The Marjorie Young Bell Scholarships and Bell Family Achievement Awards are among Mount Allison's most prestigious undergraduate awards.

They celebrate students who have demonstrated strong academic ability, leadership potential, volunteerism, extracurricular involvement, work experience, and good citizenship.

They are awarded to outstanding high school graduates from across the country and around the world.

To learn more about how to apply for Bell Scholarships and Bell Achievement Awards, visit scholarships and awards for first-year students.


Meet the 2023-34 Bell Scholars

Alexandra Warman
Bell Scholarship
Kingston, NB

Read more about Alexandra

Alexandra Warman always expected to study at Mount Allison, with several family members paving the way for her arrival.
 
“I grew up imagining my life here,” she says. “I absolutely love the feeling of living in a small town and just the warm sense of community here in Sackville.”
 
Warman received a Bell Scholarship, one of the University’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.
 
“The Bell Scholarship genuinely meant the world to me,” says Warman. “I always worked very hard in high school, but I wasn’t doing any of my volunteer work or community involvement for personal gain. I was simply doing it because I enjoyed it and I wanted to help others.”
 
In high school, Warman dedicated herself to initiatives related to physical and mental health. She served as a youth advocate for the Canadian Cancer Society, tackling issues such as vaping in schools. She also founded a mental health talk show at her school to reduce stigma surrounding mental health and raise awareness at the district level about how schools could support students’ mental well-being. Warman was also student council president, leading the charge for many fundraisers.
 
Outside of school, Warman was a member of New Brunswick’s first U18 women’s tackle football team and a volunteer football coach for children. Her passion for the sport originated from watching her younger brother play, and when one of her friends invited her to join the growing network of women’s football in the province, she jumped at the chance.
 
“There’s an overwhelming sense of community — it’s amazing. It’s such an accepting environment, and there’s a place for everyone. I can’t wait to see how the world of female football will continue to grow,” says Warman.
 
Since arriving at Mount Allison, Warman has joined the women’s rugby team and plans to continue her community service by volunteering with the local hospital and the nursing home.
 
Majoring in biopsychology with a minor in political science, Warman is considering pursuing a career in either law or psychology and hopes to use her time at Mount Allison to explore different possibilities.

Allison Baptista
Bell Scholarship
Lethbridge, AB  

Learn more about Allison

Science student Allison Baptista chose Mount Allison based on the great things she heard about the University’s reputation.  

“The scholarship made coming to Mount Allison possible for me to move across the country and experience all the great benefits that come along with the experience,” says Baptista.  

Baptista was awarded Mount Allison’s Bell Scholarship valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I felt so honoured to receive this scholarship and that Mount Allison was recognizing a lot of the hard work I put into high school,” she says.

From Lethbridge, AB, in high school she was involved in her student council as director of social justice in Grade 11 and vice-president in Grade 12. She was a mentor at Big Brothers Big Sisters and volunteered on the Public Relations Committee for L’Arche Lethbridge, a committee that provides opportunities for people with disabilities in her community and around the world.

During her first year at Mount Allison, Baptista has been involved with the youth literacy program Together Time and Let’s Talk Science, which inspires children and youth to become engaged in STEM learning.  

Outside of academics, Baptista has played the piano for over 13 years and enjoys branching out and exploring new ways to share her passion with others through volunteering and music therapy.  

While not sure what career path she will choose, Baptista is excited to explore her interests and her options within the field of healthcare. She's also interested in neuroscience and is considering continuing her studies through a master's degree after completing her degree at Mount Allison.

Aqsa Bari
Bell Scholarship  
Halifax, NS

Learn more about Aqsa

Aqsa Bari from Halifax, NS is working towards her Bachelor of Commerce. She was awarded one of Mount Allison’s highly esteemed scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, which includes an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

Bari has enjoyed living on campus in a tight-knit community

“It’s great being so close to classes where everyone is here for similar goals and objectives,” she says.

During high school, Bari participated in leadership and volunteering within her local mosque as part of the Youth Council and assisted with event organization. She also teaches soccer and basketball programs for the Chocolate Lake Recreation Centre in Halifax.  

So far, Bari has gotten involved as the diversity representative in her residence. Once she feels settled into her new schedule, she is excited to explore the different clubs and societies offered at Mount Allison.

Bari is interested in helping underprivileged children who are often exploited for sympathy, particularly in third-world countries. She’s also passionate about helping teenagers and promoting mental health.  

Although she hasn't chosen a specific career path, Bari hopes to work for a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and teenagers.

Autumn Atkinson
Bell Achievement Award
Bridgetown, NS

Learn more about Autumn

Autumn Atkinson says the opportunity to meet like-minded people has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a Bell Scholar.

“Getting to meet the network of Bell Scholars really gave me a new outlook,” she says. “I realized I’m not the only one who prioritizes volunteering and helping others. I’m not the only one who would prioritize that over getting a job.”

Atkinson initially planned to major in biopsychology, but soon realized Mount Allison’s flexible degree programs gave her the opportunity to try different things. She is now working towards a Bachelor of Science with a focus on biology and chemistry and plans to pursue a career in medicine.

It all comes back to her passion for helping others.

“My ultimate career goal is to go through medical school, go through residency, and hopefully become a general surgeon, something that I’ve always loved,” she says.

She hopes to stay in the Maritimes to help address the shortage of healthcare workers in the province and is even considering working as a paramedic after graduation to gain experience and fund further studies.

Atkinson received one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“The Bell Award enabled me to continue with my passion for volunteering while also continuing my education, which is something that is very important to me,” she says.

In high school, Atkinson participated in many extracurricular activities. She was student council president and was involved with Relay for Life and the Terry Fox Foundation. She also served as vice-president of the Nova Scotia Secondary School Students’ Association (NSSSA), planning leadership conferences for high school students in different parts of the province. 

“It was an opportunity for us to understand the kind of leadership that we need to teach younger generations,” says Atkinson.

Having spent her first term getting settled at Mount Allison, Atkinson looks forward to getting involved in a variety of clubs and societies this term.

