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.
Lalia Halfkenny Award
Award | Eligibility: Arts, Pure and Applied Science, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Established by sisters Laura Robinson (’88) and Alva Robinson (’77) in honour of Lalia Halfkenny (Acadia Ladies Seminary 1889), this award is granted to an in-course Black Canadian student, preferably from Nova Scotia or the Maritimes, in the BA or BSc program (alternating) in recognition of academic success and community service.
New Brunswick-born Lalia Halfkenny was the first Black woman to graduate from an institute of higher education in the Maritimes at a time when few Black Canadians had access to any schooling at all. Halfkenny was the only Black graduate in her class at the Acadia Ladies Seminary in 1889. After graduating she looked for work but found few opportunities in the Maritimes. Halfkenny went to Virginia, where she was a very active and much beloved teacher. She volunteered in a home for African American families who were living in poverty.
Alva Robinson (BSc), Secretary of Acadia’s Class of 1977, enjoyed a career in digital information with the City of Halifax and then Halifax Regional Municipality. Laura Robinson (BA English ’88) continued her academic life and is Dean of Arts at Acadia. Both sisters spent their Acadia years as residents of Whitman House (“Tully”) and were inspired by Lalia’s story and those of current Black Acadia students.
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Lucy V. (Gates) Shelzi Entrance Scholarships
Scholarship | Eligibility: Entering first year, Nova Scotia
The Lucy V. (Gates) Shelzi Entrance Scholarships are annually awarded to students with high academic standing and who have a demonstrated need for financial assistance. The scholarships are named in memory of Lucy V. (Gates) Shelzi, a distinguished graduate of the Class of 1926, teacher, librarian and humanitarian. Preference will be given to a student resident in Yarmouth County.
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Lyman Baxter Harvey Memorial Scholar-Bursary
Scholar-Bursary of up to $3,500 | Eligibility: Nova Scotia
Established in 2017 through the estate gift of Dr. Lyman Harvey, this scholar-bursary is awarded to an entering or returning student from the Municipality of the District of West Hants, Nova Scotia in recognition of academic excellence and financial need.
Dr. Lyman Baxter Harvey grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts, a descendant of Planters from Hants County, Nova Scotia. He earned a BSc in Biology from Acadia in 1938 where he studied pipe organ, then completed a MDCM at McGill in 1942. After serving in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in Canada, he studied ophthalmology at Northwestern University (Chicago). He practiced and taught medicine in Illinois and served as a medical missionary in India. From his retirement in 1979 until his death in 2009, Dr. Harvey lived in Hants County.
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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