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.

P.C. Joseph Leadership Award

Award of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Athletics

Established in 2017 by Savior Joseph, Axemen Basketball 1997-2002, is in honor and memory of Savior’s father, P.C. Joseph, for his lifelong support of Savior’s leadership and basketball development. The award, awarded to a returning men’s basketball player, is in recognition of their leadership, community involvement, positive communication skills and good academic standing. The recipient will be chosen by the Head Coach of the varsity men’s basketball team and the Director of Athletics.

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Parsons Family Prize

Prize | Eligibility: Arts, Politics

The Parsons Family Prize. An endowment donated by W. R. Parsons (Acadia, 1895) and Mrs. F. I. Stearns in memory of their father, Mr. Jonathan Parsons, B.A., their sister Mabel H. Parsons, M.A., and their brother George H. Parsons, B.A., LL.B., provides a prize of $40 to go to the male student with the highest standing who proceeds to the study of law.

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Patsy Bray Mahoney Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Entering first year, New Brunswick

The Patsy Bray Mahoney Memorial Scholarship is offered annually to incoming students from New Brunswick entering any program of study. Preference to be given to graduates of Moncton High School and residents of Murray Corner.

The awards were established in 2021 in loving memory of Patsy by the Mahoney family: her husband, Paul Mahoney, her son, Charles Mahoney, and her daughter, Susan Mahoney Hatfield. Patsy was a graduate of Horton Academy and went on to complete her Diploma in Secretarial Science as a member of Acadia’s Class of 1961. Patsy believed in the value of post-secondary education, and it is the family’s hope that this award will encourage and assist fellow New Brunswickers in pursuit of their undergraduate goals and endeavours at Acadia.

Value: Annual awards will be made in multiples of $1,000 once the endowment reaches $100,000

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Paul E. Chandler Memorial Award

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

The Paul E. Chandler Memorial Award is awarded annually to an entering or returning student at Acadia who is a member of the Varsity Swim Team. The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellence in scholastic and extra-curricular activities. The award is made on recommendation of the Director of Varsity Athletics. Paul E. Chandler (B.Sc., Appl. Sc. Cert. Acadia, 1956) was a chemical engineer and captain of the Acadia Swim Team.

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Paul McFarland Captain in the Community Award

Award | Eligibility: Athletics

Established in 2019 by Paul McFarland (’10). To be awarded to a returning varsity men’s hockey player who demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities in the classroom and the community. The recipient will be dedicated and known to go above and beyond the expectations held for a student-athlete. The recipient shall be in good academic standing. The recipient will be chosen by the Director of Athletics in consultation with the head coach of the varsity men’s hockey program.

The award honours Paul McFarland, former hockey captain. His passion for teaching, coaching and helping others was gained through his Acadia experience and has led to his professional coaching career in the Canadian Hockey League and National Hockey League.

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Paul Tom Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Computer Science, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Paul Tom Memorial Scholarship is provided annually to an exceptional student completing the third or fourth year of the Business Administration program. Preference will be given to students completing the Bachelor of Business Administration with Computer Science. Paul Tom was a respected member of the School of Business Administration faculty from 1983 to 1993.

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Peter J. Austin-Smith Memorial Award

Award of up to $1,000 | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Biology

Established in 2021 by the family and friends of Peter J. Austin-Smith Sr., this award is granted annually to a full-time biology student, either undergraduate or graduate, who focuses their studies on wildlife management or conservation, with a preference for work on raptors and shorebirds.

Peter J. Austin-Smith was born in Ontario and trained as a pilot in the RCAF before attending Cornell University. He loved all things that fly. Peter was one of the founders of the Acadia University Wildlife program and taught in the Biology Department in the early 1970s before becoming a wildlife biologist with the Nova Scotia government. He was proud of the work he did in the early 1980s to assist with the repopulation of bald eagles in New England, and on a project to settle peregrine falcons in the upper Bay of Fundy. He retired from the Department of Lands and Forests in 1991 but remained active in fieldwork, research, student supervision and writing, especially on eagles, osprey, shorebirds, and other non-game species. As President of the Blomidon Naturalist Society in 1990, Peter was a force behind the establishment of the Robie Tufts Nature Centre as a way to preserve a home in downtown Wolfville for chimney swifts. He chaired the Canadian Council ad hoc subcommittee on the care and use of wildlife and oversaw the development of its 2003 guidelines. He was committed throughout his life to the welfare of animals and the preservation of their habitat. This award honours his memory and supports students who share his love of wildlife and wild spaces. Value: $1,000 annually.

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Peter Lynch Memorial Hockey Award

Award | Eligibility: Athletics

Established in 2019 by Peter Lynch. The recipient shall be a returning varsity men’s hockey student-athlete who displays a strong work ethic, leadership qualities, passion for the community and in good academic standing. The recipient shall be selected by the head coach of the men’s hockey program in consultation with the director of athletics.

Peter Lynch graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in 1970. He was a member of the hockey Axemen team from 1966 to 1969. His support for the hockey program continued beyond his time as a student. Peter is a member of the Acadia Axemen Hockey Honour Roll.