Hinke Younger
Bell Scholarship
Charlottesville, Virginia

Learn more about Hinke

Hinke Younger, from Charlottesville, Virginia, U.S., is a student in the Frank McKenna School of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

Younger is the recipient of a Bell Scholarship, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She’s greatly appreciative of the support and opportunity to connect with other Bell Scholars provided with this award.

“The admissions and scholarship application processes were a great start to my Mount Allison experience,” says Younger. “During my campus visit and in the scholarship interview, everyone I spoke with was kind, respectful, and actually wanted to hear about who I was, what I wanted, and why I thought that Mount Allison might be a good fit.”

Younger was drawn to the Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) program because of its intersection with her interest in public policy and her extracurricular involvement — including volunteering for a State Senate primary campaign and serving in leadership positions within model legislative conferences at both state and national levels. 

Younger was elected by her state-wide peers to serve as youth governor of Virginia for the 2023 Virginia Model General Assembly (MGA). The experience transformed her perspective about the importance of youth involvement in developing public policy.

“Generally, there are social stereotypes about young people either not wanting to be involved or not caring about government and policy,” she says. “The high-level engagement of students in MGA shows how wrong that is and helping facilitate youth involvement in those crucial social structures was really life changing.”

Younger says her Mount Allison experience so far has exceeded expectations and that she is enjoying being part of this community. Outside of the classroom, she hosts a weekly classical music show at the local CHMA radio station, is a violinist in the University’s Chamber Orchestra, and participates in several other student clubs and committees.

Younger has also begun a Future New Brunswick international-sponsored internship with Mount Allison’s Admissions Office. Her positive interactions with the Admissions’ staff was an important consideration in her decision to attend Mount Allison and she wants to help make sure future students applying to Mount Allison experience an admissions process as impactful as her own.

Isabella Andrea
Bell Scholarship
North Sydney, NS

Learn more about Isabella

Isabella Andrea has spent much of her life living internationally in China and the Caribbean and travelling to over 19 countries. She moved to Canada — to Cape Breton, NS — for her final four years of high school.

Andrea was drawn to Mount Allison for many reasons — the small class sizes, the opportunities for individualized learning and the ability to build strong relationships with other students and professors. She was also enticed by the academic programs offered at Mount Allison. She plans to major in international relations and minor in both geography and environmental studies. 

She was awarded one of Mount Allison’s top scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years and includes peer mentorship and internship opportunities.  

“The Bell Scholarship rewards people who demonstrate strong academic ability, leadership, volunteerism, and extracurricular involvement and the fact that I was able to receive recognition and will be able to study what I love and am passionate about means the world to me,” she says.  

Andrea was highly involved at her high school and within her community. She was involved in student government, since the second grade, and when she moved to Cape Breton, she joined her high school’s council and was elected Co-President in her Grade 12 year. She was, and still is, an active member of the Nova Scotia Secondary Students Association (NSSSA) and volunteered with many local and provincial charities and organizations. She was a tutor, a youth peer mentor, a youth rugby coach, a member of the debate club and green team, a cast member in her high school musical, a member of the breakfast program, and competed on the soccer and cross-country teams. While living in the Caribbean, she was an active volunteer with the Special Olympics, as well. 

At Mount Allison, Andrea is a research assistant in the environmental studies department, first-year rep for her residence, a lifeguard for the Mount Allison Athletics Centre pool and assistant stage manager for the Garnet and Gold Musical Theatre Society’s production of Beauty and the Beast. She’s also a member of the POLS-IR Society and the Women in Political Science Society, as well as being a Shinerama volunteer.

Andrea has her sights set on a career in diplomacy. 

“At Mount Allison I can learn more about how to continue being a successful advocate for our environment and society while also honing these skills so I can work towards applying them on an international stage.”

Kassandra Vail
Bell Achievement Award
Bedford, NS

Learn more about Kassandra

Kassandara Vail has always been passionate about volunteering and extracurriuculars. She wanted to be able to get involved right away at Mount Allison — and she has. As a first-year student she is President of her residence and is on the Executive for Relay for Life

“I noticed that Mount Allison prioritized extracurriculars along with education and it just seemed like the perfect community for me.”

In high school, she was President of the Student Council, a math tutor, and spent time volunteering at soup kitchens. At eight she began Taekwondo and instantly loved it. Along with training, she spent many hours teaching kids at Mansfields Taekwondo. 

Vail was rewarded for her involvement in high school and her community with one of Mount Allison’s top scholarships, the Bell Achievement Award, valued at $44,000 over four years including peer mentorship and internship opportunities.

“Any of the things that I have ever done were not for recognition, that was never a thing for me at all, but it was nice that it did happen,” she says of the award. “I have met so many wonderful people and it has been such a great community.”

She has appreciated being able to connect with the Bell Scholar network.

“I’ve made really good friends with a lot of the other first-year students,” she says.

A science student, Vail is keeping her options open for what’s next after Mount Allison but is interested in both forensics and medicine.

Katie Agnes MacNeil
Bell Achievement Award
Mabou, NS

Learn more about Katie Agnes

Biopsychology student Katie Agnes MacNeil has her sights set on a career in medicine with an eye to obstetrics.

“It's always been an instinct and a desire of mine to do what I can to help other people,” says MacNeil.

MacNeil was awarded a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, which also includes an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She says receiving the award was life changing.

“I knew the opportunities this scholarship would offer me were going to be surreal and that I’d be exposed to like-minded peers. I couldn’t imagine a more encouraging and uplifting environment.”

MacNeil is still exploring options for her Bell Internship but wants to spend it in the healthcare sector.

Growing up in Cape Breton exposed MacNeil to a vibrant music scene, and she regularly played gigs with her sisters. She also volunteered with numerous organizations dedicated to supporting the special needs community, including her high school unified sports team. She also worked at L’Arche Cape Breton.

“While music and athletics played a massive role in my upbringing, my time spent with the special needs community has had a very significant impact on my lifestyle and values,” says MacNeil.

An avid hockey player in high school, MacNeil has continued to pursue her favourite sports at Mount Allison. She joined the intramural soccer and volleyball teams during her first term and plans to join basketball this term. She has also taken an active role in the student community and looks forward to participating in Global Brigades’ annual trip to Honduras in February.

