people on the WE (Wind Energy) Design team in the Price Faculty of Engineering. During his time at UM, he was the first Team Lead so he enjoys the opportunity to provide insight, participate in design reviews and serve as an advisor to the current team.  

“For me, going to school wasn’t really about my classes or getting my degree,” he says. “Of course, that was important, but I spent most of my time doing UMES (student council) or WE Design things. So, on top of getting my engineering degree, I also got experience in team building, management, event planning, communication, all of which I use in my job every day.” 

These skills are also useful to him in his participation in the Young Friends of Engineering group and in volunteering with Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba. He often jokes he has a team management and event planning degree that just happens to also be mechanical engineering. 

“The really great thing about university, and the Price Faculty of Engineering specifically, is that you can be a part of a team that’s building cool things. But even if you don’t want to be the one doing the actual building, there are roles on that team for management, social media, financial planning, sponsorship, which leads to you getting a well-rounded education.” 

Because community is so important to Ganetsky, he says it was really a no brainer for him to attend UM’s 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration. 

“I attended the Price Faculty of Engineering reception last year, which capped off my time in the faculty. But I also want to attend a convocation ceremony to hear my name called and get to walk across the stage in my cap and gown to bookend my time at university.” 

But she persisted and graduated in 2020 from UM with a Bachelor of Social Work. She then moved to Vancouver to work as an Academic Program Facilitator at Pacific Community Resources Society where she is currently leading a tutoring program for youth in downtown Vancouver.  

“One of my courses in the UM Inner City Social Work program focused on large metropolitan cities in Canada and the social issues that people are facing in areas considered to be low-income. It opened my eyes to what area of social work I want to be in.” 

Now, three years post-graduation, Deng has even bigger aspirations. She says her next step is to get her master’s in public policy, which will help her get into politics or academia. The program will also provide her with the opportunity to work with people who share her interest in social policy, immigration and human rights.  

“I was never taught by a Black professor, and I thought why is that. I know people who are educated and who can be in those positions, but the opportunity is not there and that is where we need to start making changes. I want young women who look like me to dream that they can come to Canada as a refugee and make it.” 

Deng says she wants to be an active minority, someone people can see and relate to and have a say in decisions. She believes representation matters and says her lived experience as a refugee, Black woman combined with her educational background can work together to help further her cause at the decision-making table. 

“Any marginalized person who has a dream, who has ambition shouldn’t have these barriers put on them that prevent their contribution to society. Even though I just have one perspective to add to the conversation, it has the possibility to serve a reminder for others and create possibilities for positive change.”   

While many of these goals are still a few years out, Deng is excited to take a step back and celebrate the accomplishment of her UM degree at the 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration. 

“It was always my mother’s dream to see me walk the stage. I also want to show my kids that if I can go to school with four kids at home while also still working full-time, there’s no excuse for them not to get an education. And for all the young immigrant and refugee women who think they can’t get an education, my walking across that stage shows them they can.”  

“What I love about teaching is that you get to work with so many different people throughout the day,” she says. “And being a substitute right now, I get to work with band students, which I love, but I also get to work with students in math or English.” 

Malenko is a self-proclaimed people-person. She enjoys talking to her students about their various passion areas and takes every opportunity to learn from other staff members and mentors. She plans to take all these experiences to become the kind of teacher she wants to be: one who instills musical passion and knows the importance of music in a child’s life. 

“I started taking piano lessons when I was five, and I took lessons all through school. Growing up in music, I got exposed to various instruments and brass, especially trombone, really spoke to me. Music shaped my life and the person I am, and I want to inspire other kids to pursue music too,” she says. 

Malenko followed her musical passion to UM where she not only developed her skill as a musician but also fully discovered a new passion area of becoming a teacher. What she loves most is that she still gets to learn while she’s teaching. 

“I think what’s cool about getting a degree is that you learn a variety of skills, and you can use those skills to become specialized in what you studied, or you can branch off and try something new.” 

The music community is tightknit in Manitoba, and Malenko likes that she can easily stay connected to her professors and classmates and be part of UM even though she’s not a student anymore. It’s this connection and opportunity to celebrate that prompted her to attend UM’s 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration. 

