Dream Chaser Change Maker Award

Established in 2017 by three Acadia friends, the Dream Chaser Change Maker Award, is awarded annually to an outstanding student who embodies the Acadia spirit. This student embraces everything an education can offer by ambitiously supporting social and or environmental change in their local community or around the world. Having overcome adversity in their own lives, they give back to society and community through active volunteerism. The recipient will be awarded funding for their own education; to chase their dreams, as well as an opportunity to ignite change with funds donated to their choice of UNICEF education programs in developing countries.

Niluka Kottegoda (’03) created the Dream Chaser Change Maker concept to help improve accessibility to education both in Canada and around the world. Close friends Chantal Pelham-Edwards (’03) and Laura Rutherford Watt (’02, ’04) enthusiastically joined the effort. As recipients of awards at Acadia, they wanted to give back to their alma mater and reward students who have qualities most meaningful to their Acadia experience. Niluka, a Vice President at Sobeys Inc., recently completed her Kellogg-Schulich Executive MBA based in Toronto. Chantal holds a BA in Political Science from Acadia and is Principal of Third Sector Enhancement Ltd. Laura graduated from Acadia with a BSc (Math) and a BEd and currently is teaching Secondary Mathematics and Science in Calgary.