“I’ve been dedicating a lot of time to getting organized and fundraising for that, so it’s all very exciting,” she says.

Lauren Peveril
Bell Achievement Award
Fall River, NS

Learn more about Lauren

Lauren Peveril of Fall River, NS became interested in Mount Allison for the University’s new Bachelor of Arts and Science in Interdisciplinary Health Studies.

“The program was one of the main reasons for coming to Mount A because it puts together two sides of my interests and gives me options for my future,” says Peveril.  

Before she accepted her offer, Peveril had the opportunity to explore Mount Allison and learn more about the Meighen Centre, which provides accessibility support to students with documented disabilities and medical conditions.

“Learning about all the supports in place and having the help or accommodations I may need to access along the way was another reason I chose Mount Allison,” she says.

Peveril is the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.  

She says she felt honoured to be recognized for what she has accomplished throughout the years, while also getting to be a part of a cohort of individuals who have all done great things.  

In high school, Peveril was part of her student council as the mental health representative in Grade 11 and part of the communications team in Grade 12. She also coached her high school varsity and junior varsity women’s volleyball teams.

During the height of the pandemic, she volunteered at rapid testing sites assisting with registration and swabbing patients. Peveril also began a charity called Little Hugs during the pandemic, reaching out to businesses throughout the community for tangible items or donations to create care packages for children staying inpatient at the hospital and donated them to the IWK Foundation.

“I know from personal experience that this can be so difficult, especially when you’re young and all the unknowns,” says Peveril. “I wanted them to know from someone who has been in their shoes that it will be okay, even though it can be scary.”

Peveril is interested in pursuing a career where she can help people.

“I am interested in science but also in public health, law, or the government side of things, which led me to the interdisciplinary health studies program because I can continue to explore my options.”

Matthew Mulvihill
Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship and Bell Achievement Award
Albert Bridge, NS

Learn more about Matthew

Matthew Mulvihill chose Mount Allison for music, inspired by his brother Daniel who graduated from the program before him.   

Mulvihill was awarded both the Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship and the Bell Achievement Award — together valued at $68,000 over four years including peer mentorship and internship opportunities.   

“It is an honour to be able to receive them both and it’s been really helpful and eases a lot of financial worry,” he says. “It’s nice to be part of the Bell community.”  

He began playing piano when he was six and trumpet at 10. He has performed with the Cape Breton Orchestra and the Second Wind Community Band in Cape Breton, as well as at the provincial level with the Nova Scotia Wind Ensemble and the Nova Scotia Honour Jazz Program.

Since Grade 7, he has been performing The Last Post at services in Cape Breton. He also learned to play the military drums and performed with the Fortress of Louisbourg in the 18th century military drum corps for two years.  

Mulvihill was on the Student Council of his high school for four years and in Grade 12 was co-President with fellow Bell Scholar Isabella Andrea. He was also part of Interact Club through Rotary that volunteered around the community.  

A trumpet student at Mount Allison, he is in the Garnet and Gold Musical Theatre Pit Band for the performance of Beauty and the Beast and performs in the Symphonic Band. He’s also a part of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra.

“I really enjoy the performance aspect, working for weeks or months on end to present your work to a crowd... It’s something to be proud of,” he says. “Even when not performing, I can just go to an instrument and start playing and that’s a nice feeling.”  

He plans to pursue a career in performance after Mount Allison, either solo or with an orchestra.

Meredith Sy
Bell Scholarship
Ottawa, ON

Learn more about Meredith

Biology student Meredith Sy chose Mount Allison because it felt more personal than larger universities, and she liked the idea of being able to participate in research as an undergraduate student.

Sy was awarded a Bell Scholarship, one of the University's top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“Not only does it feel like I’m being recognized, but I also feel like I’ve come in with a support network,” says Sy.

She appreciates the camaraderie among her fellow Bell Scholars, and the fact that many of them are in the same classes is just another indicator that she found the tight-knit academic community she was seeking.

A sailing enthusiast, Sy spent her final high school year aboard a tall ship as part of an independent education program. Sailing the Atlantic Ocean alongside her teachers and classmates, she gained hands-on experience in sailing and navigation, all while keeping up with her regular schoolwork.

“I just knew it was something I wanted to do as soon as I heard about it,” she says.

Sy’s other passion growing up was music. She has been playing the piano and violin since the age of three and was part of orchestras and choirs in high school.

Since joining Mount Allison, she has gotten involved in the Chamber Orchestra, the Choral Society, and was in pit band for the Garnet and Gold production of Beauty and the Beast. She also hopes to contribute to the Drama department by working behind the scenes in theatre productions.

A former high school basketball player, Sy plans to join a women’s intramural team at Mount Allison.

While she hasn’t solidified her career plans yet, Sy is eager to use her Bell internship to do hands-on scientific research and hopes the range of opportunities available at Mount Allison will help her balance her scientific endeavours with her love for the arts.


Past Bell Scholars

2022-23 Bell Scholars

Alyssa Manuel
Bell Scholarship
Grand Falls-Windsor, NL

Alyssa Manuel says the best part of being a Bell Scholar is the people. 
 
“At the formal get togethers and in more casual settings, I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many other Bell Scholars and it has been inspiring to hear everyone’s stories and about the impact they want to have in the world.” 
 
Manuel is a recipient of a Bell Scholarship, one of the University's top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.
 
“I’m making incredible friends through this scholarship,” says Manuel. “I can’t say enough good things about my mentor. She is always my first call and has been my guiding light through this experience of coming to Mount Allison.” 
 
She grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador and thought she would remain in the province for post-secondary education, that is until one of her teachers encouraged her to look into Mount Allison. Manuel was interested right way, seeing how the University would be a good fit for her academic interests, particularly in writing and English literature. 
 
Manuel is pursuing a double major in English and psychology. She has always envisioned herself someday working in a school environment and hopes to become an educational psychologist. She also wants to cultivate her writing and hopes to eventually publish a collection of her poetry. She credits her English high school teachers for encouraging her love of literature and interest in writing poetry. 
 
She is also passionate about volunteering in her community. 
 
“Growing up in a small town, I got involved in pretty much everything that was going on,” she says. 
 
