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.

Cecil Patterson Blakeley Business Administration Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Cecil Patterson Blakeley Business Administration Scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Business to students entering or returning to the School of Business. Awards will be made to students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and an interest in community activities.This endowed scholarship was established in 2008 with an estate gift from Shirley Alice Blakeley (LMU, BM Acadia 1949, 1950).

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Charlotte Burditt Sutherland Memorial Scholarships

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Education, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year

The Charlotte Burditt Sutherland Memorial Scholarships are awarded annually. One will be given on recommendation of the Director of the School of Education to a superior student who aspires to a career in special education. Preference will be given to a student with financial need. One will be given at the discretion of the Scholarship, Prizes and Awards Committee to an entering student, including an applicant entering as a mature student.The two scholarships are in memory of Charlotte Burditt Sutherland (B.A. Acadia, 1961; B.Ed., 1962), who by her involvement with Acadia University and her concern for people, showed a lifetime commitment to disadvantaged members of society. The scholarships were established and made available through the generosity of family, friends and the Class of 1961.

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Chipman/Rose Memorial Award

Award of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science, Nova Scotia

Established in 2016 by friends and family of Lynn Chipman (’07) and Kim Rose (’87), this entrance award is granted to a full-time female student from the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. Value: $1,000.

Lynn Chipman had a 33-year career at Acadia in Technology Services, finishing as Manager of Information Systems. She earned a Certificate and Diploma in Business, Certificate in Computer Science and a Bachelor of Business Administration during that time. She was an endearing and supportive co-worker, a leader within her team.

Kim Rose joined Computing Services in 1991 after receiving a Bachelor of Computer Science from Acadia. Eventually she became Director of User Support and later, Director of Open Acadia. Kim left her mark on Acadia, ensuring that students received top-notch technology support and that her co-workers were provided every opportunity to be successful.

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Christine Webber Award in Music

Award | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music

The Christine Webber Award in Music is awarded annually on recommendation of the Director of the School of Music to a student registered in that School who shows promise in brass and instrumental music education. The award is provided by the late Ernest Webber, friend of Acadia, in honour of his goddaughter, Christine Webber who graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1984.

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Chuck Smith Award in Kinesiology

Award | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Kinesiology, Canada

Established in 2021 by Ron Smith ('71) in honour of his lifelong friend, Charles (Chuck) Smith ('76), this award is granted on a renewable basis to a student majoring in Kinesiology. Preferably of African Canadian heritage and also demonstrating financial need, the recipient has shown an interest in coaching, working with youth and/or volunteering to the benefit of marginalized communities.

Chuck Smith and Ron Smith grew up together in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and both later attended Acadia. Chuck earned a BSc in Physical Education in 1976 and Ron received his BCO in 1971.

During his high school years, Chuck was the recognized leader of the Yarmouth High Vikings basketball team and he later played for several years on the Acadia Junior Varsity team. His career spanned 30 years with the federal government as an employment counsellor and program officer. Throughout his adult life, Chuck has been devoted to his work as a volunteer coach. Hundreds of younger people with whom he has worked over the years now know him affectionately and simply as “Coach”.

In 2006, Chuck received the BNS Frank Baldwin Award in recognition of "the long-term development of basketball in Nova Scotia". He was inducted into the Yarmouth Sports Hall of Fame in 2000 as a Builder/Basketball. In addition to sports, Chuck founded and served as the coordinator of a Youth Community Garden and has served a four-year term as President of the Black Loyalist Heritage Society.

Ron's career post-Acadia saw him as a senior business and community leader in Nova Scotia, including five years as Chair of Acadia's Board of Governors. This gift is intended to encourage its beneficiaries, as they make their life choices, to always look for the many ways to use their particular talents to further the common good in their communities.

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Clara McLearn Blakeley Music Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Clara McLearn Blakeley Music Scholarship will be awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Music to students entering or returning to the School of Music. Awards will be made to students who have demonstrated leadership qualities and an interest in community activities. This endowed scholarship was established in 2008 with an estate gift from Shirley Alice Blakeley (LMU, BM Acadia 1949, 1950).

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Class of 1919 Music Award

Award of up to $1,030 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1919 Music Award. This award will be made on recommendation of the music faculty to a student in the School of Music whose work indicates musical promise. The value of the award will depend on the funds available, and it is to be used to further the students' musical education.

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Class of 1929 Music Scholarships

Scholarship of up to $1,260 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Class of 1929 Music Scholarships. Established by the Class of 1929 on the occasion of their fortieth anniversary, the scholarships in the amount of $1260 are to be awarded annually to entering students or students already enrolled in the School of Music who, in the opinion of the University, have given evidence of outstanding academic ability and musical talent.

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Class of 1933 Fiftieth Reunion Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $1,535 | Eligibility: Arts, Athletics, Divinity, Interdisciplinary Studies, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Class of 1933 Fiftieth Reunion Scholarship of $1535 is awarded annually to a post first­year student in any faculty or school who has demonstrated academic excellence and displays qualities of leadership by participation in drama, music, athletics and/or community or student activities.

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Clive and Cindy Waugh Award

Award of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science, Community Development, Education, Kinesiology, Psychology, Sociology, Graduate

Established in 2020 by Cynthia and Clive Waugh (’79), the Cindy and Clive Waugh Award recognizes the work of a graduate student in Community Development, Education, Kinesiology, Psychology, or Sociology, whose research will lead to new knowledge or practices toward improving the lives of individuals experiencing developmental challenges. Mature students with work experience are preferred. The recipient will be chosen by the Dean of Research and Graduate Studies in consultation with two Faculty Deans. Value: $1,000

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Colville Awards

Award of up to $2,500 | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science

The Colville Awards are annually awarded on the recommendation of the Deans to a leading student in the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Professional Studies, and the Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, who is entering the final year of an Honours program. Awards shall be made in May and may be used during the summer and the ensuing academic year.

The Colville Awards were established by the Board of Governors in 1991 to recognize the distinguished contribution of David Alexander Colville, CC, as Chancellor 1980-1991.

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Crawford Young Memorial Scholarship in Music (Organ)

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music

The Crawford Young Memorial Scholarship in Music was provided by Audrey Young in memory of her brother. It is awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Music to a student majoring in organ, voice or piano with an interest in Church music.

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Creaser/Margeson Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Arts, Athletics, Professional Studies, Business Administration, Computer Science, Economics

The Creaser/Margeson Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to an entering or returning student participating in varsity athletics at Acadia. Preference may be given to a student entering a program in business, computer science, or economics.

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Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards

Award | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year, Entering first year

The Curtis H. and Margaret T. Chipman Achievement Awards are provided by Curtis H. Chipman (DCL Acadia, 1993), a friend and benefactor to Acadia. Two awards are presented to students in music; one to an entering student and one to a continuing performance student who is making excellent progress and promises to bring joy to those for whom she/he will perform.

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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