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.
Acadia University has announced a $500,000 CDN donation from the RBC Foundation to the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership at Acadia. With $100,000 annually from the RBC Foundation over a five-year period, the Jarislowsky Chair in Trust and Political Leadership program at Acadia headed by Dr. Alex Marland will focus spending on areas that aim to improve access to education for marginalized students; help to prepare them for the workforce through networking, mentoring, training and work placements; develop courses; develop metrics for success; prepare professional certificate programs; and support pan-Canadian seminars and conferences for students in the program network.
Acadia’s Build: theStudentCentre campaign received a tremendous boost on December 12, 2024 with a generous donation of $1.5 million from dedicated alum Janice MacNeill ('76).
Katrina Hayes and Leila Beaudet are both successful Acadia students pursuing double majors - Katrina in Sociology and Women’s and Gender Studies, and Leila in Biology and Environmental and Sustainability Studies. Both have received important financial awards. They also happen to be mother and daughter.
When Dr. Bob Lucas (’68, ’69) decided to establish a bursary to support nursing students at Acadia, he had two things on his mind: a strong desire to help students through worrisome academic experiences; and something called ‘The Eleemosynary Fund’.
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Thanks to the generosity of the John and Judy Bragg Foundation, up to 13 Acadia students benefit annually from the following awards, named in honour of former teachers who were Acadia alumni:
Some of the most recent recipients of these awards spoke to Acadia about their lives as students and shared their gratitude:
External Relations15 University AvenueWolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, CanadaGeneral Inquiries: 902.585.1459To make a donation: 902.585.1912Toll Free in North America:1.866.ACADIA (1.866.222.3428)acadia.alumni@acadiau.caCharitable Registration #: 106681893 RR0001
