Scholarships & Financial Assistance


With education costs on the rise, enhancing student assistance is a top priority for Acadia. Each year, we award more than $4 million to students in the form of scholarships, scholar-bursaries, bursaries, awards, and prizes. By maintaining a strong scholarship and financial assistance program, we are able to attract, retain and support our students.

As a donor to scholarships and financial assistance, you can direct your gift toward: general award funds or awards for specific departments, faculties, research, or athletic teams; any existing named awards; or you can create a personal legacy by establishing a named award yourself. By supporting scholarships and financial assistance, you can help to ensure access to all of the rewards of an Acadia education.

If you would like to give generally to the Scholarships and Financial Aid, please click here.

Canadian Society for Chemistry Silver Medal

Medal | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Chemistry, Current 3rd year

The Chemical Institute of Canada has established a medal of recognition to be awarded annually to the third­ year student who has the best record in chemistry (including physics and mathematics) and continues into the fourth year at Acadia University.

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Canadian Society for Chemistry Silver Medal

Prize | Eligibility: Current 3rd year

The Chemical Institute of Canada has established a medal of recognition to be awarded annually to the third-year student who has the best record in chemistry (including physics and mathematics) and continues into the fourth year at Acadia University.

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Cecil H. and Elizabeth C. Kennedy Memorial Scholarships

Scholarship | Eligibility: Arts, Latin, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year

The Cecil H. and Elizabeth C. Kennedy Memorial Scholarships. Several scholarships to a total value of $10,425 are awarded annually to students entering their second or subsequent year in the Bachelor of Arts program who in the previous year have attained a high overall average and first­class standing in either Greek or Latin. In years when there is an insufficient number of candidates who meet all criteria for the award, the scholarships may be awarded to other meritorious students in the Faculty of Arts on the recommendation of the Dean.

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Cecil Patterson Blakeley Business Administration Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Cecil Patterson Blakeley Business Administration Scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Business to students entering or returning to the School of Business. Awards will be made to students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and an interest in community activities.This endowed scholarship was established in 2008 with an estate gift from Shirley Alice Blakeley (LMU, BM Acadia 1949, 1950).

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Charles Ronald Gower Memorial Award

Award | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Chemistry, Environmental and Sustainability Studies, Environmental Geoscience, Environmental Science, Geology, Physics, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Charles Ronald Gower Memorial Award is available annually to a deserving student in the physical sciences. The endowment was provided from the estate of Harriet Agnes (Allen) Gower 1898­1988, whose husband Charles Ronald Gower, and daughter Mary Carolyn Gower, graduated from Acadia in 1929 and 1960 respectively.

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Charles Woodbury Williams Scholarship in English

Scholarship of up to $730 | Eligibility: Arts, English, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Charles Woodbury Williams Scholarship in English of the value of $730 is to be awarded at the discretion of the English Department. Normally priority will be given to an honours student of outstanding ability, but failing such, the scholarship may be awarded to a major student of exceptional promise.

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Chester W. Small Scholarship in Chemistry

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Chemistry, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year

The Chester W. Small Scholarship in Chemistry is provided by alumni, students and friends of Dr. Small who was a member of the Chemistry Department from 1926 to 1966 and Head from 1957 to 1966. It is awarded annually on recommendation of the Department to a student entering third or fourth year of undergraduate study in the B.Sc. in Chemistry and who has completed with distinction twelve hours of study in chemistry at the 2000 level or above in the previous year.

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Chipman Honours Award

Award of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Current 3rd year, Nova Scotia, Pursuing an Honours Research Project

The Chipman Honours Award is designed to support and encourage the innovative research work of Acadia’s most promising undergraduate Honours students. The award will be offered to a 3rd year Honours student who showcases a strong curiosity for continued education and whose promising research suggests a future benefit to Acadia University. The award will be granted in alternating years to English and Bio-Chemistry majors. Preference to be given to Nova Scotia residents.

The award was established in 2021 through the generosity of Muriel (Chipman) Gates, member of Acadia’s Class of 1965. Muriel’s family ties to Acadia date back to its founding – many of whom worked tirelessly in rousing support for the construction of the first University Hall. It is the hope that the award will encourage and inspire Acadia’s bright young scholars to demonstrate a lifelong commitment to Acadia.

Value: $1,000 annually

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Clara McLearn Blakeley Music Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Clara McLearn Blakeley Music Scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Music to students entering or returning to the School of Music. Awards will be made to students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and an interest in community activities. This endowed scholarship was established in 2008 with an estate gift from Shirley Alice Blakeley (LMU, BM Acadia 1949, 1950).

