Convocation ceremony features four-legged friend
Zhaotong Chen (left) and Zipeng Qin are partners who both graduated on June 16, 2022, with their support pup, Bao Bao, by their side in his very own gown
After a two-year hiatus, in-person convocation ceremonies were back in a big way this spring, with 8,600 TMU students crossing the stage in 20 different ceremonies spread over the course of two weeks.
The morning ceremony on June 16 featured a special four-legged graduate: support pup Bao Bao was on the stage with Zhaotong Chen (Financial Mathematics ’20) and Zipeng Qin (Financial Mathematics ’22) as they collected their diplomas. Bao Bao attended class with Chen for three years and for four years with Qin, providing support in the pandemic’s toughest moments. “In my fourth year, I had a lot of pressure because I wanted to apply to a master's degree. Bao Bao helped me to relieve a lot of stress,” says Chen. “He stayed with me in the library all day, so I think he’s qualified to graduate with us,” says Chen.
Bao Bao’s gown was made specially for him by the Ceremonials team, so he could cross the stage in style.
To see more of Chen, Qin and Bao Bao’s story, see the convocation video below.
@torontomet Zhoatong Chen and her support dog Bao Bao shared the limelight at convocation #ontario #university #canada #graduation ♬ Dance Inspirational (Modern, Upbeat, Dynamic, Club) - DPmusic