UNH Today

COLA’s commencements celebrate annually the achievements of hundreds of liberal arts students as they get ready to move on to new adventures. This year, COLA also celebrated the life of one class of ’22 student who is not so fortunate. Aulbani “AJ” Beauregard would have graduated with her classmates this May, but she died unexpectedly from natural causes during her first year at UNH, in late 2018.

Beauregard was a force on campus during her time here and her loss was profound for those who knew her. As a first-year student, she arrived early to participate in the CONNECT program, and then went on to excel in her classes while maintaining an active and enthusiastic commitment to several campus groups including the Caribbean Cats dance crew, Alliance, the Black Student Union and MOSAICO.

During the commencement ceremony, Michele Dillon, dean of the College of Liberal Arts, presented Beauregard’s parents and two of her aunts with a certificate of academic accomplishment to recognize and remember her achievements.

“Highly motivated, generous, empathic and resilient – AJ was truly a positive force in our community and, in one short semester, left a lasting impact,” said Dillon in her citation.

Dillon noted that UNH has the honor of remembering AJ’s legacy every day when visiting the Aulbani J. Beauregard Center for Equity, Justice and Freedom, which was renamed in 2020 from the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs.

“And on a cold, wet afternoon in the spring of 2019, we planted a Star Magnolia tree in Murkland Courtyard dedicated to AJ’s memory,” Dillon continued. “Even when it’s not in flower, it is a fitting reminder of AJ’s glowing spirit and how it continues to permeate our hearts and our actions.”