May 29, 2009
UNB News Release: 09-097
Sandra Howland, Manager, Ceremonies and Events (506) 458-7968

The University of New Brunswick celebrated the accomplishments of 2,117 graduates from across Canada and around the world at its spring graduation ceremonies in Fredericton and Saint John, May 27-29.

This year’s graduation ceremonies saw 1,859 students receive bachelor’s degrees, 229 earn master’s degrees and 29 achieve the highest level of academic achievement, the PhD.

The university’s top honour, the Governor General’s Silver Medal, went to bachelor of science graduate Isabelle Harding Miles Fredericton. Ms. Miles achieved the highest academic standing, over the duration of his degree program, of all students graduating at the undergraduate level from UNB in Fredericton and Saint John. She also received the Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medal in science.

The Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medals are awarded to the top graduating student in each of the university’s faculties in Fredericton and Saint John . In addition to Ms. Miles, the 2009 recipients at UNB Fredericton include Jason Leo Harrington for the faculty of law, and Andrew Gregory Holt for the faculty of forestry and environmental management — both of Ottawa. Also receiving Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medals were Lindsay Jane Kearney of Vancouver for arts; Meiwen Guan of Burnaby, B.C., for nursing; Kelsey Lynn Strudwick of Camrose, Alta., for kinesiology; Barret Laurence Kurylyk of Summerside, P.E.I., for engineering; Kathryn Lynn MacKinnon of Hampton, N.B., for business administration; Katelyn Erin Kent of Quispamsis, N.B., for computer science; Alexandra Leah Clark of Fredericton for education; and Melanie Anne Bell of South Tetagouche, N.B., for Renaissance College.

Lieutenant-Governor’s Silver Medal recipients at UNB Saint John were: Lisa Dawn Weir of Saint John, N.B., for arts; Tao Song of Taiyuan, China for business; and Marthe Larsen Haarr of Stavanger, Norway, for science, applied science and engineering.

Ms. Haarr was also the 2009 recipient of the City of Saint John award.

Anne Elizabeth Thornton of Fredericton, who graduated in Fredericton with a bachelor of arts, received the university’s oldest academic award, the Douglas Gold Medal. It was endowed by Sir Howard Douglas, the third lieutenant-governor of the province, and was first presented in 1833. The medal is awarded for the best composition in prose or verse in Greek, Latin or English, on any subject within the regular course of study pursued in the university.

For a complete list of graduates and details on UNB spring graduation ceremonies, visit the graduation website at www.unb.ca/graduation

Established in 1785, UNB is one of the oldest public universities in North America. It’s also one of the top five comprehensive universities in Canada, according to Maclean’s magazine. UNB has more than 12,000 students from over 100 countries. As the largest research institution in New Brunswick, UNB conducts 80 per cent of the province’s university research. It has more than 3,500 faculty and staff, and an annual operating budget of more than $160 million. UNB’s two main campuses are located in Fredericton and Saint John, N.B.

- 30 -