Matthew Montgomery recognized by the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services

SACKVILLE, NB — One of Mount Allison’s newest alumni has been recognized with a national honour for his leadership. Matthew Montgomery was awarded the Student Leadership Award from the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS) at their annual general meeting in Winnipeg on June 22.

Montgomery, a psychology and Canadian studies graduate and former football Mountie, was recognized specifically for his work with the University’s Meighen Centre for Learning Assistance and Research, which serves students with disabilities.

“I have been involved with the Meighen Centre from the beginning of my Mount Allison career. Over the years I progressively became more involved with the Centre by tutoring, becoming a peer mentor and helping in any other areas that I could,” says Montgomery. “I am surprised and very grateful to receive this award because I was not expecting to be chosen.”

Anne Comfort, Mount Allison’s Meighen Centre manager, says Montgomery is a deserving recipient.

“Matthew has proven to be a true advocate for students with disabilities. As part of the Centre’s mentorship program, where we match senior students with disabilities with first-year students, he took on the role of supporting the first-year football players with disabilities,” says Comfort.

“During his time at Mount A, he has also been involved in The Meighen Centre’s tutoring program and played a major role in a community anti-bullying campaign that saw varsity athletes interact with middle school students to encourage them to speak up and stand up to bullying. ”

Along with his studies and work in The Meighen Centre, Montgomery, originally from Oakville, ON, also played football at Mount Allison for five years, winning back-to-back AUS Championships and playing in the 2013 CIS Uteck Bowl.

Since graduating in May, Montgomery is applying to work as a police officer in Ontario and is also planning to travel through Europe this summer.

About The Meighen Centre

Mount Allison’s award-winning Meighen Centre for Learning Assistance and Research serves Mount Allison students with disabilities. The Centre is nationally recognized for its work with students who have learning disabilities and has recently expanded to include services for students with all types of disabilities.

In addition to providing services to students, the Centre works to help those outside the Mount Allison community better understand disabilities and runs a research program to study disabilities, particularly those affecting young adults.

Mount Allison was one of the first universities in Canada to establish a centre specifically for students with learning disabilities. The Meighen Centre has since cemented its reputation as one of the country’s leading support and research facilities in this field (mta.ca/meighen).

About the Canadian Association of College and University Student Services (CACUSS)

CACUSS is a professional bilingual association representing and serving those individuals who work in Canadian post-secondary institutions in student affairs and services. Since 1973, CACUSS has provided professional development services and programs for members in all the Canadian provinces.

Photo caption: 2016 Mount Allison grad Matthew Montgomery, left, accepts his award at the CACUSS's annual general meeting in June.