Chemistry and Biochemistry Professor Dr. Andrew Grant — who will be retiring this year after 26 years at Mount Allison — was chosen by the Class of 2025 to deliver their Last Lecture entitled Band-Aids Don’t Fix Bullet Holes, complete with chemistry magic.

The annual Passing of the Cane ceremony saw the 2025 Grad Class President Tori McCarvell pass the cane to 2026 Grad Class President Alexis Paré in a ceremony that has taken place annually on campus since 1930. Each class president’s name is engraved onto the cane as a lasting tribute. A number of major graduating awards were granted during the event.

Major Graduating Awards

The Don Norton Memorial Award was awarded to Ben Broadbent. The award honours a graduating student who exemplifies leadership, initiative, and a lasting impact on the Mount Allison community.  

Balancing two of the most demanding commitments at Mount Allison, Broadbent excelled both as a varsity student-athlete in Badminton and as a leader in the Mount Allison Students’ Union. His dedication to student life, leadership in residence, and extensive extracurricular involvement have left a profound mark on his peers and the university as a whole. A Bell Scholar, his academic achievements are equally remarkable, consistently demonstrating excellence throughout his four years and being named a CCAA National Scholar three times.

The Frances S. Allison Award went to Abigail Austin. The award recognizes a graduating student who has made a significant impact on their peers and enhanced the Mount Allison experience for others.

Austin has gone above and beyond in leadership, community engagement, and academic mentorship, earning recognition both on and off campus. As President of Enactus, they successfully led three major initiatives. Beyond campus, their efforts brought national recognition to Mount Allison. They contributed to multiple regional and national Enactus awards. Their commitment to student well-being extended to their roles as an academic advisor, social media director for Jack.org, and VP of Communications for both the Physics and Biochemistry & Chemistry Societies.

The Charlie Hunter Award honours a student who has made an outstanding impact on residence life and has fostered community, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and gone above and beyond to support their peers. This year’s recipient was Ellie McRae.

McRae embodies the qualities of this award through warmth, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to creating positive change. They have been a residence leader, currently the assistant don of Harper, and founded the MASU RAAD Caucus, ensuring stronger advocacy for student leaders in residence.

The Gil Latter Memorial Award is presented to a Mount Allison student who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the Sackville community through volunteer work. This year’s recipient was Theo Pink.

Pink has made many meaningful contributions to the Sackville and wider communities. Through his extensive volunteer work with Open Sky Cooperative and Daybreak Centre, he has advocated for inclusivity and accessibility and on top of all that he is an amazing baker.

Four Gold A Awards were also presented during the Last Lecture to recognize graduating students who have made outstanding contributions to the University community. This year’s recipients are: 

Cailean Clements has been involved in residence life and leadership and has supported many first-year students in fostering a sense of belonging. He has enhanced student life and advocacy through policy work on sexual violence, wellness strategy, and harm reduction strategy, along with strengthening intramurals. He helped establish The Pantry on campus to fight food insecurity and spent two years serving on the MASU executive as VP, Student Life.
 
Reid Delaney has a clear vision and purpose to improve the student experience and has done so through roles as a teaching assistant, research assistant, Orientation crew leader, Thornton House President, MASU Ombudsperson, History Society event coordinator, and most recently as MASU President. He has shown time and again to be an exceptional collaborator, a clear and transparent communicator, and a pure joy to work with.
 
Bentley Huffington has successfully balanced the demanding responsibilities of pursuing dual degrees in biology and commerce, while making significant contributions to both the academic and social fabric of the Mount Allison community. As President of Women in Commerce and Women in Science, she has revitalized both clubs, leading initiatives such as mentorship programs, business networking trips, and collaborations with key organizations to expand opportunities for students. Beyond their leadership roles, she has been deeply committed to student wellness and engagement, organizing over eight events per semester, raising over $2,500 to support underrepresented communities in STEM, and playing a key role in Mount Allison’s Strategic Planning Facilitation Team. 
 
Ashton Leal brings a noticeable and impactful positivity to the Mount Allison community. He served on the Campbell Hall executive team and as an orientation crew leader and participated in the Garnet and Gold Musical Theatre Society. While pursuing his honours, he has also been a TA and currently serves as the co-president of the Biology Society. His volunteer experience shows dedication within the Sackville community as well as in multiple Mount Allison events.
 
Recipients of the Frances S. Allison, Don Norton, and Gold A Awards also received the A. Jane Avard Eaton Student Leadership Award for their contributions to student life and the community.
 
The Chris Metallic Prize in Indigenous Leadership was awarded to Kaite Souch. The award was established by the Class of 2016 and recognizes a student who makes the greatest contribution to the indigenization of campus.
 
In her fourth year with a major in Indigenous Studies, Souch attended the Belize Field School with 14 other Indigenous students from the Maple League universities and spent two weeks in Belize learning about their Indigenous culture and history to build Indigenous knowledge across international borders. This past fall, she worked as mentor for the Indigenous Student Support group. She is currently studying at Arizona State University (ASU) on exchange, as she is the successful recipient of a Killam Fellowship.

The Barritt-Marshall Award went to Adil Alimzhanov. The award honours the graduating international student whose contributions to the internationalization of campus and the community have helped to promote cross-cultural understanding and co-operation.
 
As International Orientation Chair, head mentor of the International Mentorship Program, President of the Russian Language Society, and through many other roles, Alimzhanov has been instrumental in organizing events and initiatives that promote cross-cultural understanding. His tireless dedication to bringing students from diverse backgrounds together has created an inclusive environment where cultural exchange and mutual respect are celebrated. Through the Bombardier Travel Grant, he traveled to Kazakhstan, inspiring local students to embrace global learning opportunities. He also participated in the Kyoto Field School for Religious Studies, where he represented Mount Allison at Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan, one of Mount Allison’s long-standing international partners.