In Newfoundland, Manuel volunteered with community events, food drives, worked with seniors, and coached children in figure skating and soccer. Since moving to Sackville, Manuel has joined the local cross-country ski club as a coach for children aged 4 to 15.   
 
“I’m passionate about opportunities to be outside and to work with youth,” says Manuel. “And I’ve seen the good impact strong clubs and programs can have on kids.” 
 
Manuel is also the president of her residence. She explains that although it may be unusual for a first-year student to hold this position, she was more than happy to step-up when there was a need. She has loved being able to work with her housemates on adding new events and energizing the camaraderie in the residence. 

 

Avery MacKinnon
Bell Achievement Award
Inverness, NS

Science student Avery MacKinnon had not stepped foot on Mount Allison’s campus until move-in day. From Inverness, NS, she says she just felt a connection with Mount Allison that she couldn’t explain.

“I’m from a small town that was a big part of my life and shaped who I am,” she says. “I felt like the small community at Mount Allison would be something I would enjoy and so far I’m loving it.”

MacKinnon was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“It was an honour really,” she says. “Being recognized is really nice, even though that’s not why you do the things you do.”

In high school, MacKinnon was a multi-sport athlete — one season playing eight different school sports, including volleyball, basketball, cross country, track and field, table tennis, badminton, softball, and golf. She was involved with a healthy relationships peer mentorship group, student council executive, the Cape Breton Youth Council, and volunteered with volleyball club kids’ camps. 

At Mount Allison she lives in residence and is a floor rep and volunteers for Shinerama. She says the residence experience has been an impactful part of her university experience.

“I’ve never shared a room with anyone before and now my roommate is my best friend,” she says. 

Outside the classroom she enjoys being outdoors, hiking, and taking photos — just another reason she says she loves living in Sackville.

MacKinnon is hoping to pursue a career in the healthcare field.

 

Bridget Powning
Bell Achievement Award
Markhamville, NB

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) student Bridget Powning has her sights set on a career in international law.

“I think that Mount Allison is the perfect starting off point for that,” says Powning.

She chose Mount Allison because the application process felt personal compared to other universities and she liked the idea of building strong connections with professors. She also felt the PPE program would offer her a well-rounded education to pursue her career aspirations in international law, which were inspired by trips to the Peace Palace in The Hague and the UN in New York.

Powning was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“It’s really nice to have that kind of recognition for all the hard work I’ve done,” says Powning.

Powning grew up surrounded by creativity in an idyllic rural valley, raised by a family of internationally recognized artists. Throughout high school, she was a volunteer firefighter in her small community of Markhamville, NB, which she says had a really big impact on her. She was also a lifeguard and swim instructor; a triathlon trainer for swimmers; President of the youth Kiwanis program, Key Club; as well as Rotary Interact. She volunteered with the breakfast program and was the treasurer for student council.

At Mount Allison she is the vice-president of her residence, VP of social media for the WUSC Student Refugee Program, and has volunteered with Mount A Rotaract.

Powning is fluent in French and wants to learn other languages while at Mount Allison. She hopes to pursue more international travel during her Bell Internship and plans to take a French immersion program in France this summer.

 

Elizabeth Lundberg
Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship
Quispamsis, NB

Music student Elizabeth Lundberg has been playing the piano since the age of five and taught children piano throughout high school.

“I loved it from the beginning and have always been super connected to music and have devoted a lot of time to it,” says Lundberg.

From Quispamsis, NB, she chose Mount Allison for the small campus and class sizes, as well as the opportunities for individualized learning and the ability to build strong relationships with other students and professors.

Lundberg was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious music scholarships — the Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship — valued at $24,000 over four years.

“I couldn’t imagine studying anything else,” she says. “The scholarship took some of the financial stress away, so I can focus on my education and pursue what I love.”

Lundberg devotes about three hours a day to practicing and has private piano lessons with Dr. Stephen Runge, along with her other classes. She is also in the Choral Society and is the collaborative pianist for a vocal student.

With a minor in psychology, her long-term plan is to pursue music therapy.

“I am excited about the ways music and art therapy are being used to help people,” she says.

 

 

Emily Brown
Bell Achievement Award
St. Stephen, NB

Emily Brown of St. Stephen, NB chose Mount Allison specifically for the new Bachelor of Arts and Science in Interdisciplinary Health Studies.

“It was perfect for everything that I wanted to be able to study,” says Brown. “I would like to pursue a career in midwifery, and I love the interdisciplinary aspects of the health studies program. It offers a really unique perspective.”

Brown is the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. Brown is still exploring options for her Bell internship but wants to do more research in her chosen career path — midwifery.
“The award made me feel valued and appreciated after all the work I put into my studies and extracurricular activities over the years,” she says.

Brown has connected with other Bell Scholars through events and has had the chance to meet new people. Coming from a small town and a high school where she’s used to knowing most of her peers, the network of Bell Scholars has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with other students as well as make long-term friendships.

In high school, she enjoyed participating in many extracurricular activities and clubs. One of her favourites was a leadership role she took on for the Best Buddies club, where she had the opportunity to attend field trips and spend time with students and peers who have special needs.

Brown was also part of a leadership group to organize fun activities for the school assemblies. In her senior year, she was the Grad Class President and was also part of the Green Group where they brought forth environmental initiatives.

 

Jia Hui (Rachel) Li
Bell Achievement Award
Stratford, PEI

biology student Jia Hui (Rachel) Li had the opportunity to visit Mount Allison campus several times before deciding to apply. Li’s older brother attended the University just before her, graduating in 2021, and it was during Li’s trips to visit her brother that she grew to appreciate campus life and the close-knit community of Sackville. Li’s brother and his friends also encouraged her to apply for the Bell Scholarship.

Li received one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“It means so much to me, getting the award” says Li. “It is nice to be recognized for all my hard work in high school academically and my extracurricular activities in the community. The award also means I can focus on my studies and be able to take part in more activities here.”

While in high school, Li was an executive on student council, participated in fundraising for local and global causes, tutored other students, and volunteered with the local hospital.

“I really like helping out, and I think it’s important to give back where you can,” says Li.

