When Jack Bailey left Halifax two years ago to study at UNB's School of Leadership Studies, he didn't know the move would become "the best decision of my life so far."
A bachelor of philosophy student in interdisciplinary leadership studies, Jack is the kind of student UNB was built to nurture: curious, community-minded, and passionate about helping others learn.
It's these qualities that made Jack a natural choice for the Alumni Legacy Award, established by the UNB Associated Alumni, and which recognizes students who embody the spirit of UNB and the power of paying it forward.
This summer, Jack was presented with the award by Associated Alumni president Andrew Martel (BCS'15). Valued at $10,000 per year for two years, the scholarship is funded through the generous support of UNB alumni and friends. It recognizes a UNB student who has completed the minimum requirements for the second year of an undergraduate degree program and has demonstrated immense pride and commitment to the university through extra-curricular involvement.
"It's a testament to his belief in the power of community and the importance of creating spaces where individuals can connect, learn, and build lasting relationships."
Jack has immersed himself fully in the life of the university.
Through UNB's focus on experiential learning, Jack discovered that growth often happens outside the classroom. From a nature walk and sweat lodge with Elder Tulley of Under One Sky, to leading a children's cooking class on healthy eating, he says every experience carried the message: "I can do this! And if I can't do it yet, I soon will be able to."
After earning praise as a teaching assistant for an introductory French class, Jack was promoted to tutor at the Centre for Resources in French, where he helps students gain confidence through one-on-one practice and conversation sessions.
Beyond academics, Jack is a familiar face on the sidelines and in intramural sports. He has laced up for intramural soccer, cheered on the REDS at hockey games, and joined the annual Run with the REDS.
Faculty and staff who have mentored Jack describe him as a student who embodies the very best of UNB.
"His involvement is not merely a list of activities," says Kendall Kadatz, experiential education coordinator at the School of Leadership Studies. "It's a testament to his belief in the power of community and the importance of creating spaces where individuals can connect, learn, and build lasting relationships. It seems no matter where you look, he's involved in some way. He embodies the very spirit of what it means to build a strong, vibrant university community."
Jack spent the summer in Hanoi, Vietnam, completing his program's international internship at the Foreign Trade University of Vietnam. The placement gave him a chance to see education through a global lens, connecting classroom theory with real-world practice, while immersing himself in a new culture. For Jack, the summer wasn't just about professional growth. It was about discovering how learning, language, and leadership intersect.
Jack will graduate next May and plans to enrol in UNB's 10-month bachelor of education program to strengthen his skills in teaching French as a second language. "Through workshops and consultations with professors — many of whom are researchers with the Second Language Research Institute of Canada — I have gained valuable insight into the program's depth and quality," he says.
And after that? Jack is considering graduate studies in leadership or education, "as a path toward a doctorate and, eventually, a university teaching career."
"I'm deeply grateful for the support I've received from the UNB community," he says. "If you ask me what university I go to, my face lights up as I say, 'I'm proudly UNB, and you?' In five, 10, or even 50 years, my answer will be the same."
