Niagara University hosts first virtual convocation for Vaughan site
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Marking an important
milestone for the city’s first university
This week, Niagara University – Vaughan’s first university – hosted a virtual convocation for its first graduating class from the Vaughan location. A cohort from the school’s Bachelor of Professional Studies program began studying at Niagara University in the fall of 2018. During the online ceremony, Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua congratulated students on their significant academic achievement and their unwavering commitment to higher learning and education.
Founded in 1856,
Niagara University, with its main campus located in Lewiston, N.Y., relocated
its bi-national presence to Vaughan in January 2019. Mayor Bevilacqua led
negotiations between the university and community leaders. The site is in the
heart of the city’s emerging downtown core – the Vaughan Metropolitan Centre
(VMC). Niagara University’s Vaughan site is walking distance from the VMC subway
station and further connected by the vivaNext bus rapid transit service.
The relationship
between Niagara University and the City of Vaughan continues to grow stronger. In
February 2019, Mayor Bevilacqua presented Niagara University President Rev.
James J. Maher with the Key to the City during the annual Vaughan Chamber of
Commerce Mayor's Luncheon. Niagara University also took part in the City’s
November 2019 business mission to Israel. The delegation met researchers at Tel
Aviv University, the country’s largest post-secondary institution, to discuss
the future of Smart City technology and its role in developing autonomous
vehicles to improve urban transportation.
Earlier this year,
Mayor Bevilacqua joined Niagara University President Reverend James J. Maher to
commemorate another important milestone between the City of Vaughan and Niagara
University, with the addition of three new programs — Master of Business
Administration, Master of Science in Finance, and Master of Science in
Information Security and Digital Forensics.
In May 2020, Niagara
University, in collaboration with the City of Vaughan’s Economic and Cultural
Development department, launched a new online speaker series to educate,
engage and enrich the public from the comfort of their homes during the global
COVID-19 pandemic. The speaker series featured members of the university’s
faculty and alumni, as well as community leaders who explored a series of
different topics, including career counselling, working from home and financial
security.
In U.S. News and World’s 2021 “America’s Best Colleges”
Report, Niagara University’s ranking continues to rise within the Best Regional
Universities (North) category. More than 2,500 students have graduated
from Niagara University’s Bachelor of Professional Studies program since it
began in Ontario in 2007. To date, more than 5,000 Canadian students have
graduated from this post-secondary institution.
QUOTE
“I want to offer my
warmest and sincerest congratulations to Niagara University's graduating
students – a special group that will be remembered as being the first
graduating class from Niagara University's Vaughan campus. These bright minds
are the leaders of tomorrow who will break through barriers, make innovative
discoveries, and forge a new path for the future. It has long been my dream to
bring a university to Vaughan. In January 2019, this dream was realized when I
formally welcomed students, professors and members of Niagara University's
administration on their first day of studies. Higher learning and education
speak to the pursuit of a noble goal that is fundamentally woven into the core
of every human being, and that is to ultimately do better. I believe we must
undertake city-building with a vision that focuses on improving access to
education for people of all ages. Vaughan's downtown – and our first university
– are the result of a labour of love. Improving access to healthcare,
transportation, and education are hallmarks of any modern, thriving city, and
that is precisely what we aim to achieve in Vaughan. I look forward to further
shaping a promising and prosperous future for Niagara University in our city.
For Vaughan, the best is yet to come!”
- Mayor Maurizio
Bevilacqua
“Congratulations to our
graduates in Ontario. These individuals have demonstrated incredible
resiliency, completing their degree during a global pandemic. Now, as NU
graduates, they are committed to excellence and prepared to be women and men of
action, bearing mercy, justice, charity and faith for all. As they work in the field
of education, which has arguably seen the most disruption during the pandemic,
we know that they are prepared to go forth and make an impact in a world that
desperately needs it. They will truly be the Power of Niagara University. This
is an historic class for Niagara University – the first group of students to
study in our new, state-of-the-art facility in Vaughan, Ontario. We were
grateful to open this new location in Vaughan and would again like to extend
our appreciation to Mayor Bevilacqua, and the Vaughan community for their
partnership in the region.”
- Rev. James
J. Maher, C. M. President of Niagara University
LEARN
MORE
- Expanding educational opportunities in Vaughan statement
- Committed to educating, engaging and enriching news release
- Vaughan’s downtown core reaches unparalleled heights in 2019 statement
- Mayor Bevilacqua announces first university in Vaughan news release
- Niagara University Ontario programs website
- U.S. News and World Report’s 2021 America’s Best Colleges publication
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