Mount Allisons class of 2009 set to graduate May 25

Approximately 365 Mount Allison students will don their caps and gowns to receive their degrees at the university's spring Convocation ceremonies, set for Monday, May 25 in Convocation Hall.
Science and commerce students will graduate during the morning ceremony, beginning at 9:30 a.m., while arts, fine arts, and music students will receive their degrees in the afternoon at 2:30 p.m.
Mount Allison will also honour four Canadians who are leaders in their respective fields. Human rights activist, filmmaker, and author Sally Armstrong; chairman and CEO of Guardian Capital Group Ltd. John Christodoulou; international expert on climate change Arthur Hanson; and Acadian soprano Suzie LeBlanc, will all receive honorary degrees during the 2009 Convocation celebrations.
Hanson and Christodoulou will be honoured during the morning ceremony, with Hanson addressing Convocation, while Armstrong and LeBlanc will be recognized during the afternoon ceremony, with Armstrong addressing the students.
Mount Allison's Year of the Environment celebrations are continuing at Convocation as well. Along with noted environmentalist Arthur Hanson addressing the class of 2009, graduates, their families, and community members are also invited to attend the annual baccalaureate service, where Ellen Bernstein, author of The Splendor of Creation and Ecology and Jewish Spirit: Where Nature and the Sacred Meet, will speak. The service will take place in Convocation Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 24.
"Convocation is a time for change and for celebration," says Mount Allison University president Robert Campbell. "We are thrilled to celebrate the class of 2009, which comprises an accomplished group of individuals, and to encourage them as they go on to the next exciting stage of their lives.
"We are also pleased to welcome to the Allisonian family four such talented, accomplished, and distinguished individuals as Sally Armstrong, John Christodoulou, Arthur Hanson, and Suzie LeBlanc. They provide wonderful role models for all Allisonians."
Claire Kelly, a graduating Mount Allison student, has been selected by her peers as valedictorian and will address the class of 2009 during the morning and afternoon ceremonies. Kelly is a psychology student from Victoria, B.C., and has been involved in several organizations on campus including MASSIE (Mount Allison Sophomore Semester in English), eco-action, Relay for Life, Shinerama, and Tintamarre, Mount Allison's bilingual theatre troupe. She follows her mother, Jo-Ann (Roberts) Kelly, CBC radio host of All Points West, who was valedictorian for her graduating class at Mount A in 1977.
Some of the university's finest teachers and researchers will also be recognized during the Convocation ceremonies.
Economics professor and Canada Research Chair in Public Policy Craig Brett is this year's recipient of the Herbert and Leota Tucker Teaching Award, the highest teaching award given at Mount Allison.
The Paul ParÉ Medal and Excellence Awards recipients will be recognized during Convocation. The Paul ParÉ Medal recognizes contributions of outstanding quality that demonstrate a balanced approach to teaching, research/creative performance, scholarship, service, and outreach. This year's recipient is, again, Craig Brett.
The Paul ParÉ Excellence Awards recognize outstanding faculty research, scholarship and creative performance, while maintaining excellence in teaching and service. This year's recipients are: Monika Boehringer (modern languages and literatures), Suzie Currie (biology), Zoe Finkel (environmental science), Diana Hamilton (biology), and Brad Walters (geography and environment). These awards will be presented at the university assembly in September.
This year's J.E.A. Crake Teaching Award recipient is music professor and soprano Monette Gould. The J.E.A. Crake Foundation provides strong support for academic and artistic endeavours at Mount Allison through generous funding. The teaching awards are presented to individuals on the basis of evidence of excellent teaching and the quality of contributions to the scholarship of teaching.
The Board Service Medal, recognizing exceptional service to the university's Board of Regents, will also be presented during Convocation weekend. This year's recipients are: Lynn Loewen, the first female board chair from Montreal; Wylie McMullin, long-time board member from Sackville; and Linda Wheaton, who has worked as secretary to the board of regents and in the Mount Allison's president's office for many years.
Several events will be open to the public during Convocation weekend. The fine arts graduating students' exhibition will be on display at the Owens Art Gallery beginning May 23 at 4 p.m.
The recipients of the annual president's choice art awards will be announced at this time. Robert Campbell established the president's choice awards in 2007. Each year, he selects two graduating students' art works. These pieces become part of the university collection and are displayed in the president's office.
Graduating music students will also present a weekend recital on Sunday, May 24 at 2 p.m. in Brunton Auditorium.
For more information, including a complete schedule of events for Convocation weekend, please visit http://www.mta.ca/convocation.