At Mount Allison, Li is a floor rep for Campbell Hall residence, volunteers with Shinerama and Relay for Life, and is part of the Biology Society Advisory Committee, which includes connecting with fellow students to collect feedback on programming, and then sharing it with professors.

“I’m loving my time here and am super grateful for the opportunities given to me,” says Li. “I know I made the right choice in coming to Mount Allison and Sackville.”

Li plans to work in health care and is hoping to attend medical school. It is a career path she became passionate about while volunteering at her local hospital, where she was inspired by the hard work and caring of doctors.

 

Kristina Law
Bell Achievement Award
Coquitlam, BC

Kristina Law of Coquitlam, BC was part of the SHAD program in 2021, which is where she was first introduced to Mount Allison. SHAD is a month-long program for students in Grades 10 and 11 focusing on university-level STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) educational opportunities. Normally hosted at different university campuses across Canada, but in 2021 the program took place virtually due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Despite not having the opportunity to visit the campus with SHAD, she says one major influence of selecting Mount Allison was the feeling of a tight-knit community and the opportunity to engage with like-minded peers. Law was interested in moving somewhere outside of British Columbia and attending Mount Allison was the perfect fit for travelling and pushing beyond her comfort zone.  

Law says she was honoured to be selected as a recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, which also includes an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.  

“In one sentence, I feel recognized, appreciated, and valued by the University. It’s not just about the money, it’s the feeling of being recognized as somebody that can do something great.”

Law is working towards a Bachelor of Science, majoring in cognitive science with a minor in either computer science or psychology. While she doesn’t have a career in mind yet, she is taking her first two years at Mount Allison to figure out what she is truly passionate about and what she values most.

Law has met with some of the other Bell Scholars and has made good friends through the community. She says she’s looking forward to attending more events with the Bell network.  

She wants to learn more about neurodiversity through her Bell Internship.

“As a gifted and neurodivergent learner I feel that applying myself in that field is definitely something that I want to do,” she says.

In Grade 12, Law was the leader of the Computer Science club at her high school. The club mostly met online due to the pandemic, but they were able to create projects by learning different computer programming languages.

Law spent her first term getting settled at Mount Allison and is looking forward to getting involved in a variety of clubs and societies during the winter term. She says she’s interested in the Psychology Society, Chess Club, and MOSAIC, which promotes multiculturalism and cross-cultural awareness through campus events. 

 

Liam Clark-Black
Bell Scholarship
Dartmouth, NS

Liam Clark-Black’s parents and grandparents are Acadia alumni and he had often thought he would continue the tradition. 

“However, the more that I thought about it, my fit at Mount Allison was just too perfect to overlook,” he says. 

Clark-Black was attracted to the University’s Frank McKenna School of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics because it combined his academic interests and is one of the only programs of its kind in Canada. He also appreciated Mount Allison’s culture of balancing academic studies with recreation. After meeting with the varsity soccer coach, he knew Sackville and Mount Allison were the place for him. 

Clark-Black then received a Bell Scholarship, one of the University's top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. 

“The Bell Scholarship was huge,” says Clark-Black. “It validated that my hard work, that everything I had done and that my family had encouraged me in was paying off.” 

Clark-Black has played soccer since he was four years old and has extensive experience as a player and a coach.

“Outside of school, soccer is the biggest thing in my life.”

Clark-Black played Nova Scotia Boys AAA soccer for years. Playing at the University level was a dream realized when as a first-year student he started every game for the Mounties men’s soccer team. He also coaches at home in Dartmouth and at the Sackville Youth Soccer Association and says he loves working with children and instilling the love for sport.

Clark-Black’s other passion growing up was music. He played piano, violin, baritone, and trombone in various school and city bands and was part of the Nova Scotia Youth Jazz Orchestra. Piano is his favourite instrument and he makes time to visit the University’s Marjorie Young Bell Conservatory three times a week to play one of the pianos. 

Since coming to Mount Allison, Clark-Black has taken an active role in student government. He serves on a Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) committee, was recently elected a Social Sciences student representative on the University Senate, and was a delegate with the New Brunswick Student Alliance.

Career-wise Clark-Black is thinking about everything from politics to sports management and hopes to use his time at Mount Allison and the internship provided by the Bell Scholarship to explore different possibilities. 

 

Makayla Churchill
Bell Scholarship
Moncton, NB

Makayla Churchill of Moncton, NB is working towards her Bachelor of Science in biochemistry. Her plans include pursuing a career in medicine.  

Churchill was awarded the Bell Scholarship valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.  

“I am so honoured to be given the opportunity to have this scholarship.”

Churchill has enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the Bell Scholar network of students.

“It's awesome to be able to talk to the other scholars, especially when it comes to planning for the internship,” she says.  

In her first year at Mount Allison, Churchill continues to pursue her favourite sports and activities as well as playing an active role in the student community. She is on the varsity swim team and has joined MtA Healthcare Outreach, which is a student-run club whose primary objective is to provide an opportunity for students interested in healthcare to develop their skills related to medicine. She’s also the Student Floor Rep within her residence.

In high school, Churchill participated in many extracurricular activities such as student council, competitive swim, and the Breakfast Club. She was part of a volunteer group in her first two years of high school called Trojans in Action, where students offer their services to volunteer for local organizations, such as nursing homes. Churchill was also a student representative on the Parent’s School Support Committee.

She was captain of her swim team with one of her best friends in her senior year.

“I was quite shy going into swimming,” she says. “Through that I feel like it really built my confidence, which I was able to translate into other types of involvement.”  

As part of her student council duties, Churchill took on the role of Director of Public Relations and Communications. Each year, student council held a large fundraiser to raise money for the Moncton Hospital’s neonatal unit. In her senior year, they raised $15,000 within a two-week period. She led the outreach to local companies for donations as well as event planning.  

Churchill says there were many reasons why she chose Mount Allison, including all the praise the university received, the tight knit community, and smaller classroom sizes.

“Even as a first-year student, being able to build those relationships with people in your class and your professors is one of the main reasons why I decided to come to Mount Allison.”

 

Matya Stavnitzky
Bell Scholarship
Guelph, ON

Science student Matya Stavnitzky has lived much of her life internationally — in Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and Zambia — as her mother works in international development.

