Acadia University - External Relations News

It was an emotional night of celebration and inspiration in Halifax on May 1, 2025 as members of the Acadia community came together to applaud Distinguished Alumni Award and Outstanding Young Alumni Award recipients Dr. Matt Corkum (’06) and Maya Macatumpag-Murray (’16).

Established in 2022, the Hugh and Linda Brown Educational Foundation Bursary provides financial support to students at Acadia University pursuing a degree in any program. It is a renewable award – eligible students can receive it each year of their program.

Acadia’s close-knit community spirit was on full display during a recent road trip along Nova Scotia’s scenic Lighthouse Route and Evangeline Trail, April 15-17, 2025. The journey, aimed at connecting with alumni in Bridgewater, Yarmouth and Digby, offered rich conversations and inspiring insights into how Acadia graduates are shaping their communities.

Executive Director, Alumni Relations Oonagh Proudfoot (’93, ’06) was delighted to attend her first Global Bluenosers event with Founder and CEO Sean Meister (’07) in Ottawa, ON on April 9, 2025. Acadia was well represented in the vocal, fun and energetic crowd at Occo Kitchen and Bar on Bay Street.

There is no doubt Holly (Turner) Gunn (’68, ’69, ’02) is a champion for education and helping to eliminate boundaries. She started at Acadia at the age of 16 and received a Bachelor of Art, Bachelor of Education and a Master of Education as well as a Master of Library and Information Science from Dalhousie University during her academic career. Originally from New Ross, Holly knew that she wanted to have a positive impact on other students from rural areas, creating the Holly Turner Scholar-Bursary to support a full-time undergraduate student.

The BMO Lecture Series returned to the Acadia University campus on February 26, 2025, featuring keynote speaker Chief Terrance Paul. Chief Paul celebrated 40 years as the elected chief of Membertou late last fall. His keynote talk, “Play the Game and Play to Win – A Story of Economic Transformation in Membertou”, focused on his career in leadership and future plans.