The Athenaeum will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2024, but generations of alumni who have worked on Acadia’s student newspaper in the past are pooling their fiscal and creative resources now to establish an award to support aspiring journalists on campus.

The Athenaeum Journalism Award provides $1,000 to a writer who has displayed journalistic excellence, commitment to The Athenaeum, and demonstrates promise in campus journalism. The award will be presented annually at the discretion of The Athenaeum Publishing Board, comprised of student and faculty representatives.

The goal is to raise $25,000 for an endowment in perpetuity by November 2024, the 150th anniversary of the publication, and the fund recently received a boost courtesy of a $2,000 donation from the Acadia Alumni Association.

Association President Donalda MacBeath (’75, above) says, “this donation aligns with the Association’s Mobilizing Connections: Strategic Plan 2020-2025 goal of creating impact throughout the Acadia journey by supporting the diverse community of student voices at Acadia. We understand the value of a free press and the intellectual and creative opportunities a career in journalism affords, and are therefore delighted to lend our support to this important initiative.”

More than $13,200 has been raised to date. If you wish to learn more or to make a donation, visit our Crowdfund page or giving.acadiau.ca .