“I didn’t always appreciate it growing up,” she says. “But now I realize it has given me a lot of background and perspective that is hard to get other ways,” she says.

From Guelph, ON, she chose Mount Allison because she likes the idea of a small school and class sizes. She is planning to do an honours in computer science, major in cognitive science, and minors in geographic information systems (GIS) and math.

Stavnitzky was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

During high school she was the editor of the yearbook and led the debate club. She also helped run children’s summer camps in Guelph.

In her first year at Mount Allison she has enjoyed participating in the many clubs and societies offered, including the swing dance club, the chess club, and the competitive programming club. She is also an editor for the Allisonian, Mount Allison’s Yearbook, and is a teaching assistant (TA) for first-year computer science.

While she hasn’t chosen a specific career path, she knows the direction she wants to follow.

“I am interested in finding out where tech and social justice meet and that’s the kind of work that interests me in the future,” she says.

 

Sally Bourne
Bell Scholarship
Halifax, NS

An avid lover of the outdoors and sports, Sally Bourne of Halifax, NS was excited to receive the news that she was a recipient of a Bell Scholarship. She says that receiving one of the University’s most prestigious scholarships made her feel valued and that Mount Allison would be a great fit for her future. 

Bourne was awarded the Bell Scholarship valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She has made connections within the network of Bell Scholars, some of whom she considers close friends. 

“There is a strong network of people you have access to and who are willing to help you out with anything,” she says. 

Majoring in biochemistry, Bourne wants to explore an internship with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Canada (JDRF Canada), as her little brother lives with Type 1 diabetes and she has always found the subject interesting. Bourne says her long-term plans include attending medical school to be a pediatric doctor.

Bourne attended a small high school where she was involved in many varsity sports, held two different positions on student council, and knew her teachers well.

“Mount A was similar in that it was a smaller institution and was a lot more personable,” she says. 

Bourne enjoys the smaller classes at Mount Allison, especially in the lab environment, as it’s been beneficial in getting to know her peers and professors. At Mount Allison, she continues to carry out some of her passions, such as sports and science. She’s participating in intramural sports and is part of Let’s Talk Science Outreach.

 

2021-22 Bell Scholars

 

Mohammad Ammori
Bell Scholarship
Palestine/Syria

For first-year international relations student Mohammad Ammori, the journey to Mount Allison has been long and filled with adversity. A third-generation Palestinian refugee, he and his family had to escape chaos twice — also fleeing from war-torn Syria to Lebanon — and were forced to leave his father, an air traffic controller, behind. It has now been five years since Ammori saw his mother and brother.

When in Lebanon, Ammori was awarded a United World College Scholarship to attend Pearson College, an international school in Victoria, BC, and Canada’s only United World College. After graduation, while his asylum was in process, he joined the Katimavik national experience, volunteering in Calgary with resettlement and domestic violence, and then with MAGMA in Moncton, NB.

“I heard from my Pearson friends that Mount A is very similar to Pearson with its international spirit,” he says. “Having lived in so many countries, I like having an international family, and the biggest factor for me was my scholarship.”

Ammori was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

He says this scholarship means that even though he has passed through many adversities, he is still a human being, and there are always chances in life.

“The Bell Scholarship meant that my efforts and the hard work wasn’t wasted and I’m being rewarded for my previous achievements,” he says. “At the same time, I am making the commitment to continue my work and give back to the world. I am here to prove my existence, to spread information, to raise the voices of refugees, and to share my culture with others. Mount A is very diverse and I’m here to represent my people and my country.”

During his time at Pearson, Ammori was a leader in refugee support, fund raising to help NGOs to assist refugees in Lebanon, and raising awareness about better integration for refugees in Canada. He brought together 80 nationalities through a religious and interfaith group to have discussions and work through conflict. He participated virtually in a United Nations Association of Canada Global Refugee Forum, which was intended to be held in Geneva and Ecuador. He also enjoyed playing soccer. After Pearson, he spent six months of intensive volunteering with Katimavik, then travelled to visit his uncle in Germany, where he volunteered with translation and interviewing in refugee reception campus.

He then came to Mount Allison, where he has been involved with WUSC, ATLIS, and the Model UN. He also participates in intramurals through his residence.

Ammori has enjoyed life on campus so far and the small, close-knit, supportive community.

“I love interacting with people from different cultures and love to help people in any way I can,” he says. “I like to learn about religion, teach others about my religion, and have a very big interest in international politics and advocating for human rights.”

He has also found support and a piece of home away from home at Fener’s Place, Sackville’s new Kurdish restaurant, owned by the Hussein family, who resettled in Sackville from Syria six years ago.

Ammori plans to pursue a career with a humanitarian impact for refugees.

 

Jigmet Angmo
Bell Scholarship
Leh Ladakh, India

When Jigmet Angmo described the type of post-secondary institution she was looking for, her college counsellor, who is Canadian, suggested she look at Mount Allison.

“I really liked it,” says Angmo, who is from Leh Ladakh, India. “I attended one of the virtual open houses and the fact it was so close-knit, had a beautiful campus, and a focus on academics — it checked all my boxes.”

Despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic on learning and gathering, Angmo says being on campus this year has been great.

“After two years of online school, going from that to doing university in person, it was a big privilege,” she says. “It’s really nice to be part of a community again, to be back on campus. I’m really grateful that I still got that sense of community here.”

Angmo is a recipient of a Bell Scholarship, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a minor in sociology.

“My interest is more in social entrepreneurship — using business as a way to solve problems and to give back to the community,” she says.

In high school, Angmo was heavily involved in community engagement development work.

“I really believe in development work,” she says. “It is different from charity because it is actively engaging with the community and trying to address the problem itself.” 

She worked on projects in both education and health.  

“There were parts of India where there weren’t schools. We did some research and there was a village where children had to walk five or six hours to get to school, so we helped found a small school there,” she says. “And I worked on directly educating women on things like hygiene, menstruation, and child safety.” 

She also served as president of her school’s 30-member student council, helping to implement programs for students that offered services like mentorship, advocacy, and tutoring. At Mount Allison she is the first-year representative on the Commerce Society and a member of MOSAIC, the multicultural association.