The Hibberts Meekins First Generation Graduating Student Award, presented to a graduating first generation university student who funded their own education through work, loans, and financial aid, was awarded to Deep Sham Dhing.
 
Dhing has demonstrated remarkable resilience, completing an Aviation degree while balancing multiple jobs, funding his own education, and giving back to the community in countless ways. His leadership has fostered a sense of belonging for his peers and his unwavering commitment to his studies and community has set an inspiring example for future students.

The Murewa Black Student Leader Award is presented to an exceptional individual who has demonstrated remarkable leadership and commitment to fostering a sense of belonging and advancing social equity at Mount Allison. This year’s co-recipients are Jet Agette and Devine Levine-Kpai. 

A football student-athlete, Agette co-founded the Black Student-Athlete Union (BSAU), serving this year as President he focused on strengthening the group’s impact by launching the first pep rally and establishing a grant to support future Black student-athletes at Mount Allison. His efforts have showcased the ability to come together to create something special for the next generation of Black student-athletes. 

Levine-Kpai served as the President of the African Students' Association for two consecutive academic years, planning and organizing events, and as the vice-president of the Black Student Union for 2024-2025, she has been a pivotal figure in advocating for African and Black students on campus. This past year she was involved in planning Black History Month events and capturing the events through photography.

The Marc-Alexandre Chartrand Award for International Mentorship, recognizing outstanding contribution to Mount Allison’s International Mentorship Program, was awarded to Anukkawee (Nuey) Thongpoyai.

Thongpoyai has gone above and beyond in helping make Mount Allison a better place for international students, both through the support she has provided through the International Mentorship program and beyond. From leading the "Next Station" radio show on CHMA, where she highlighted students’ international experiences, to her leadership role as the president of MOSAIC, the multicultural club on campus, she has been a tireless advocate for diversity and inclusion. Through her work as this year’s Winter Orientation Chair and in various roles with the International Centre, she has created a welcoming environment for new students and helped them feel supported as they navigate university life.  

The Crake-Sawdon Award in Print Journalism, recognizing a graduating student who has significantly contributed to journalism at The Argosy, was presented to Tedi Buffett and Jacob Farrell.
 
This year’s co-editors-in-chief of The Argosy, Buffett and Farrell exemplify a bold dedication to the local arts community. A dedication to informing the public; a dedication to sharing stories of unsung heroes; but most importantly, a dedication to university students. By committing themselves to students and the arts they have highlighted impactful contributions to clubs, theatrical productions, and social movements which will hold importance for years to come. 
 
University Leadership Pins were presented to graduating students in recognition of their extensive co-curricular leadership on campus or in the local Sackville community. Recipients include:

Ayaka Fujiwara, Carmen Maria Amador, Chloe Duguay, Claire Wilbur, Conal Donnelly, Dylan Kruger, Emma Etheridge, Emma Patterson, Grace Waldron, Hannah Saulnier, Heather MacTavish, Heidi-Lyn O'Connor, Henna Matharu, Holly Wry, Jacob McKiel, Jasmine Pannozzo-Oddy, Jordyn Wiliams, Josh Stevenson, Julia Henry, Julia Lee, Kenadie Wagg, Kyla Wilkinson, Lauren Smith, Lee Johnson, Lindsey Hood, Lucia Canseco, Lucy Rae, Mahamadou Dahani, Makayla Boudreau, Matthew Hunter, Moriah Hennessey, Natalie Stewart, Nevis Hunt, Oliver Batchilder, Olivia Ritchie, Paul Ipe, Rajan Minocha-Mckenney, Rene Mapelu, Ryan Friars, Sam Walsh, Sarah Webber, Tai Christie, Tara Scott, Tori McCarvell, Wakana Kobayashi, Yuanhao Ma.

MASU Departmental Award recipients who have made significant contributions to their academic department include:

Jeremie Plourde (Aviation-Science), Katie Clyburne (Aviation-Science), Nevis Hunt (Aviation-Commerce), Ryane Cowley (Aviation-Arts), Jordyn Williams (Biology), Kayla Hansen (Canadian Studies), Duncan MacLean (Chemistry), Malcolm MacKinnon (Biochemistry), Jacob Farrell (Classics), Matthew Hunter (Commerce), Ryan Friars (Commerce), Danae Morrison (Drama Studies), Henna Matharu (Drama Studies), Emily Estabrooks (Drama Studies), Conal Donnelly (Economics), Matthew Hunter (Economics), Julia Palmer (English), Joseph David Caswell (Visual and Material Culture Studies), Meaghan Barnable (Visual and Material Culture Studies), Ella MacKay (Fine Arts), Paige Crosby (Art History, Museum and Curatorial Studies), Reid Delaney (Geography), William Chapman (Environmental Science), Kyla Wilkinson (Environmental Studies), Ellie McRae (History), Lauren Smith (Mathematics), Hayden Walker (Computer Science), Benjamin Broadbent (Modern Languages & Literatures), Clare Lowe (Music), Lindsay Jackson (Political Science, Philosophy), Laura Hubbert (Physics), Grace Waldron (International Relations), Joshua Stevenson (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics politics emphasis), Abigail Mitchell (Psychology-Science), Emily Mashaal (Psychology-Science), Lucy Rae (Religious Studies), Cassandra Gaultier-Downs (Community Engaged Learning), Emma Etheridge (Sociology), MacKenzie Dunnett (Feminist and Gender Studies), Elin Andrews (Feminist and Gender Studies).