Intermittent rain at Trent's outdoor morning and afternoon convocation May 29 did little to dampen the enthusiasm of family and friends of the graduating class. The morning ceremony did have to be delayed for about 45 minutes to allow the threat of thunderstorms to pass, and to give staff and volunteers a chance to sop up some of the water left by a heavy, early-morning rainfall.

      At both the morning and afternoon convocations, Chancellor Mary May Simon took the step of declaring all degrees and diplomas officially conferred upon the eligible candidates, as a precaution in light of the threatening weather. It proved unnecessary, however, as all of the graduating students were able to make their way across the Bata Library podium to receive their degrees. There were even moments during the morning convocation when a few umbrellas re-appeared to shield against the sun.

      Interim president and vice-chancellor David Smith, who completes his one year term June 30, thanked Simon for extending her term to July 1, 1999. Simon earlier agreed to the extension of her three-year term to give the university time to complete senior administrative searches.

      Honorary degree recipients Mary Walsh, Ian Affleck and Dorothy Burnham addressed the graduates, and Simon conferred titles of professor emeritus upon Fred Helleiner, and upon Magnus Gunther and Ian Sandeman, who were unable to attend the ceremony. The Symons Teaching Award was presented to Deborah Parnis, the Distinguished Research Award to Tom Hutchinson, and the Eminent Service award to Joan Hamilton.

      A total of 1,143 students graduated at the two convocations. The university granted its first three PhDs in the Watershed Ecosystems program, and 38 master's degrees - 22 in arts and 16 in science. This represents the highest number of post-graduate degrees ever conferred at a Trent convocation. Granted to undergraduates were 397 honors bachelor of arts degrees and 208 honors bachelor of science degrees. General bachelor degrees were conferred upon 335 arts students and 100 science students. Forty-five received bachelor of administrative studies degrees, 12 received native management and economic development diplomas and five received native studies diplomas.

      According to Dianne Choate, Secretary of Convocation, as many as 5,000 students, faculty and guests attended the two convocation ceremonies.