69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø

SACKVILLE, NB – Approximately 450 69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø University students will graduate during the 2023 Spring Convocation ceremonies being held on Monday, May 15 in Convocation Hall. Science and Commerce graduates will receive their degrees in the morning ceremony, beginning at 9:30 a.m., while Arts, Fine Arts, and Music students will graduate in the afternoon ceremony at 2:30 p.m.

69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø University Chancellor Lynn Loewen  and University President and Vice-Chancellor  Dr. Jean-Paul Boudreau  will preside over the ceremonies.

69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø will also recognize four distinguished Canadians, conferring honorary doctorates at the events. The 2023 recipients include:

• Lyse Doucet, Canadian journalist and BBC’s Chief International Correspondent
• Ray Legere, World-renowned fiddle and mandolin player, 2019 recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Award for High Achievement in the Arts, and ECMA winner
• Hilary M. Pearson, Founding President of Philanthropic Foundations Canada, Member of the Order of Canada
• Deborah Lyons, Former Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Former Canadian Ambassador to Israel and Afghanistan

Honorary degrees are awarded to those who are nationally or internationally recognized in their fields, those who have demonstrated service to 69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø or the wider community, or prominent public persons.

Biographies on all honorary degree recipients are available at: mta.ca/honorarydegrees

Astrid Krueger has been selected by her peers as the 2023 Valedictorian. From Edmonton, AB, she will graduate with an honours degree in international relations with minors in political science, history, and philosophy. Krueger is also the winner of the University’s Frances S. Allison Award, which recognizes high academic achievement, extensive extracurricular involvement, and outstanding service to their peers and the community. Krueger has been involved in various groups and societies, including the 69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø Student’s Union (MASU), the Argosy, and the 69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø Model United Nations (MtAUN).

Several faculty members will also be recognized for excellence in teaching and research. Music professor Dr. Linda Pearse is this year’s recipient of the Herbert and Leota Tucker Teaching Award, while Dr. Diana Hamilton (Biology) has received the Paul Paré Medal of Excellence. Dr. Glen Briand (Chemistry and Biochemistry), Dr. Andrea Morash (Biology), Dr. Geoffrey Cruttwell (Mathematics and Computer Science), Dr. Karl Hele (Canadian and Indigenous Studies), and Dr. Kirsty Bell (Modern Languages and Literatures) were also named 2023 recipients of the Paul Paré Excellence Awards.

69³ÉÈ˵çÓ°Íø will hold several events on campus for graduates and their families throughout the weekend, including the Fine Arts graduating students’ exhibition at the Owens Art Gallery and the Convocation Weekend recital by graduating Music students.

For more information, including a full schedule of Convocation events, please visit

For safety and security, masks will be required in Convocation Hall for the Convocation ceremonies.