By Fred Sgambati (’83, ’85)

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).

The room filled with anticipation and energy as Matt and Maya walked the red carpet, each joined by members of their circle of support. As two people who never stopped believing in what they could accomplish and how they could contribute to the world around them, Acadia alumni and friends showed their appreciation of and celebration for this year’s award recipients.

President Dr. Jeff Hennessy (’99) took to the stage to offer congratulations to Matt and Maya and encouraged alumni in the room to tell their stories. “Alumni all over the world represent the best of what Acadia offers and the University needs alumni to help tell the Acadia story.” Both award recipients spoke of how their Acadia experience built on the foundation they already had, allowing them to pursue their life’s work.

Chancellor Nancy McCain (’82, ’21 HON) offered similar sentiments. She thanked the Alumni Association for supporting awards that recognize the achievements of alumni, faculty, staff and volunteers. “I continue to be inspired by the spirit of Acadia’s alumni community” and she congratulated Matt and Maya on their many personal and professional accomplishments. “Thank you for representing the very best of Acadia in all you do.”

Ability in disability

The highlight of the evening was Executive Director, Alumni Relations, Oonagh Proudfoot’s (’93, ’06) one-to-one interviews with Matt and Maya.

Matt is a meteorologist by trade, but is in many ways a force of nature himself. Diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy at 18 months old, he knows what it’s like to need accommodation in an unaccommodating world. A positive and engaging speaker, he urges people to see the ability in disability and uses communication skills he has honed to deliver his message passionately and effectively.

A turning point in his success story occurred during his third year at Acadia, when mathematics professor Dr. Richard Karsten taught Matt and his classmates about how partial differential equations applied to oceanography. In meteorology, equations like these are used to model atmospheric flows, aiding in weather forecasting and climate modeling.

“I knew that the ocean and the atmosphere had similar principles and thought, ‘Wow! That’s cool,’” Matt said.

The notion inspired his imagination and Dr. Karsten later offered him a summer job. It turned out to be the experience of a lifetime. The research was interesting and thought-provoking, and Matt was delighted to apply his knowledge practically. He also connected and made friends with other workers and colleagues that summer. They did everything together and he had “an amazing time,” all while thinking that maybe graduate school would be a reasonable option. He later earned a PhD in atmospheric science.

Active recreationally, Matt is an avid downhill skier who was an ambassador for Fernie Alpine Resort during the 2024-25 season. He has conquered the slopes with a combination of hard work and high-tech equipment, and said that the experience has improved his entire life. He’s a better advocate, a better speaker, “better at everything I do” because of these experiences. He wants to help people build a life for themselves so they, too, can similarly contribute to their communities.

Impressive career

A proud Filipino Canadian, Maya has forged an impressive career as a stunt performer. She broke into the film industry as an eight-year-old when she landed a role in Smallville and later went on to work in such notable films as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), Good Boys (2019), and Deadpool 2 (2018), to name just a few.
Being athletic and fearless are elements of her success, but it’s not just her exploits on film that characterize her bravery and talent. She is a trailblazer whose courageous openness to experience originally brought her to Acadia and has enabled her to create countless new trails to inspire others ever since.

Her incredible grace, resilience and indomitable spirit were on full display as she spoke, telling the crowd that she was thankful to be at the dinner. She took a moment to acknowledge the beautiful Filipino community that has raised and supported her in her life and in the wake of what happened in her home community just days before the Awards Dinner, she noted that the strength and acceptance that she feels with her Acadia community is exactly what she needed.

Maya had initially considered a career as a lawyer, but thought perhaps that it might be practical to follow in her mother’s footsteps and explore opportunities as a stunt performer. She started training, developed her physical and mental skills, and discovered a real talent for the work. The rest, of course, is history.

Prior to that, she said she came to Wolfville from British Columbia on a whim after talking to then Acadia basketball Axewomen head coach Bev Greenlaw, who convinced her to give Acadia a try. “He gave me family when I didn’t have any and was going through a hard time in my life,” she said. Coach Greenlaw was on hand that evening to join in on the celebration of Maya.

Inspired and determined, Maya honed her skills as an athlete and developed academically in the Politics department, noting that her experience at Acadia shaped her life for the better. She developed critical thinking skills and found her voice in Wolfville, allowing her to embrace her identity.

She continues to work in the film industry and is also fully engaged as an activist for young and BIPOC performers, advocating for safer, more equitable spaces in her industry and on set.

“Small universities help you to learn and grow,” she concluded. They provide room for dialogue and the chance to sit down, listen and learn, “so (Acadia) was everything for me.”

Both Maya and Matt received standing ovations at the conclusion of their Q&A sessions.

A consistent and integral part of the program for the evening was the raffle fundraiser for S.M.I.L.E. Matthew Holmes (’24) was on hand to set the stage for the fundraising efforts. He reflected on his five years as a S.M.I.L.E. volunteer and said that it was life-changing, encouraging attendees to give and give now. He said that nearly $40,000 had been raised so far through the Dinners’ raffles, and applauded Paul Bailey’s (’75) generosity in donating the Toronto Dream Weekend prize package.

The draw for the S.M.I.L.E. raffle prize, was won by Cory Cadeau (’17) with a total of $5,110 raised. Alumni Association Vice-President Paul Black (‘00) announced that the Association was delighted to match the fundraising efforts that evening. The ever-loved S.M.I.L.E program received $10, 220.

The following event sponsors were also acknowledged for their financial and in-kind support: TD Insurance; Irving; Chartwells; Stevens Group of Companies; Dexter Construction; BMO; Industrial Alliance Financial Group; Mattatall Signs; McInnes Cooper; Sodexo; and Coach Atlantic.

Vice-President, External Relations Nancy Handrigan (’92) said afterward, “it was wonderful to celebrate Matt and Maya, whose personal and professional achievements represent our alumni community in the very best way possible, and to see so many alumni and friends, Board members, donors, and students applaud them was truly inspirational. There was a tremendous spirit and love for Acadia in the room and I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to all who supported this year’s Acadia Alumni Awards Dinner.”

For more, please see our photo gallery.