May 21, 2009
UNB News Release: 09-095
Natasha St. Pierre, Communication Officer (506) 458-7969

This year’s valedictorians at the University of New Brunswick not only have achieved great academic success, but they’ve also volunteered their time to student programs at UNB and in the community.

Edith-Rose Cairns of Saint John, N.B.; Brian Beaudette of Whitby, Ont.; Keely Wallace of Truro, N.S.; and Katie Roebothan of St. John’s, N.L. will make the spring graduation ceremonies memorable for their peers as the elected valedictorians in Fredericton and Saint John.

UNB’s 180th Encaenia ceremonies in Fredericton will be held May 27 and 28 at the Aitken University Centre and all are welcome to attend. On Friday, May 29, UNB Saint John’s 35th Spring Convocation will be held at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre.

Edith-Rose Cairns, who is graduating with a bachelor of nursing degree, will deliver the Valedictory Address in Saint John. She plans to move to Northern Manitoba where she has accepted a position as public health nurse. Ms. Cairns has been on the Dean’s List for the past three years and has received a number of scholarships and awards, including the national Johnson & Johnson Medical Products Leadership Award and the Graduating Student Leader Award for her work with the Nursing Society. An active volunteer, she has co-ordinated fundraisers for various local agencies, and was a team captain for the CIBC Run for the Cure and Mindcare’s Skate to Care.

There will be three Encaenia ceremonies at UNB’s Fredericton campus.

At Ceremony A, on Wednesday, May 27, Brian Beaudette will deliver the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of business administration, kinesiology and education. The ceremony begins at 2 p.m.

Mr. Beaudette will graduate with a bachelor of science in kinesiology (pre-med) and plans to pursue a master’s degree in exercise and sport science. As captain of the Varsity Reds swim team and president of Aitken House, Mr. Beaudette was a very active student athlete. He co-organized Rock for Life, which raises money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation for AIDS in Africa; received the John F. Bassett Scholarship; and was recognized as an Academic All-Canadian for maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or above while participating in a varsity sport.

At Ceremony B, to be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, Keely Wallace will give the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of arts, nursing and Renaissance College.

Ms. Wallace has volunteered with the UNB Student Union since her second year at UNB as a Red Shirt, a member of the winter carnival committee, vice-president of student services, and SUB’s Inc. board vice-president. She also put her vocal talent to work at Divas for Dollars, which is a fundraiser for women in transition houses. Ms. Wallace will be graduating with a bachelor of arts with honours in history. She plans to pursue a career in public policy.

Ceremony C will take place on Thursday, May 28, at 2 p.m. Katie Roebothan will deliver the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of law, science, engineering, forestry and environmental management, and computer science.

Ms. Roebothan, who will receive a bachelor of laws degree, already holds a bachelor of music from Memorial University and a master of business degree from Saint Mary’s. During her time at UNB, Ms. Roebothan volunteered as a peer mentor for first-year students and dedicated her spare time to many different not-for-profit organizations in the community. She has received a number of musical awards and scholarships — the most recent being the Newfoundland Law Foundation Centennial Scholarship. Ms. Roebothan will join a private practice after graduation and hopes to concentrate in labour and employment law.

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