“We didn’t get to have anything in-person in 2020, so I’m looking forward for the chance to see the other people I would have graduated with and celebrate the success of my classmates. It really is going to be a once in a lifetime experience.” 

“Since graduating I’ve been given the opportunity to come back to UM and teach a plant science course to first year agriculture diploma students,” he says. “It was challenging at first, but I really enjoy it.” 

Giesbrecht’s interest in plants stemmed long before he decided to come to UM. He grew up on a farm and has always enjoyed the ag lifestyle. He’s been building his own plant-breeding business for the past 13 years, which he has now turned into his full-time job. 

“Protein Industries Canada helped fund a project which enabled me to expand my business into a commercial space with an indoor growth facility where I’m working to develop new field pea varieties.” 

Prior to UM, Giesbrecht worked for almost 20 years in the ag industry. He says it was early on in his career when he worked for a company that was heavily involved in research and variety development that sparked his interest in where he wanted his career to take him.  

“That interest only grew as time went on. I’m a very curious person, and I like doing research and exploring the intricacies of nature and creation so ag was just a natural fit for me.” 

Coming back to UM as a teacher feels full circle for Giesbrecht, as being in the program himself has helped him understand his students. While it was great to complete his diploma, the most valuable thing to him is the connections and relationships he’s built. He’s looking forward to the opportunity to celebrate that at UM’s 2020 and 2021 Convocation Celebration. 

“My wife really encouraged me to attend, and I want to celebrate with her and my kids. It will be a special moment for me and my family.” 

The Métis bachelor of science honours graduate from St. Ambroise was one of 19 Access Program 2021-2022 graduates celebrating their achievement at the first Access Graduation Celebration since before the pandemic. The celebration is in addition to each graduate’s convocation from their respective UM faculty. Fourteen students from Winnipeg and Manitoba Indigenous communities, and five newcomer students from Africa celebrated achieving degrees in medicine, nursing, arts, science, social work, education, health sciences and kinesiology.

Lavallee attended the evening with her parents and two older sisters. After all the uncertainties of the pandemic, she was thrilled to be able to attend the celebration in person.

“Access is like a second family. They are always there. When I started university, I came from a small community. Without them, I would have felt lost. They were a comfort. I came with the idea to pursue medicine, but I didn’t know there are so many other options. They helped me to explore them and decide where I wanted to go. Through Access, I have made lifelong connections.”

A traditional hunter with a passion for the outdoors, Lavallee found her true calling in biological sciences. This fall, she will head to Trent University to pursue her master of science degree, with plans to follow that up with a doctorate and run her own research lab one day.

Christie Lavallee, Access Program grad

To be a research doctor
“I will still be a doctor but a research doctor,” she says, noting she would one day like to study mammals in Canada. “I will see where my education takes me.”

For Lavallee, Access has been a huge part of her life for the past eight and a half years, and a great help in assisting her to navigate her undergraduate degree. The graduation celebration, hosted by fellow Access students Antonina Kandiurin and Curtis Leclerc, was “a very lovely evening, with fiddle music to get your toes tapping, and the sharing of kind and wise words and advice, a greatly motivating part of the evening” to tie up her UM experience.

“I would definitely recommend the Access Program to any Indigenous students starting at UM. There are so many supports including tutoring and a personal counsellor to listen. They are there to help. It is okay to ask for help. University can be a very daunting experience.”

Fellow Access grad Tyler Koswin, celebrating his BSc, agrees.

“To anyone wanting to go to university and change their life, this program is amazing. It’ll be tough but Access offers an incredible support system. All you have to do is reach out. I promise there is a light at the end of the tunnel,” says Koswin, who attended the Access grad with his wife who is celebrating her graduation from medical school, and other family members.

Tyler Koswin, Access Program grad

Declined management job to come to university
From Winnipeg, Koswin, who is Scottish Métis, Cree and Ojibway, learned about Access from his wife. He had been working retail for 10 years, and was an assistant manager considering an offer of a store management position.

“It would be a decent living. But my wife didn’t think I would be happy. It was scary. I had to quit and take a student loan, but I told myself this is not permanent. I will work hard and I can do this. I kept a positive attitude.”

