Canadian singer Anne Murray among honorary degree recipients at UPEI convocation this spring

The convocation ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 9, in the Chi-Wan Young Sports Centre, at 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Murray will receive her degree and address the graduates during the afternoon ceremony.

Nova Scotia-born singer Anne Murray has delighted millions of fans around the world with her signature voice and well-loved songs. Having sold over 50 million recordings in her 40-year career, Murray has rarely been off the charts. She has received four Grammy Awards, 24 Juno Awards, three American Music Awards and three Canadian Country Music Awards. Murray is a Companion of the Order of Canada, has been inducted into both the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame and the Juno Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame Walkway of Stars and has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and on Canada's Walk of Fame.

Three Prince Edward Islanders will be honoured for their contributions to their home province: business and community leader Michael S. Schurman; long-time foster parent Marilla Millar; and agricultural innovator and entrepreneur Parker Jewell. Schurman will deliver the convocation address during the morning ceremony.

Michael S. Schurman, of Stratford, is well-known on P.E.I. and beyond for his business acumen and leadership, and his dedication to his community and family. After completing his education at Acadia University and UNB, he became involved in his family's construction, building supplies and concrete business, M.F. Schurman Company, Limited, becoming president and general manager. The family business was sold to J.D. Irving Ltd. in 2004. Schurman has been involved as a volunteer in the construction industry, the business community and the charitable and non-profit sectors. Among his many volunteer positions, he has served since 2005 as chair of UPEI's recently concluded $50 million Building a Legacy campaign.

Marilla Millar, of Ellerslie, has always loved looking after babies. With her six children growing up, she joined the provincial foster parent program in 1974, and in late June of that year, she and her husband Pete received their first young charge, a newborn baby girl. Since then she has fostered 128 children, mostly infants or preschoolers. She works closely with social workers on each case and, in recent years, with adoptive parents. Many of the people she cared for as children keep in touch with her. Now a widow in her late seventies, she is still taking babies into her home and her heart.

Parker Jewell, of York, has dedicated his life to Island agriculture and his community. He and his wife Irene operated a mixed farm with prize-winning Aberdeen Angus cattle, turkeys, vegetables and greenhouses. He has won numerous world grand championships in seed and tablestock potatoes at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto and additional championships at the Maritime Winter Fair in Moncton. They established Jewell's Greenhouses, the popular tourist attraction Jewell's Country Gardens and Jewell's Produce. Jewell has been a leader in 4-H and Boy Scouts, and was active in PEI United Church Presbytery. Now semi-retired, he continues to work with his son on the family farm.