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The University of New Brunswick (UNB) will honour the achievements of 701 graduates at convocation ceremonies on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Fredericton and Friday, Oct. 25 in Saint John.

UNB congratulates the 270 students who will be awarded bachelor’s degrees, 400 master’s degrees and 31 who will earn the highest academic honour, the PhD.

Benjamin (Ben) Reid

Local Frederictonian, Ben Reid, will receive the Governor General's Gold Medal, awarded to the student who achieves the highest academic standing at the graduate level.

Reid will graduate with a PhD in physics at UNB’s 70th Convocation Ceremony on Oct. 24 in Fredericton. A double degree UNB graduate, he earned a bachelor of science in physics and mathematics in 2015. His journey into physics began by chance, thanks to Drs. Caroline Purdy and Dennis Tokaryk, whose advanced physics class sparked his interest.

In addition to having incredible memories during his time at UNB, Reid’s standout moment was attending the Worlds UNBound program while he was in elementary school. The summer STEM program ignited his passion for science, shaping his future life and career.

“I remember climbing the swelteringly hot stairs to the top of Head Hall every day to learn about science and engineering, which was a lot of fun,” said Reid.

“The capstone project for the week was to construct a Rube Goldberg machine out of duct tape, marbles, and other parts, but our group wanted to make a series of ramps,” added Reid. “I felt this was not a proper Rube Goldberg machine because the marble wasn’t doing anything, just dropping from ramp to ramp. I can now say with some authority that I was, in fact, right, and we should have had a little lever or a bucket on a pulley.”

His biggest achievement during his university career was completing his dissertation. Mentored by the supportive faculty in the physics department, he learned the importance of understanding the physical reasons behind scientific concepts. His research focuses on extracting information from imperfect data and advocating for open data sharing across disciplines.

"The data I used in my thesis is not intended for space studies, but comes instead from earthquake monitoring networks, weather satellites or the surveying community,” said Reid. “This kind of research relies on data being openly available and discoverable, and there is significant benefit to sharing information across disciplines.”

Now an assistant professor at the University of Birmingham in England, he is focusing his research on space weather modelling and forecasting.

Hannah Proulx

Undergraduate student, Hannah Proulx, will receive the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick Silver Medal, awarded to a full-time or part-time student who is the most outstanding student based primarily on the last half of their program.

Proulx has an inspiring journey that spans continents and cultures. Growing up in the Eastern Townships of Quebec until age 13, she moved overseas, living in Tunisia and Bulgaria. After high school, she moved to the Maritimes to pursue an undergraduate degree in Human Kinetics at St. Francis Xavier University, graduating in 2022. She will receive her second degree, a bachelor of education degree at UNB’s convocation ceremony in Fredericton on Oct. 24.

Inspired by her parents, both dedicated teachers, she developed a passion for education early on. This passion led her to a career in teaching, where she aims to create positive and enriching school environments for all children.

A standout moment during her time at UNB was her second practicum in Brasilia, Brazil. This unique experience allowed her to immerse herself in a new culture, significantly enhancing her professional and personal growth. She also formed lasting bonds with her professors and classmates.

“This is unique to the UNB Education program and was the highlight of my degree, along with the bonds formed with professors and classmates whom I saw every day throughout the program,” said Proulx. “During my international teaching practicum, I got to discover a country and culture I had never experienced, which allowed me to grow as a professional but also as an individual.”

Mentored by esteemed educators Josée Le Bouthillier, Cody Alderson, Mark Hirschkorn, Karla Culligan, Lynn Randall and Matt McGuire, she continues to strive for excellence in education, hoping to make a lasting impact on her students and community.

Faculty awards

We will also celebrate UNB faculty award winners during Convocation. The following awards will be presented at UNB’s convocation ceremony in Fredericton on Oct. 24.

Dr. Allan P. Stuart Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Amanda Benjamin, professor in the faculty of education, Fredericton campus.
• Jae Ogilvie, assistant dean and teaching professor in the faculty of forestry and environmental management, Fredericton campus.

UNB Award for Excellence in Research

• Kelly Scott-Storey, professor and the assistant dean of the bachelor of nursing program on the Fredericton campus and the UNB-Humber Collaborative bachelor of nursing program in the faculty of nursing.

The UNB community looks forward to celebrating all of our award winners and graduates.

Media contact
Kathleen McLaughlin
Media Relations Strategist
University of New Brunswick
talktous@unb.ca