Proudly UNB awards: 2005 recipients
In 2005, the UNB Associated Alumni broadened its awards program to recognize more groups and individuals who have made significant contributions to the work of the Association and to the University of New Brunswick. We are proud to present the 2005 recipients.
Alumni Award of Honour
The UNB Associated Alumni’s most prestigious award recognizes truly outstanding service and commitment to UNB and the Associated Alumni. The 2005 recipients are:
Ray Barton (BScCE’69, MScCE’71) of Ottawa was president of the UNB Club of Ottawa from 1997-2002. During this time, he organized numerous events and activities that provided Ottawa-area alumni with the opportunity to stay connected with each other and their alma mater. He dedicated his volunteer hours to keeping alumni Energized & Involved and used this opportunity to encourage alumni to provide strong support to the university and its students.
Robert Skillen (BPE’79, BEd’81, MEd’88) of Fredericton was the executive director of the UNB Associated Alumni from 1990 to 2001, and oversaw a significant growth in the association’s programs and services. During his tenure, the association developed its revenue generating services, established its office in Saint John, created Homecoming, launched the Look Who’s Talking student recruitment initiative, expanded the chapter network, and established a new working agreement with the university.
Richard Tingley (BScCE’67, DSc’99) is a long-time Fredericton businessman. He was the owner/operator of Tingleys Save Easy Supermarkets for more than 25 years, and provided part-time employment to hundreds of UNB students, as well as several scholarships. Richard has been particularly involved with varsity athletics, has served as a member of numerous university committees, and was a member of the university’s Board of Governors for 11 years and served as its chair.
Alumni Award of Distinction
This award recognizes the significant contributions made by UNB alumni in their local communities and beyond, for which they have been recognized regionally, nationally, or internationally. The 2005 recipients are:
Nancy Mathis (PhD’96) and her husband Chris Mathis (BScME’93) of Fredericton used their expertise to found Mathis Instruments, a company that got its start at UNB. Nancy was awarded the prestigious Business Development Bank of Canada Young Entrepreneur Award for N.B. in October 1997. In September 2003, she received the Ernest C. Manning Award Foundation prize for innovation worth $100,000. Nancy has been proactive in giving the university a great deal of credit for her personal and business success.
Rod Nolan (BScEE’57, MScEE’63, DSc’04) of Fredericton is the vice-chairman of the consulting and engineering design firm Neill and Gunter Ltd. He was a founding director of the company, and is widely recognized for his role in building the consulting engineering industry in N.B. He is the founding chairman of Portage Atlantic, a substance abuse rehabilitation centre for adolescents, and a founding director of the N.B. Cancer Network. He served on the university’s Board of Governors from 1994 to 2003, five of those years as chair.
James W. Ross, C.M., (BA’61, LLB’65, LLD'07), a Fredericton philanthropist and businessman, received Canada’s highest civilian honour, the Order of Canada, in 2000. A former Progressive Conservative Senator, Jim was recognized for his work with disenfranchised youth. In 1994, he founded Partners For Youth Inc., a non-profit organization built on a community partnership model that uses adventure-based counseling to assist young people.
Garth Wade (BEd’80, MEd’89) of Fredericton has vigorously promoted UNB in the sports and educational communities. He was the co-chair of the 2005 AUS Women’s Basketball Championships; chair of the 2004 Helen Campbell/Eric Garland Tournament, the City of Fredericton/UNB Basketball Extravaganza, and the 2001-2003 Eric Garland Tournaments; and was the operations chair for the 1995-2003 Eric Garland Basketball Tournaments. He is also the co-chair of the UNB-hosted 2006 CIS women’s basketball championships.
Young Alumni Achievement Award
This award recognizes those who received a bachelor’s degree within the last 10 years or a graduate degree within the last five years.The 2005 recipients are:
Nathan McFadden (BPE’96) of Agawam, Mass., has put himself in a position to pursue his interest in sports, particularly hockey. While at UNB, he was manager of the Varsity Reds men’s hockey team for two seasons. After graduation, he was UNB’s sports information director for two years. In mid-1998, he moved to the Saint John Flames of the American Hockey League (AHL). In 2000, he became the AHL’s co-ordinator of hockey operations. In 2002, he was promoted to the AHL’s manager of hockey operations.
Tammy Oram (BSc’97) of Toronto is actively involved with the UNB Outreach program and has taken a lead role in re-establishing Toronto-based events with great success. In her local community, Tammy has developed an annual event to raise much-needed funding and awareness for Best Buddies Canada as chair of the Best Intentions Events Committee. Tammy also serves on the events committee of the Toronto Volunteer Bridge, which promotes volunteerism to young professionals.
Janet Scott (BEd’99) of Saint John, N.B., is an international business adviser for CANLink Global. She is also co-director of Enterprise Saint John’s Emerging Entrepreneurs program, a project aimed at developing young entrepreneurs. Janet was the co-founder and publisher of [here], New Brunswick’s weekly newspaper. For her entrepreneurial pursuits, Janet and her business partners received the Emerging Enterprise Award from the Saint John Board of Trade, and were named Atlantic Canadian finalists in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
Outreach Group of the Year
The recipient group will have made significant contributions to UNB alumni, students, the university or the Associated Alumni during the previous year by holding events, demonstrating growth, and/ or undertaking new initiatives in support of these groups.
The UNB Alumni Calgary Chapter continues to be one of the UNB Associated Alumni’s most active chapters. Its executive meets regularly to plan events and activities, which have included the annual Maritime lobster dinner; annual Calgary Chapter newsletter; send-off receptions for new and returning students to UNB and Eastern Universities Mardi Gras Bash; CIBC Run for the Cure; post-secondary high school fairs; and a season’s greetings e-mail.
Outreach Volunteer of the Year
The recipient has made a significant contribution to advancing the objectives of the Outreach Program, either by being a member of an outreach group or individually.
Christine Coldwell (BA’75, BEd’76), as chapter contact for the UNB Alumni Calgary Chapter, continues to be a very dedicated and committed volunteer. Involved with the Calgary Chapter since 1980, she has been the driving force behind numerous chapter activities and initiatives. Her leadership and enthusiasm have enabled her to build a great team of eager UNB alumni to work with her on a variety of projects. Christine continues to work tirelessly for UNB and the results of her efforts are of immense value.
Honorary Membership in the UNB Associated Alumni
This honour will be conferred on any person who has rendered outstanding service to the association and UNB.
Stephen Strople came to UNB in 1991 as an academic staff relations officer, and was appointed university secretary in 1992. He is the first non-faculty member to serve in that position. Among his duties as university secretary, Stephen is secretary to the Board of Governors and Fredericton Senate and is commissioner of student discipline. He is the principal source of information and advice about university policies, procedures, regulations, practices and precedents. His years of service and dedication to UNB have been invaluable, and merit his being named an Honorary Member of the UNB Associated Alumni.
- For more information on the awards program, click here for a PDF brochure.
- For a nomination form in PDF, click here.
