Two University of Calgary students who were killed in separate stabbing incidents — one in April this year and the other January 2013 — will be honoured with posthumous degrees during the university’s June graduation ceremonies.

On June 10, the Faculty of Arts will grant a posthumous Bachelor of Arts degree in urban studies to Lawrence Hong, and on June 13, the Haskayne School of Business will bestow a Bachelor of Commerce degree on Brett Wiese. Had they lived the students would have graduated at this time.

“Both of these students had bright, promising futures and it was truly tragic that their lives were cut short,” said President Elizabeth Cannon. “The University of Calgary was proud of Lawrence Hong and Brett Wiese and their loss is still profoundly felt.

“Granting them these well-deserved posthumous degrees is one way for us to honour their memories.”

Lawrence Hong was one of five victims of an act of violence that occurred in the Calgary community of Brentwood on April 15. He was killed along with fellow University of Calgary students Jordan Segura, a religious studies major completing his third year, and Joshua Hunter from the Haskayne School of Business. Musician Zackariah Rathwell and dancer Kaitlin Perras were also among the young victims.

Hong — described as one of the Faculty of Arts’ shining stars by Dean Richard Sigurdson — was passionate about urban planning and he served as the vice-president of finance for the university’s Urban Studies Club.

He was also a valued member of the Q-Centre on campus, which offers resources for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and queer students. Hong, who was 27 at the time of the tragedy, was involved in peer support activities at the centre, where he volunteered for three years. “He was a spark of life wherever he went and he contributed so much to the people around him,” said Q-Centre co-ordinator Katie LeBlanc.

Hong was engaged in his community beyond the campus too, as an active volunteer with the Calgary Folk Music Festival, the Calgary Fairy Tales Queer Film Festival and the Gay Rodeo Association.

The Lawrence Hong Scholarship in Urban Studies has been established to honour Hong’s memory.

Like Hong, Brett Wiese met with a senseless act of violence during a party with friends. Wiese, an aspiring business leader who came to the University of Calgary from Ponoka, Alberta, was a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student when he was fatally stabbed on Jan. 12, 2013, at the age of 20.

Remembered by friends for his positive outlook on life, his sense of humour and his unwavering love for the Edmonton Oilers, Wiese was also a dedicated student. Classmate Brett Butler recalled that he was a “quick thinker,” able to adapt to problems during group business projects. “These skills would have made him a successful businessman,” said Butler.

“The loss of Brett was tragic,” said Jim Dewald, dean of the Haskayne School of Business. “He was a passionate and caring student who was following in the footsteps of his father, a Haskayne graduate and business leader in the auto industry. Brett’s natural leadership ability was evident from his first days at Haskayne.”

The Brett Wiese Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established to honour Wiese’s memory.