“What I’ve learned about myself over the past two years is that life never goes by plan, so I try to give my best at the moment,” she says.

 

Oliver Batchilder
Bell Scholarship
Cornwall, PEI

Oliver Batchilder plans to pursue a legal career in the Canadian military. He’s beginning his studies in Mount Allison’s Frank McKenna School of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE), majoring in PPE and seeking degree minors in commerce and community engaged learning.

“Being from PEI, I wanted a small university where I could connect with people,” says Batchilder. “Mount Allison says this about themselves and it’s true. In my first term one of my professors reached out to me with a documentary series they thought I would like for my studies. That’s not going to happen at larger schools.”

Batchilder is a recipient of a Bell Scholarship, one of the University's top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I’m very honoured to receive this scholarship; it’s a huge help in my studies and I’m proud to have my efforts both in academics and community activities seen,” he says. “I believe in helping where I can in communities and this scholarship makes that easier.”

A long-time member of the Canadian Air Cadets, Batchilder was a cadet commander by the time he graduated from Bluefield High School. He also led his high school’s debate team, attending a national competition in their first year, and worked at a restaurant in Charlottetown’s downtown core for four years.

Choosing to study PPE, Batchilder also has had a long-time interest in politics. He served as CEO of a local Electoral District Association and on his high school student council. At Mount Allison he’s become involved with both the Mount Allison Students' Union and the New Brunswick Student Alliance.

One project of which he is particularly proud falls outside council chambers or political offices though.

“I am part of a group that is working with the Moncton YMCA’s YCAN program. We are developing a community-focused service project to help respond to a local need, while building connections and making a difference in Sackville,” he says. “We’ve had delays with the pandemic, but I’m really excited to work on future plans. I’m also working with the local Rotaract Club here in Sackville as their secretary-treasurer.”

 

Lucy Berg
Bell Achievement Award
North Vancouver, BC

When Lucy Berg began looking at universities, she was looking for a small-town environment. Having grown up in North Vancouver, she learned about Mount Allison through her high school’s University Fair and then made her inaugural trek to Atlantic Canada.

The first-year Arts student is the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“A scholarship like this is a huge help, it allows me to focus on school. I’m thankful to have received it,” says Berg, who plans to study political science and geography. “I have a learning disability, so having a resource like the Meighen Centre on campus was also a big plus for me. I was able to meet with their staff as well as admissions before I even arrived on campus. It was so helpful in my transition to university.”

While studying at West Vancouver’s Rockridge Secondary, Berg was involved in a number of school groups and activities including 2SLGBTQ inclusion, environmental initiatives including a sustainable garden on school grounds, and musical theatre.

“I love theatre. My dad works in theatre so it’s always been a part of my life. It’s my primary passion outside of my academics,” she says. “While I don’t plan to study it formally, I was involved in community theatre projects in Vancouver and have joined Mount Allison’s Garnet and Gold society for this year’s production of High School Musical.”

In addition to her studies and volunteering with Garnet and Gold, Berg is also a member of the local Rotaract Club, helping to organize a community food drive this fall.

Along with Mount Allison’s Bell Achievement Award, Berg is also the recipient of a LOUD Scholarship from the GLBA Foundation of British Columbia. Throughout high school, she was a member of BC’s Youth Council and plans to continue work with community organizations to build resources for 2SLGBTQ inclusion, particularly for youth.

“I would like to see more 2SLGBTQ resources in place and inclusion in sex education for youth,” says Berg. “It’s important to have this input and supports and I’m looking forwarding to working on these types of projects, both in Vancouver and at Mount Allison.”

 

Ben Broadbent
Bell Scholarship
Lynden, ON

First-year Arts student Ben Broadbent is passionate about learning languages. He is currently working on German and Spanish and is planning on majoring in French studies and minoring in history.

“I love making connections between the languages, even if it is simply identifying two similar words from two different languages,” he says. “Above all, though, there is a certain beauty in being able to communicate back and forth between multiple languages.”

Born in Bermuda, he grew up just outside Toronto in Lynden, ON. With his parents originally from out East, he chose to attend Mount Allison without even visiting the University in person based on reputation, the virtual tour, and conversations with an admissions counsellor.

Broadbent was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“It really meant so much,” he says. “I worked really hard in high school and studied so much. It made me feel like it was all worth it.”

In high school at Dundas Valley Secondary School, Broadbent was on Student Council and Student Senate, where he liaised with school board representatives. He participated in a Food Drop program in Hamilton, providing lunches for the homeless population, and volunteered with Best Buddies, pairing with students from special education classes — something he says was his favourite part of high school. He was also named co-valedictorian for his graduating class.

He worked steadily throughout his high school years in many different jobs, including at a greenhouse and at an African Lion Safari, and refereed minor hockey, which he says taught him a lot of different valuable skills such as quick decision-making.

Growing up a multi-sport athlete in hockey and baseball, Broadbent began playing badminton this past year and worked hard all summer to join Mount Allison’s varsity badminton team. He is also a member of the Modern Languages Society.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, he says his favourite part of his time at Mount Allison so far has been residence life and the friends he has made. 

“If classes were online and badminton wasn’t happening, I wouldn’t sacrifice the friends I have made for any of it,” he says.

Broadbent’s plans are to become a high school teacher, working in an inner-city school. He was inspired a few years ago to follow this path by the movie Coach Carter with Samuel L. Jackson. He hopes to do his Bell internship in a school or YMCA, where he could work with kids who learn differently in a team environment.

“If someone has been given up on, I want to give them a second chance,” he says. “I want to give them opportunities and let them know that the world is theirs if they want to go get it.”

 

Chloe Duguay
Bell Achievement Award
Truro, NS

First-year geography student Chloe Duguay had many reasons for choosing Mount Allison. She was drawn to the geography program, liked the small-town feeling, and felt like she would be able to cater her degree to her specific interests.

“My mom likes to say it’s because of my family connection,” says Duguay. “Many of my family members have degrees from Mount A, including my mom and her five siblings, and my grandparents met at Mount A.”

