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One of
the many
benefactions mentioned in H.G. C. Ketchum's will was the provision for
a silver medal as a prize at the University of New Brunswick.
This medal, known as the "Ketchum Medal", was to be awarded each year
to the Civil Engineering student having the highest standing.
After Ketchum's death on 8 September 1896, the following appeared in
"Editorial Notes" in the University
Monthly "The late Mr. H.G.C. Ketchum, C.E. has provided
for an annual silver medal in the department of Civil Engineering in
the University. Mr. Ketchum was a former native of Fredericton
and is mourned by hosts of friends here and all over the
Dominion. We hope that his bequest may prove an incentive to many
young men in the profession in which he himself attained such
eminence."
It
appears that the Allan Wyon firm in London, England
was commissioned to produce the medal. Correspondence
between the London-based company and Stephen Dixon, Dean of
Engineering at UNB indicates that work on the dies began in the spring
of 1897 and were to be completed "in about ten weeks' time."
At Encaenia on 27 May 1897, valedictorian C.C. Jones (President of UNB,
1906-1940) stated "The
will of the late H.G.C. Ketchem (sic), C.E., provided for a silver
medal for the
department of Engineering. Such a donation, especially prized as
the gift of one who was himself an eminent engineer will no doubt serve
to increase the zeal of the students in that important department of
the University." The first recipient of the Ketchum Medal was
Aubrey Clifton Tabor, Class of 1897.
The Ketchum Medal is a beautiful piece of medallic art and continues to
be awarded during Encaenia each year. Today it is presented to
the top graduating student in Civil Engineering based on the regular
(full time student) work in the final two terms of the student's
regular program.
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