While he originally wanted to be a pharmacist, Koswin says his journey led him to a science degree and a dream of also being a doctor. He did not make it into medical school this year, but he plans to prepare himself to apply again next year. “I never thought I would attend university in my life. I had to upgrade for entry. And now, because of Access, I am here.”

The Access Program is wonderful, he says. “I had a few tough years. The biggest challenge as a mature student in my 30s was when I would wonder what I was doing here. I didn’t feel like I belonged. But the people at Access, I owe them a lot. I am so grateful I had them in my corner. They always made me feel great, like I can do it, like I belong here.”

The Access graduation dinner was a wonderful experience, he says. “University is tough. To be there and honoured meant a lot to me. I was truly touched.”

Learn more about the Access Program

Engage with the virtual platform

While we are not able to celebrate with each other in person, online Convocation ceremonies allow you to enjoy your special moments in real time with friends, family members and loved ones from all around the world. More people, wherever they are, will be able to honour you and your achievements.

When you enter the virtual lobby on Hugo, you can access features including a digital photo booth, a live chat, a downloadable digital yearbook, faculty break out parties and a virtual tour through the Gallery of Awards—all to create a more dynamic environment where we can celebrate together despite navigating a challenging situation. An online shop will also be available to order frames for your degrees, and you’ll be able to visit the Alumni Booth to learn about the benefits and opportunities you will encounter as new UM alumni.

Each ceremony on the main stage will feature an opening segment where your accomplishments will be celebrated by Chancellor Anne Mahon and President and Vice-Chancellor Michael Benarroch. You will also hear from honorary degree recipients, alumni and your Deans. Then, the digital procession slide show begins and if you filled out your slide, this is where you’ll see your photo and inspiring message.

Share your experience

Share your virtual experience with us using campus backgrounds in your Instagram Stories!

1. Download UM backgrounds onto your phone (see options below).
2. Begin creating an Instagram Story and search ‘Green Screen’ in effects.
3. Select the background you downloaded, and take a selfie with your parchment and tassel or using the celebratory pose you like.
4. Post the Story or on your feed, tagging @umanitoba and using #umanitoba2021.

Start celebrating early and share your best UM photos and memories on social media before the ceremonies! Try the UM Giphys and stickers created specifically to help you celebrate this special occasion on Instagram and Facebook:

1. Take or use a photo of you on campus or at home, and post on Instagram or Facebook.
2. Search umanitoba or University of Manitoba on Instagram or Facebook for the Giphys and stickers mentioned above.
3. Add the Giphy to your photo and share your Virtual Convocation moments with the rest of the UM community by tagging @umanitoba and using #umanitoba2021.
4. Look at the photos of you and your classmates tagged with #umanitoba2021 on Instagram or Facebook!

On Convocation day, the platform opens 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. All attendees are encouraged to log into the virtual platform at that time to take advantage of all the interactive elements. Stay up to date with Fall Convocation 2021 and find other ways to make the best of this milestone at umanitoba.ca/convocation.

Background options (click thumbnails to enlarge):

Kellie Williams, Applied Counselling graduate, attended her online convocation with one of her teens and her partner. She noted how a virtual experience was different. Although she submitted her photo and quote for a slide in the virtual procession, she says many of her fellow classmates did not and that disappointed her. “I think the university tried their best but nothing compares to the real thing.”

Yet whether the convocation was in-person or not,  this was an important milestone for Williams, one of Extended Education’s 360 graduates from 22 different programs including Management and Administration, Human Resource Management and more. She was celebrating and her family was very proud of her.

“They are all proud and I got to show them that schooling is important and can be done at any age. It’s never too late!”

Of her time in the program, Williams says, “Honestly, I feel like it was a great experience … I had some amazing instructors that regularly blew my mind. I am a better person for having this experience.”

Williams has worked in mental health for a decade, and she plans to use what she learned in the Applied Counselling program in her career in the future.

For Williams, earning this university certificate was a big deal. “It is quite an accomplishment. It’s been 4 years part-time while working and raising a family. I don’t have a degree so this means so much to me.”

For anyone considering going back to school to keep learning, she definitely recommends it. “Just take the first step. Just try one course. Don’t think about how long it will take or you might talk yourself out of it. Education is something that can never be taken away once you have it. Invest in yourself.”

Graduates were welcomed to the event with a welcome video that reminded them that at UM, they are part of a community and the university was there to celebrate them.

