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.

Hansford Family Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Economics, History

Established in 2017 by Gordon Hansford (’51) in memory of his father Cecil Hansford, this bursary is awarded to a full-time student preferably majoring in economics or history, in recognition of academic excellence and financial need.

From Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Cecil Hansford was the son of English immigrants. In 1915, he and two brothers went to war for Canada, only two of them returning in 1919. After mining in Ontario, Cecil came back to Nova Scotia and settled in Wolfville where he opened a barber shop and served on the Town Council, the School Board, and the Wolfville Legion. During WWII in 1940, he served as Staff Sergeant at Camp Aldershot, taking time off in 1945 to run as a candidate for the CCF party against MP Lorimer Illsley. Cecil's son Gordon followed in his father's footsteps and joined the armed forces in 1941 at the age of 17. On his return he attended Horton Academy and then completed three degrees at Acadia University – BA in Economics and History (1951), BEd (1952), and MA in Economics (1953). His teaching career saw him educate students at Central Kings High School, Halifax Community College and Kentville Community College, now a campus of Nova Scotia Community College. Gordon’s wife, Helen was also a teacher in Queens and Kings Counties, Nova Scotia.

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Harrison McCain Scholar-Bursaries

Scholar-Bursary

The Harrison McCain Scholar-Bursaries are available annually to entering students attending University who have graduated from a high school in Canada. Each award has a program value of $16,000 payable over a four year course of study in the amount of $4,000 per year. Criteria for the awards include a minimum 80% average in senior year of high school, financial need, leadership qualities, and a recognized initiative in funding your own education. The number of scholarship/bursaries available may vary from year to year. Renewal criteria to be met each year.

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Hazel Miriam Dunham Cleghorn Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary

The Hazel Miriam Dunham Cleghorn Scholar-Bursary is awarded annually to a student entering Acadia University who has demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic and athletic achievements. The scholar-bursary was established by John Cleghorn and his family in 1998 in memory of his mother, Hazel Miriam Dunham Cleghorn, (BSH '35), an outstanding student-athlete who excelled both in the classroom and on the basketball court.

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Helen and Douglas Buckler Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary of up to $1,000

Established in 2018 by Grant Buckler ('79), this scholar-bursary is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in recognition of academic excellence and financial need. Douglas Buckler earned his MA at Acadia in 1950 and taught in Sheffield Mills, Digby and Cornwallis and was principal of the Clark Rutherford Memorial School on the Cornwallis base. He finished his teaching career as vice-principal and finally principal of New Germany Rural High School. Helen taught in Shawinigan (Quebec), Middle Stewiacke, Digby, Cornwallis and New Germany, where she taught both match and English at the senior high level.

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Hicks Family Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary | Eligibility: Arts, Professional Studies, Pure and Applied Science, Applied Science, Biology, Education

Established in 2014 by Judith (Hicks) Adams, Class of 1967, in honour of her parents Milledge Hicks (CAS 1935) and Charlotte (Fisher) Hicks (BA 1936), and her sister Mary Ellen Hicks (BA 1970, B.Ed 1971, M.Ed 1981). To be awarded to a full-time returning student in recognition of academic achievement. The award will rotate on an annual basis between students in the faculties of Arts, Pure and Applied Science (preference for Biology or Engineering), and Professional Studies (preference for Education).

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Holly Turner Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary of up to $4,000

Established in 2018 by Holly (Turner) Gunn ('68, '69, '02), the Holly Turner Scholar Bursary is awarded on a renewable basis to an entering full-time undergraduate student from rural Lunenburg County in recognition of academic excellence and financial need. If there is no eligible candidate from rural Lunenburg County, a student from rural Nova Scotia will receive the scholar-bursary.

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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