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This year’s valedictorians at the University of New Brunswick may come from different parts of the country but what they have in common is their top marks, leadership and volunteerism. Kailynn Anthony of Russell, Ont.; Oliver Gorman-Asal of Fredericton, N.B.; Chris Samuel of Edmonton, Alta., and Taryn O’Neill of Saint John, N.B. will help to make the spring graduation ceremonies memorable for their peers.

UNB’s 181th Encaenia ceremonies in Fredericton will be held May 19 and 20 at the Aitken University Centre. On May 21, UNB Saint John will hold its 36th Spring Convocation at the G. Forbes Elliot Athletics Centre.

UNB Fredericton

There will be three ceremonies at UNB Fredericton Encaenia.

Ceremony A – May 19 at 2 p.m.

Kailynn Anthony will deliver the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of business administration, kinesiology and education. She is graduating with a bachelor of business administration degree with honours in human resources, and is the founder and president of the UNB Kin Canada Campus Club. She is also a Kin Canada member and served as its National Youth director. Her work with Kin Canada has earned her several awards including Rookie of the Year and the Maple Leaf Award of Distinction. Ms. Anthony has also received awards from UNB including the Business Administration 25th Anniversary Scholarship and the Governor Thomas Carleton Scholarship. After graduation, she plans to continue volunteering and hopes to work in the field of human resources.

Ceremony B – May 20 at 10 a.m.

Oliver Gorman-Asal will give the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of arts, nursing and Renaissance College. He will receive his bachelor of arts degree with a joint honours in history and political science. While at UNB, Mr. Gorman-Asal volunteered as a peer mentor for the faculty of arts, student senator, student representative for the Associated Alumni and as a Redshirt for Orientation. He was also president of the History Society and the Political Science Society, which he founded. The recipient of a UNB Student Union Gold Achievement Award, Mr. Gorman-Asal plans to travel the world after graduation then attend law school.

Ceremony C – May 20 at 2 p.m.

Chris Samuel, who holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Alberta, will receive a bachelor of laws degree during Ceremony C. Following graduation, he will return home to Edmonton where he has accepted a judicial clerkship with the Alberta Court of Queen’s Bench. Mr. Samuel has been an active volunteer both at UNB and abroad. He spent last summer volunteering in Accra, Ghana, at the Centre for Public Interest Law. He has also served as chair of the UNB Student Council and the Law Students’ Society. In 2009, he received the Faculty of Law’s Zoe Odei Scholarship. Mr. Samuel will deliver the Valedictory Address to graduates in the faculties of law, science, engineering, forestry and environmental management, and computer science.

UNB Saint John - May 21 at 2 p.m.

Taryn O’Neill will deliver the Valedictory Address in Saint John and receive a bachelor of science with first class honours in Biology degree at the ceremony. While at UNB, she was a very active volunteer, both on campus and off. As co-president of the Biology Society she coordinated multiple fundraising events for a number of local and international organizations including the Cherry Brook Zoo, the Animal Rescue League and Clean Water for Haiti. Also, she was an executive member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. In 2008, Ms. O’Neill received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Undergraduate Student Research Award to study the biological activity of bryophytes. In September, she will begin her master’s degree in science. Her ultimate goal is to earn a doctorate.

Contact:

Natalie Montgomery, Communication Officer (506) 453-4990