Anne Mahon, UM Chancellor welcomed everyone to the 142^nd Annual Spring Convocation. She said, “I miss seeing your beautiful, happy faces today. It’s a time of huge societal disruption and personal learning. But life goes on and you have persevered and are graduating. This is truly a cause for celebration.”

Michael Benarroch, UM President, said, “ We know this wasn’t easy… Thank you for your incredible resilience. Thank you for all you will do going forward. .. We are so very proud of you.”

Vanessa Lillie performed the Honour Song.

David Mandzuk, Acting Dean, Extended Education congratulated our grads. “I know that you have worked very hard to achieve your goals and you should be very proud of your accomplishments. And this is particularly true given that you were able to finish your programs during a global pandemic… As you know, we are living through a transformational time in human history. No one really knows what the world of work will look like in the future. But it’s clear that characteristics like adaptability, creativity and a high degree of digital fluency will be absolutely necessary in the post-COVID era. We are confident that you have strengthened these types of skills during your time with us and will be able to survive and even thrive during the uncertain days ahead.”

Mandzuk’s best wishes were followed by the virtual procession featuring slides with photos and quotes from students including Williams.

In January 2020, Morthi moved to Winnipeg from India to pursue his MBA at the Asper School of Business’ Stu Clark Graduate School.

“I took a break from my career. I took out a student loan and we had to manage with our savings,” said Moorthi. “It was a difficult decision.” Compared to other graduate schools, Morthi said that Asper’s MBA program gave him the most flexibility. He was able to take summer courses, allowing him to expedite the program to only 16 months. Winnipeg was also the most cost-effective city, with cost of living relatively less expensive than cities like Toronto or Vancouver.

Cramming his MBA into 16 months kept Moorthi’s mind off the long distance between him and his family. He was expecting to bring his wife and two daughters over in May, but strict travel restrictions as a result of the pandemic means Moorthi has gone 17 months since he last saw them.

“That’s the thing about the MBA program, there are a lot of opportunities a student can participate in. I took multiple courses and participated in a lot of extra-curricular activities,” said Moorthi. “One of the reasons why I wanted to do many things is when I’m busy, I’m not getting homesick.”

Despite most of Moorthi’s time at Asper being virtual, he dove right into student groups and activities. He was the marketing coordinator for AMBASA, Asper MBA Students’ Association, where he managed all three of their social media channels. He helped formalize the student group’s constitution, assisted with AMBASA’s 2021 elections, hosted the first AMBASA Case competition, and took part in the MBA Games.

Moorthi also participated in eight business case competitions,, not including four business venture competitions. With 15 plus years of business experience in India and Thailand, Moorthi said one of the biggest benefits for him was working on real-life scenarios for North American companies. It allowed him to read more about the markets, learn about their challenges, and look for solutions to their problems.

“I really enjoyed the experience. I think the competitions were a highlight of my MBA program. Case competitions helped me improve my critical thinking, presentation, and team management skills. You’re always working with three to four people.”

Moorthi’s eighth and last case competition of the year proved to be lucky. His team placed first at the International Business Ethics Case competition in the 10-minute format. It was hosted by an independent think tank to promote ethics among students.

“Every time we didn’t make it, we felt a bit disheartened. Then we’d pull ourselves up and take it as a learning experience. So, it was really nice to win my last one.”

Between student groups and case competitions, Moorthi worked on an industry project for Restore, the retail arm of Habitat for Humanity, an optional project through the Stu Clark Graduate School. He also worked part-time on the weekends.

“I wanted to get into a pattern, and it helped a lot,” said Moorthi referring to his busy schedule over the past 16 months. “I felt as though it didn’t really matter when COVID ends or continues, what matters is what I can do right now.”

Moorthi’s next step will be to start his career in Canada. With extensive work experience in agriculture, metals, research, and consulting, he has a lot to offer.

“I have a lot of B2B development experience from my career. Ideally, I want to pursue a career in commercial banking in Canada, to work with companies to offer financial services and products.”

On June 17, Moorthi was able to check off a big step in his long-term plan. He became a new Asper alumni, graduating with a MBA from the Asper School of Business Stu Clark Graduate School with a specialization in leadership and organization, and finance.