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.
David George and Margaret Evelyn Burchell Scholarships
Scholarship | Eligibility: Nova Scotia
The DAVID GEORGE AND MARGARET EVELYN BURCHELL SCHOLARSHIPS are awarded annually to two students attending Acadia University. Preference is given to students from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
The scholarships are made possible through the generosity of Mrs. Margaret Evelyn Burchell (BA, Acadia,1931) in memory of her late husband, Mr. David George Burchell.
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Deeneh Foundation Economics Award
Award of up to $2,500 | Eligibility: Arts, Economics, Nova Scotia
Established in 2023 by Nadine and Doug Allen (’87), the Deeneh Foundation Economics Award recognizes a returning student from Nova Scotia enrolled in the BA Economics program who may have financial need and be from Nova Scotia, preferably Halifax.
Originally from Windsor, NS, Doug Allen (’87) established himself as a business leader in Alberta after his time at Acadia. He completed his CPA CA designation in 1989 and his MBA at the University of Alberta in 2002. He held executive level positions with Syncrude Canada Ltd, the Guthrie Group of Companies and the Mikisew Group of Companies. He has served on the Board of Directors for several charities and non-profits. Nadine, from Halifax, started her career in banking and is a financial advisor with Raymond James Ltd. Together they have founded the Deeneh Foundation which recognizes their family roots and values with its mission and crest.
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Deeneh Foundation Leadership in Business Award
Award of up to $5,000 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Nova Scotia
Awarded annually to a returning student from Nova Scotia enrolled in the Manning School of Business Administration, the Deeneh Foundation Leadership in Business Award recognizes exceptional promise and future leadership in the business community. The successful recipient will demonstrate financial need and preference will be given to suitable candidates from Windsor, NS.
The award was established in 2021 through the generosity of Doug (’87) and Nadine Allen. Originally from Windsor, NS, Doug established himself as a business leader in Alberta after his time at Acadia. He completed his CPA CA designation in 1989 and his MBA at the University of Alberta in 2002. He held executive level positions with Syncrude Canada Ltd, the Guthrie Group of Companies and the Mikisew Group of Companies. He has served on the Board of Directors for several charities and non-profits. Nadine, from Halifax, started her career in banking. She recently celebrated a 30-year milestone as a financial advisor with Raymond James Ltd. where her dedication to clients and her leadership is acknowledged through membership in the firm’s Chairman Council and being honored in 2019 with the firm’s Woman of Distinction award.
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Donald G. Stairs Athletic Award
Award | Eligibility: Athletics, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Established in 2020 by the Stairs family to honour their father. To be awarded to a returning varsity men’s hockey player who exemplifies leadership qualities on their respective team and in the community, as well as excelling in perseverance, dedication, and sportsmanship. Preference shall be given to a hockey athlete from Atlantic Canada. The recipients shall be in good academic standing and shall be chosen by the Director of Athletics in consultation with the head coach of the men’s hockey program.
This award honours Donald G. Stairs (‘44) who played for the varsity hockey Axemen, as well as the Acadia varsity men’s rugby team. Don was a two-time winner of the Orley Bligh Trophy during his four year varsity career, plus later in life he was made an Acadia Hockey Honour Roll inductee.
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Dorothy Harris Oyler (’31) Bursary
Bursary | Eligibility: Arts, Art, Music, Theatre, Nova Scotia
Endowed in memory of John Oyler’s mother, the Dorothy Harris Oyler Bursary is available on an annual basis to full-time students in theatre, music or visual arts, who demonstrate financial need, with a preference for those from the Annapolis Valley (Hants, Kings, Annapolis, Digby Counties) and Lunenberg County.
Dorothy Harris was born in 1909 and grew up in Wolfville, graduating from Acadia in 1931 with a BA in English. Dorothy’s son, John Oyler (’59) established the bursary in her memory, honouring subject areas important to both of them, recognizing the value of the arts in education and everyday life.
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Douglas and Patricia Armstrong Award
Award | Eligibility: Entering first year, Nova Scotia
The Douglas and Patricia Armstrong Award is presented annually to an incoming student in financial need from Nova Scotia, preferably from Kings County.
The award was established in 2021 by Douglas and Patricia Armstrong’s children in honour of their parents’ love of, and dedicate to, Acadia University. Douglas, a proud graduate of Horton Academy (’44), studied engineering at Acadia and was a versatile athlete, competing on all three for the Rugby, Track & Field, and Hockey teams. Pat Nancy Armstrong, nee Fraser, had a love of the arts, started 1st year studies for a BA and found time to compete on the Freshette Swim Team. Doug and Pat met at Acadia, then Pat went on to study nursing in Halifax. They married, raised five daughters while Doug ran a successful business in Kingston, NS. They were very proud to be part of the Acadia family, valued education, and helping others. It is the family’s hope that this award will support local students in pursuit of their academic goals and endeavours.
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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