Aviation, geography student honoured at gala event in Moncton

SACKVILLE, NB — Arianna Woodley, a Mount Allison aviation and geography student was honoured for her achievements this fall. The fourth-year student is the recipient of a Student Excellence Award from FutureReadyNB, announced at the organization’s gala event held in Moncton on November 12.

This past summer Woodley worked with Community Forests International, an environmental non-profit, working to connect people and their communities to the forests that sustain them, based in Sackville. She was the Eco-System intern, an opportunity organized through the University’s office of Experiential Learning and Career Development.

“I got to work in a lot of different areas as the Eco-System intern, communications, fund raising and research,” says Woodley. “There’s so much more to CFI than a lot of people realize. It was great to have an opportunity to work in so many of these sectors.”

Throughout her internship, Woodley was part of a team who raised more than $40,000 through a crowd-funding campaign that sent 100% of the donations towards the construction of the Climate Smart Hub on Njao, Pemba (Tanzania).

“Arianna’s contributions on campus and with the CFI this summer are remarkable,” says Krista Steeves, Mount Allison’s director of experiential learning and career development. “Her professional and personal growth through these experiences is evident in a number of areas. We are so proud of her.”

Originally from Anguilla in the Caribbean, Woodley came to Mount Allison for the Aviation program.

“Flying has always been my first passion. I was drawn to flying at an early age but also wanted to see what was going on behind the scenes,” she says. “I’m keeping an open mind for the future but I would like to work in aviation.”

Woodley is also on the executive for the Grad Class of 2020, a founding member and current board member of the Mount Allison Islanders’ Student Society, and a member of the University’s Anti-racism and judicial panel.

The FutureReadyNB Student Excellence Award recognizes undergraduate university students who have participated in a University- organized experiential learning opportunity, as defined by the academic institution. As a result of their experience, the student will have taken initiative to contribute more significantly to their community and/or workplace and demonstrate significant personal and professional growth.

Dr. Jesse Popp, Mount Allison Geography and Environment professor and Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Science was also honoured with a FutureReadyNB Faculty Excellence Award, recognizing faculty who have effectively integrated new experiential learning components into their classroom by partnering with local organizations to create innovative and impactful opportunities for students, at the Nov. 12 Gala.