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Peter M. Cleveland Leadership Award

Award | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Canada

Established in 2019 by Peter M. Cleveland (’72), this award is granted annually to outstanding upper level students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Administration program. Demonstrating excellent leadership potential through on-campus and/or off-campus volunteer and community service activities, applicants must also be Canadian citizens or permanent residents and have a grade average greater than 75%. Successful recipients will be chosen through an application process to the F.C. Manning School of Business which outlines the student’s values and “all-round” characteristics.

Peter Cleveland graduated from Acadia with a BBA in 1972 and spent most of his 40-year career with Ernst & Young (“EY”) in Ottawa, culminating as Managing Partner and Senior Vice-President. Now CEO of The Cleveland Leadership Group Inc., Peter strengthens organizations through strong leadership, financial and interpersonal skills. From 2005 to 2013, Peter served as Executive in Residence for the Executive MBA program at the Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, bringing the School and the corporate community closer together to achieve their respective missions. Recognized by the Governor General of Canada with a Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers, Peter has led fundraising campaigns for United Way of Ottawa-Carleton, the Elisabeth Bruyère Hospital Foundation, and the Ottawa Hospital Foundation.

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Peter T. Sheehan Memorial Scholar-Bursary

Scholar-Bursary | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Business Administration, Current 4th year

The Peter T. Sheehan Memorial Scholar-Bursary is awarded annually to a student with demonstrated financial need entering his or her final year of study in the Bachelor of Business Administration degree program. The recipient will have shown notable academic improvement through his or her previous years of study and have participated in school and /or community activities. If there is no eligible candidate for Business, then consideration is to be given to an eligible student in the Bachelor of Computer Science degree program else an eligible student in any undergraduate degree program at Acadia. The scholar-bursary will be awarded on recommendation of the appropriate Director or Faculty Dean. The scholar-bursary was established in 2011 through the generosity of Earl Brewer and Michael Zakuta of Fredericton, New Brunswick in support of undergraduate post-secondary education and in an effort to memorialize their colleague Peter T. Sheehan (BBA, Acadia,1977).

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Phyllis A. McLennan Scholarship

Scholarship of up to $470 | Eligibility: Professional Studies, Music, Current 1st year, Current 2nd year, Current 3rd year, Current 4th year

The Phyllis A. McLennan Scholarship is available annually to a full­time student of piano or voice who shows exceptional ability and competence. The selection is made by the Director of the School of Music together with four tenured professors in the School. Mrs. McLennan received the Bachelor of Music degree from Acadia in 1934 and retired from the School of Music in 1977 after 32 years of service.

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Physics Department Scholarships

Scholarship | Eligibility: Pure and Applied Science, Physics

The Physics Department Scholarships are available annually to students majoring in Physics on the recommendation of the Department of Physics.

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Pilot Officer Orlay Bligh Memorial Trophy

Trophy | Eligibility: Athletics

The Pilot Officer Orlay Bligh Memorial Trophy is presented by the citizens of Berwick for annual award to the hockey player judged most valuable by the coach to the Acadia Hockey Team during the season.

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Port Williams Jam Scholastic Award

Award of up to $1,400 | Eligibility: Entering first year

The Port Williams Jam Scholastic Award is available annually to an entering Canadian citizen who has been a resident in the Village of Port Williams for at least five years. The recipient will have exhibited scholastic merit, will be able to demonstrate financial need, and have made a positive contribution to community life and church affairs.

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Preston Warren Prize In Philosophy

Prize | Eligibility: Arts, Philosophy

The Preston Warren Prize in Philosophy is awarded annually to the returning student whom the Department judges to be the most outstanding student on the basis of academic performance in philosophy. If the Department so judges, it may decline to award the Prize in a given year. Dr. Warren graduated from Acadia in 1925 with a B.A. (Th.) and later went on to be a Professor at Bucknell University. The Prize is provided for through gifts from Family members in Dr. Warren’s memory.

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Prof. Owen Stephens Award

Award | Eligibility: Arts

Established in 2016 by Nancy Handrigan (’92) to honour Prof. Owen Stephens, the award supports a student who works as house manager to operate technical equipment, front of house and backstage for concerts in Denton Hall, Festival Theatre, Convocation Hall and the K.C. Irving Environmental Science Centre Garden Room.

Owen Stephens graduated from Acadia in 1963, 1965 and 1971. A much-loved professor in the School of Music from 1973 to 2008, known mostly as a theory/composition and history professor, his support of and interest in the students, shown through his regular participation in and attendance at student concerts, is equally important to School of Music alumni.

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Promise Scholars

Award

The Promise Scholars awards will be granted on an annual basis to students of Black or Indigenous descent in any year of study. The awards are made on the recommendation of the Director of the Fred C. Manning School of business and the school’s awards committee. Chosen recipients will be regarded as having a substantial impact on their peers, as evidenced through strong leadership qualities and good citizenship on campus and within the Acadia community at large.

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Contact

External Relations
15 University Avenue
Wolfville, NS, B4P 2R6, Canada
General Inquiries: 902.585.1459
To make a donation: 902.585.1912
Toll Free in North America:
1.866.ACADIA (1.866.222.3428)
acadia.alumni@acadiau.ca

Charitable Registration #: 106681893 RR0001