Crandall University’s newly inaugurated Graduate School of Management brought together recognition and real-world preparation through two connected events in 2026: the Dean’s Honour Roll Luncheon, held on April 7 on Crandall’s Moncton campus, and the Dean’s Honour Roll Networking Mixer, held on April 24 at St. James Gate West Hills Golf Club in the Fredericton region. Together, these annual gatherings now in their second year celebrated academic excellence while equipping top-performing students to engage confidently with New Brunswick’s professional community.
The GSM Dean’s Honour Roll and its related events – the Luncheon and the Networking Mixer – represent the annual top honours for academic excellence afforded to graduate students in Crandall’s Graduate School of Management, which builds on years of successful graduate programming in management. This year’s luncheon recognized 55 high-achieving students, including recipients of the Dean’s Honour Roll Certificate of Excellence and students recognized with Honourable Mention for coming very close to placing on the Honour Roll. In doing so, the event celebrated a wider group of students whose discipline, perseverance, and academic achievement distinguished them within Crandall’s graduate management programs.
The luncheon served as both a celebration and a developmental experience. Students were joined by Provost and Vice-President Academic Dr. Jon Ohlhauser and GSM Dean Dr. David Iremadze, who offered remarks recognizing the significance of academic excellence within the life of the university. With live music and a celebratory atmosphere, the event affirmed not only achievement, but also the promise represented by students preparing to move from graduate study into wider professional contribution.
From among the Honour Roll students, 24 full-time students were selected by the GSM Dean’s Office to participate in the Fredericton Networking Mixer. These students, most of whom are international students alongside domestic full-time peers, distinguished themselves not only through academic excellence, but also through high levels of engagement in on-campus and off-campus communities, significant professional experience, and demonstrated leadership potential.
The luncheon also emphasized practical preparation. Professor Corey Sigvaldason led students through a networking primer designed to help them think intentionally about how to present themselves, build connections, and approach networking in a professional Canadian context. Through elevator-pitch practice in a mock stand-up reception format, students were encouraged to translate academic achievement into career readiness and to enter professional conversations with confidence, clarity, and purpose.
This preparation culminated in the Dean’s Honour Roll Networking Mixer in Fredericton, an invitation-only event designed to connect these high-achieving students directly with employers, professionals, and community leaders from a wide range of sectors. The evening opened with the individual recognition of all 24 honourees, whose backgrounds and accomplishments were highlighted before they received certificates of special distinction from the Dean and the Provost. The recognition ceremony was followed by interactive networking, speed-networking activities, prize raffles, refreshments, and live music in the background.
Deputy Mayor Jocelyn Pike of the City of Fredericton offered goodwill messages, underscoring the importance of creating meaningful connections between emerging graduate talent and New Brunswick communities. The Fredericton setting also reflected Crandall’s growing engagement across the province, creating space for connection between graduate students and key organizations in the capital region.
“Tonight, we honour a remarkable group of students whose academic excellence, commitment, and promise distinguish them among the very best of Crandall University’s Graduate School of Management,” said Dr. David Iremadze, Dean of the Graduate School of Management. “Here, in plain sight, is one of New Brunswick’s great opportunities: exceptional international talent, already distinguished for excellence and ready to contribute to the growth of our organizations, institutions, communities, and economy. We are equally grateful for the presence of our guests, whose engagement helps affirm, encourage, and connect this emerging talent with the wider community.”
The impact of this kind of engagement is already becoming visible. One of this year’s 24 selected students came to Canada just a year ago with a background in electrical engineering, completed the one-year Master of Organizational Management program at Crandall University’s Graduate School of Management, and has recently secured a position with an engineering service provider company, taking on significant professional responsibilities. Stories like this illustrate the powerful connection between graduate education, student excellence, professional readiness, and New Brunswick’s need for new talent.
Events such as the Dean’s Honour Roll Networking Mixer help create a virtuous cycle. By bringing Crandall’s strongest students into visible engagement with new communities and professional networks, the university supports their career development, strengthens the likelihood of future alumni success, and builds the kind of positive word of mouth that enhances Crandall’s reputation and attracts the next generation of students, including international students. Over time, successful alumni can also become important bridges between current graduates and meaningful career opportunities.
Together, the luncheon and networking mixer reflect Crandall University’s commitment to holistic graduate education—where academic excellence is paired with intentional career preparation. By recognizing achievement and creating opportunities for connection, these events demonstrate how Crandall continues to prepare its students not just to succeed academically, but to contribute meaningfully in their careers, communities, and the long-term economic and social vitality of New Brunswick.