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Class of '43 Memorial Award

Award | Eligibility: Arts, Theatre, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Class of '43 Memorial Award is given annually on recommendation of the Director of the Theatre Studies program to a superior student, new or returning, who is in need of money. The award is in memory of class members who died in World War II: Sidney Ford, Thomas Henry, John Lawson, John Lavine, and J. Douglas MacNearney.

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Class of '67 Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of '67 Memorial Scholarship is currently awarded each year to a superior student in the second or subsequent year of a baccalaureate program, in memory of deceased members of the class.

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Class of 1907 Essay Prize

Prize of up to $40 | Eligibility: Arts, English, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1907 Essay Prize. The Class of 1907, by an endowed gift, has established an essay prize of the annual value of $40. This prize will be awarded each year to the student enrolled in English 1006 in the winter session who, in the opinion of the Department of English, has written the best regularly required class essay.

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Class of 1919 Music Award

Award of up to $1,030 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1919 Music Award. This award will be made on recommendation of the music faculty to a student in the School of Music whose work indicates musical promise. The value of the award will depend on the funds available, and it is to be used to further the students' musical education.

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Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Current 3rd year

The Class of 1922 Memorial Scholarship. A scholarship of $1250 awarded annually to a needy student entering their final year of undergraduate study.

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Class of 1929 Music Scholarships

Scholarship of up to $1,260 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Class of 1929 Music Scholarships. Established by the Class of 1929 on the occasion of their fortieth anniversary, the scholarships in the amount of $1260 are to be awarded annually to entering students or students already enrolled in the School of Music who, in the opinion of the University, have given evidence of outstanding academic ability and musical talent.

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Class of 1933 Fiftieth Reunion Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $1,535 | Eligibility: Arts, Athletics, Divinity, Interdisciplinary Studies, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1933 Fiftieth Reunion Scholarship of $1535 is awarded annually to a post first­year student in any faculty or school who has demonstrated academic excellence and displays qualities of leadership by participation in drama, music, athletics and/or community or student activities.

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Class of 1976 Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1976 Scholarship ($945) was established on the occasion of the tenth Class anniversary and is awarded annually to a superior needy student in year two, three or four who has little or no other University financing.

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Clow Leadership Awards

Award | Eligibility: Athletics, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Clow Leadership Awards are awarded annually to members of the varsity Men’s Football Team who have been a member of the team at Acadia University for at least one year, are entering their second, third or fourth year of varsity eligibility, and have a minimum sessional grade point average of 3.0. Recipients shall strive for excellence in all facets of life and show exemplary leadership qualities including leadership in community activities and character, integrity, a passion to succeed, and courage. This award is made on the recommendation of the Director of Varsity Athletics and the Football Head Coach. This endowed award was established in 2007 by Mr. Don Clow (BBA Acadia, 1983).

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Colpitts Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Colpitts Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a student registered in the third or fourth year of a program leading to a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree. The recipient will have demonstrated high academic achievement and qualities of leadership and personal integrity. Preference will be given to those interested in pursuing careers in human services and who have demonstrated financial need. The scholarship is made possible through the thoughtful generosity of Athena Bell Colpitts and Reverend Robert Alder Colpitts, who both graduated from Acadia in 1934.

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Constance I. MacFarlane Book Prize in Marine Biology

Prize | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Constance I. MacFarlane Book Prize in Marine Biology is provided by Dr. MacFarlane who for twenty years taught a course in marine algae at Acadia while she was Director of the Seaweed Division of the Nova Scotia Research Foundation. The prize is awarded each spring on the recommendation of the Head of the Biology Department to a student with special interest and promise in the field of marine algae.

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Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards

Award | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology, Current 3rd year

The Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards are provided by Curtis H. Chipman (DCL Acadia, 1993), a friend and benefactor to Acadia. One award is presented annually to one or more premedical students in year three of the Bachelor of Science program in biology who have shown significant academic improvement in year two and show superior promise of success in and suitability for an M.D. program.

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Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards

Award | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards are provided by Curtis H. Chipman (DCL Acadia, 1993), a friend and benefactor to Acadia. Two awards are presented to students in music; one to an entering student and one to a continuing performance student who is making excellent progress and promises to bring joy to those for whom she/he will perform.

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Contact

Office of Advancement
Rm 225 University Hall
15 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
General Inquiries: 902.585.1026
To make a donation: 902.585.1912
Toll Free in North America:
1.866.ACADIA (1.866.222.3428)
advancement@acadiau.ca

Charitable Registration #: 106681893 RR0001