Ashley Davis and Len Harvey

“Your impact on me since I’ve known you is something I hold close to my heart,” graduating Biology student and Axewomen Basketball player Ashley Davis tells her coach, Len Harvey.

Ashley and Len go way back, but one of her favourite memories with him is a recent one: the drive the team took to Banff this year in pre season. She says the Axewomen stories and laughs on the trip are something she’ll always remember.

“You have been an all-time player for me,” Len tells Ashley in his response to her letter. He says that if every athlete, student, and person had Ashley’s spirit and personality, the world would be a much better place.

Rowan Norrad and Dr. Ian Spooner

Rowan has had a whirlwind undergraduate career at Acadia, arriving as an Irving Scholar, and helping to lead innovations in sustainability, taking his biochar project all the way to Enactus nationals.

One thing, he says, during his time at Acadia has remained constant: having Dr. Ian Spooner in his corner. “Your belief in me, especially in times where I wasn’t sure of myself, has helped me more than you know,” Rowan tells his honours supervisor.

In knowing Rowan, Dr. Spooner says he’s "had the pleasure of seeing somebody develop opportunities who, in my wildest dreams at that age, I don’t think I would ever have had the opportunity to realize.”

“It’s these kinds of experiences that I’ve had with you that make everything I’ve done at Acadia worthwhile.”

Angel Percentie and Dr. Wanda Campbell

When Angel began Dr. Wanda Campbell’s creative writing class in second year, she says she knew nothing about the subject beyond the fact that she loved telling stories. Now, Angel is going on to pursue a Master’s degree in creative writing.

“You taught me not to disregard my own voice,” she tells Dr. Campbell in her letter. Through the work Dr. Campbell encouraged her to pursue, Angel says she was able to “start a journey toward healing.”

“Working with you gave me a deep sense of belonging.”

Dr. Campbell responds that while her job is to impart what she knows to her students, she also learns a lot from her students. And, she tells Angel, “that has definitely been the case with you.”

Kylie DeViller and Dr. Zoë Migicovsky

Kylie, who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she arrived at Acadia, has found her path by working with Dr. Zoë Migicovsky. “You’ve given me opportunities I had never considered for myself,” she tells her mentor. “You even gave me a direction in life doing something I never knew existed but love doing.”

As an undergrad student in computer science, Kylie joined the Migicovsky biology lab in a co-op position. Now, she’s about to begin her Master’s degree in that same lab working with computational applications in biology. (Read more about Kylie and Dr. Migicovsky’s work on apple genetics!)

Dr. Migicovsky is grateful to Kylie for coming into her lab and showing her the power of working across disciplines. “I’m really excited that we get to keep working together!”

Deja Forbes and Dr. Katheryn Bell

Upon graduation from Acadia, Deja is heading off to grad school. She credits Dr. Bell’s consistent support and guidance as a key part of her success getting into the grad program of her dreams.

She tells Dr. Bell that her support has helped her gain confidence in herself and her ability to speak up. “You demonstrated mentorship through respectful care and empathy.”

Dr. Bell responds that she has been “blown away” by what Deja has achieved thus far. She’s excited for the future possibilities that Deja’s life holds and is looking forward to cheering her on as she pursues a career as a mental health professional.

Kate Bemrose and Dr. Marianne Clark

The warmth and care between Kate and her mentor Dr. Marianne Clark are evident watching them speak to one another about the professional and personal relationship they’ve formed over Kate’s four years at Acadia.

In her letter, Kate thanks Dr. Clark for the “incredible role” she played in her journey at Acadia. “From our very first class together, you’ve challenged me to think differently about research, society, and the world around me, always encouraging me to strive for a more equitable future.”

Dr. Clark says their mentorship relationship has “been a profound experience” in her time at Acadia, too. These relationships, she tells Kate, are “really what makes this job the best.”