posted on Nov. 8: 2001 Fall Convocation celebrated Nov. 9

More than 760 graduands from McMaster's six Faculties will proceed across the Hamilton Place stage tomorrow to receive their degrees during 2001 Fall Convocation.

Undergraduate and graduates degrees will be conferred on students from the Faculties of Business, Humanities, Social Sciences and the Arts & Science Program during the morning ceremony.

In the afternoon, undergraduate and graduate degrees will be conferred on students from the Faculties of Engineering, Science and Health Sciences.

Thomas Marlin, a professor of chemical engineering in the Faculty of Engineering, will receive the 2001 President's Award for Excellence in Course or Resources Design. (See April 27 Daily News story 2001 President's Award for Excellence in Instruction, Course or Resources Design announced.)

In addition to the conferring of degrees to students, McMaster will award honorary degrees to four distinguished leaders.

Alan Walker, a professor emeritus of music and international Franz Liszt scholar and His Excellency John Ralston Saul* will receive their degrees in the morning and retired Lt.-Gen. Romio Dallaire* and Murray Enkin, a professor emeritus of obstetrics & gynecology and clinical epidemiology & biostatistics will receive their honorary degrees during the afternoon ceremony. (*will give Convocation address)

As well, filmmaker and screenwriter Martyn Burke and physician Samantha Nutt will receive Distinguished Alumni Awards for their contributions to the arts and sciences.

Honorary degree recipients:

Lt.-Gen. Romio Dallaire (Ret.), Doctor of Laws

Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire is a distinguished and decorated Canadian soldier and humanitarian. He moved through the ranks of
the military and became brigadier-general in 1989. In 1993 he took command of the United Nations Observer Mission –
Uganda and Rwanda and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross
for his service to these two posts. Dallaire was recently named special adviser to Canada on war-affected children.

Murray Enkin, Doctor of Science

Murray Enkin, professor emeritus of obstetrics & gynecology and clinical epidemiology & biostatistics is a world leader and
outspoken advocate for changes to maternity care. Women around the world have benefited from Enkin's devotion to studying
pregnancy and childbirth. A faculty member at McMaster since 1972, he has been a teacher and role model for hundreds of
residents and nurses and influenced the Ontario guidelines concerning cesarean sections. Enkin has been an outstanding
advocate for midwifery in the province and at McMaster as a mentor for students and practitioners.

His Excellency John Ralston Saul, Doctor of Laws

Essayist and novelist John Ralston Saul has been described as one of Canada's great minds and philosophers. Active in the
cause of freedom of speech, he is currently patron of the Canadian Centre of International PEN and has worked tirelessly on
behalf of human rights and arts issues. He is the husband of Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson,
Governor General of Canada.

Alan Walker, Doctor of Letters

Alan Walker, professor emeritus of music, is renowned as an international expert on the music and life of Franz Liszt. Walker
joined the University in 1971 and served as department chair for 12 years. Walker recently finished a three-volume, prize-winning biography of Liszt, which took him 25 years to complete. The biography won the Pro Cultural Hungarica medal, the
Royal Philharmonic Society book prize, was hailed by Time magazine and The Wall Street Journal, and appeared as one of the
books of the year in the Washington Post. Retired since 1995, Walker continues to direct the annual Great Romantics
International Festival for the City of Hamilton.

Distinguished Alumni Award winners:

Martyn Burke, 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award, Arts

Martyn Burke is a successful journalist, novelist, documentary filmmaker, director and screenwriter. His documentary work has appeared on television networks around the world and includes
Witnesses, an award-winning view of the last days of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. In Canada, Burke's work has garnered
every major award available including the Genie and Gemini awards.

Samantha Nutt, 2001 Distinguished Alumni Award, Sciences

Samantha Nutt is a physician who specializes in the health and well-being of women and children in volatile situations. Nutt's
career is varied, but her primary work has been devoted to improving the situation of women and children around the world.
On behalf of UNICEF, she has led health care reviews and research projects in Liberia, Burundi, Iraq, Somalia and the United
Arab Emirates. In 1999 Nutt founded the Canadian chapter of War Child and is executive director of the not-for-profit organization.