Release Date: April 27, 1999
NRN: B276
Contact:
Sandra Howland
Office of Development and Public Relations
University of New Brunswick
P.O. Box 4400
Fredericton, NB E3B 5A3
Phone: 506 453 4793
Fax: 506 453-3599
e-mail: [email protected]
UNB TO HONOR SEVEN AT SPRING GRADUATION
CEREMONIES IN FREDERICTON
The University of New Brunswick in Fredericton will graduate more than 1,500 students and grant seven honorary degrees during its 170th Encaenia celebrations.
This year's spring graduation ceremonies will be held on May 19 and 20 in the Aitken University Centre. The public is welcome to attend.
Ceremony A
On Wednesday, May 19, at 2 p.m., UNB will award a doctor of laws honoris causa to HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan and an honorary doctor of letters to soprano Wendy Nielsen. Ms Nielsen will address graduates in the faculties of administration, kinesiology and education and give a short performance. The valedictory address will be delivered by bachelor of business administration graduate Jessica McMillan of Sackville, N.B
Ceremony B
On Thursday, May 20, at 10 a.m., His Excellency the Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc and Justice Louise Arbour will receive honorary doctor of laws degrees. Both will address the assembly. Degrees will be granted to students in the faculties of arts, law and nursing and Susanne McGrath will give the valedictory. A bachelor of nursing graduate, Ms McGrath hails from Riverview, N.B.
Ceremony C
The final Fredericton ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 20, at 2 p.m. Honorary doctor of science degrees will be presented to astronaut Harrison Hagan Schmitt and UNB alumni Richard Tingley and Edward F. (Ted) Boswell. Mr. Boswell will give the Encaenia address to graduates in the faculties of science, engineering, forestry and environmental management, and computer science. A mechanical engineering graduate, Darren Thompson of Hampton, N.B., will deliver the valedictory.
HRH Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan is internationally recognized for her humanitarian work. She has initiated and sponsored numerous projects in the field of education as well as those related to women, the family, social welfare and health. Since 1972, she has been the patron of the Young Muslim Women's Association, which established the Centre for Special Education and a sheltered workshop. Under the umbrella of the association, the Princess Sarvath Community College was founded in 1980. Her Royal Highness also established the Amman Baccalaureate School and the Jordan Dyslexia Society.
A native New Brunswicker, Wendy Nielsen holds a bachelor of music in voice from the University of Lethbridge and a master of music in opera from UBC. Known for her rich soprano voice, she has performed throughout Canada and the U.S. Ms Nielsen made her New York City Opera debut in 1994-95 as the countess in The Marriage of Figaro and her New York Philharmonic debut last summer in the world premiere of Penderecki's Seven Gates of Jerusalem. A first prize winner in Canada's National Young Mozart Singers Competition, she was recently one of six finalists at the International Mozart Competition in Toronto.
His Excellency the Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc has served as Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada since 1995. Born in Memramcook, N.B., he earned two degrees; taught in high school, teachers' college and universities; was a foreign correspondent; and served two prime ministers as press secretary. His Excellency was first elected to the House of Commons in 1972. As the nation's longest-serving fisheries minister, he helped to win Canada's 200-mile fishing limit and to shape the International Law of the Sea. Summoned to the Senate of Canada in 1984, he was named speaker in 1993.
Justice Louise Arbour is the prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda at the International Court in The Hague. Since her 1996 appointment by the United Nations' Security Council, she has been on leave from the Court of Appeal for Ontario. Justice Arbour taught for many years at Osgoode Hall Law School and served on the Supreme Court of Ontario from 1987 to 1990. She holds an honorary degree from York University and was awarded the University Medal by her alma mater, l'Universite de Montreal.
A member of the 1972 Apollo 17 mission, Harrison Hagan Schmitt was the first U.S. scientist and one of the last men to walk on the moon. He holds a PhD in geology from Harvard, Air Force jet pilot wings, Navy helicopter wings and five honorary degrees. A former manager of NASA's Energy Program Office, Dr. Schmitt represented New Mexico in the U.S. Senate from 1977 to 1982 and served on numerous senate and presidential committees. He is currently involved with a number of environmental and scientific projects as a consultant and entrepreneur.
Richard Tingley is a well-known Fredericton businessperson with a long history of community service. Providing scholarships and employment to students has been a priority throughout his career. After graduating from UNB, he worked as an engineer before taking over the family grocery business. Mr. Tingley has received seven national business awards as well as citizenship awards from the Rotary Club and the Association of Professional Engineers of New Brunswick. A past chair of UNB's Board of Governors, he serves on numerous boards and supports over a dozen volunteer organizations.
Edward F. (Ted) Boswell is the retired chairperson of E.B. Eddy Forest Products Ltd. Following his graduation from UNB with a B.Sc. in forestry, he became the youngest foreman of a 300-man logging camp in the company's Quebec Woodlands operation. Mr. Boswell went on to earn an MBA from Western and progressed through all levels of the corporation. In 1988 he was appointed CEO and a decade later chairperson of the board of directors. His impressive record of community and industry service includes chairing the board of directors of the Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Canadian Pulp and Paper Association.
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