Duguay was also awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“This scholarship means a lot to me,” she says. “I usually shy away from acknowledgement, but it was nice to be recognized for being a good student and a student leader and to take a moment to reflect on my accomplishments.”

In Truro, Duguay grew up in the dance community. She created accessible dance classes to remove the physical barriers and make dance and movement more widely available to youth. She was also in the high school band, playing trumpet, and was a peer mentor in the life skills class.

“My family really instilled a love of arts in me,” she says. “It has helped me grow so much as a person and develop so many soft skills. I will always be an advocate for arts programming.”

At Mount Allison she has carried on her passion for academics, music, and dance. She is in the symphonic band, on the dance team (ballet and jazz), performed in the pit band for the Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, and is a member of the Geography and Environment Society. She hopes to have the chance to travel for international experiences during her time at Mount Allison.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic during her first year, Duguay is really enjoying the experience of being at university.

“In my first term I had classes in person, meal hall, and the whole university experience I had in my mind. The whole of university has been my favourite part so far.”

Duguay is looking ahead to pursuing urban planning or potentially law school after graduation.

“I want a job that is everchanging, with problem solving, and where I can actively make change,” she says.

 

Zohal Haidari
Bell Scholarship
Bamyan, Afghanistan

By her high school graduation, Zohal Haidari had more experience in community engagement and development work than most people will get in a lifetime.

Haidari is a graduate of Woodstock School. Located in a rural area of India, it created programs that connected students with local villages. One project assisted low-income women in developing job skills and improving their financial situation, another helped raise awareness about menstrual health.

Haidari was also part of a project that worked with refugees.

“We first went and talked to them about what kind of help they wanted,” she says. “There was an immediate need for building washrooms as well as working with the women on education on nutrition and family planning and children’s safety and education.”

Haidari can sympathize more than most: originally from Afghanistan, she came to India as a refugee when she was 15. She has continued to pursue her interests at Mount Allison, studying international relations and getting involved in both the Model UN and the WUSC (World University Service of Canada) Student Refugee Program, which supports a student with refugee status to attend Mount Allison.

Haidari’s family was planning to move to Canada while she was attending school in India, so when it came to post-secondary, she looked to Canadian schools. Receiving a Bell Scholarship, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities, was the icing on the cake.

“For me it was a big thing. It meant I can control my own life and be independent,” she says. “My life has been so uncertain. I never thought I would be a refugee in India, I never thought I would get a scholarship to study at such a good school, Woodstock School, and then to come to Mount A. Now I want to plan things and use all the opportunities I can to prepare myself for the future.”

Haidari is looking at two potential paths after Mount Allison.

“If I get a good scholarship for my master’s degree, I would like to further study international relations or international law and learn more about my country’s situation and developing communities,” she says. “Or if that doesn’t work out, I would work in Canada and other developing countries with NGOs and development organizations that focus on women empowerment and refugee children’s education.”

Another long-held dream — returning to Afghanistan after completing her education — is currently on hold.

“That was my whole thing, that I’m going to go study and then I will go back home, but I don’t know at the moment,” she says.

And so, she is looking into the possibility of starting a club that could fund raise for humanitarian support in Afghanistan and other developing countries or explore ways to provide education for girls who are not allowed or unable to attend school. She’s also looking at academic research opportunities to study war and conflict zones and their outcomes, and ways she might use her Bell internship funding to work with a development organization.

In the meantime, she is enjoying her studies and working at the University’s R. P. Bell Library.

“There are a lot of academic resources and supports and the classes are so different,” she says. “I like all the classes I am going to and am learning a lot of new stuff and I found a job in the library because I loved it so much!”

 

Nevis Hunt
Bell Scholarship
King City, ON

First-year Commerce and Aviation student Nevis Hunt says it was his degree combination and the experiences he heard about from his older brother, who attended Mount Allison, that cemented his decision to come to Mount A.

“I visited my brother on campus a few years ago and loved the atmosphere. With the small community, I felt a personal and genuine connection right away,” he says. “When the school introduced the BComm in Aviation, I knew that Mount A was where and what I wanted to study.”

Hunt is a recipient of a Bell Scholarship, one of the University’s top entrance awards. Valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. 

Hunt feels that it is an honour to represent Mount Allison as a scholarship recipient. He acknowledges the importance of academics in conjunction with athletics, music, and community involvement and is working hard to continue and even expand upon his initiatives at Mount A.

Along with his studies, Hunt has joined Mount Allison’s cross-country and varsity badminton teams.

“I’ve never played on a badminton team before, so it is fun to try something new in such a supportive environment,” he says.

He has also had the opportunity to get involved as a floor representative for his residence.

Outside of school, Hunt has tried to explore new opportunities. He says that during the pandemic he had more time with online classes and the cancellation of in-person activities, so he tried to create opportunities and to remain optimistic. Despite the challenges, the pandemic afforded him the opportunity to have difficult conversations and an appreciation that the unknown was difficult on everyone and certainly an eye opener for society in general.

A graduate of King City’s Country Day School (CDS), Hunt has been a multi-sport athlete and musician throughout his schooling. He played the trumpet in both the Concert and Jazz Bands. At CDS, he was also a member of the school’s Student Council and the Athletic Leadership Team, which involved mentoring younger athletes.

His athleticism earned him international recognition as a qualifier for the World Duathlon Age group Championships, which were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic.

Hunt is also a recipient of both the silver and bronze Duke of Edinburgh Awards, an international program for youth which recognizes individual achievements and community involvement.

Earning a combination of business education and flight training in his degree, Hunt plans to combine aviation and entrepreneurship in his future career endeavours.

 

Clare Lowe
Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship
Toronto, ON

First-year Music student Clare Lowe grew up in a music and dance family and, along with her sisters, she was homeschooled. She chose Mount Allison because of the small Music program with individual attention.

“The smaller university and Music program really appealed to me coming from being homeschooled,” says Lowe.

Lowe was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious music scholarships — the Mary Emerancy Pickard Bell Music Scholarship — valued at $24,000 over four years.

“It was a very special moment and I felt really honoured to get a scholarship like this,” she says. “I think in many ways it validated my homeschool learning. As the grading system is different, it was nice to see that I was at the same level as others.”

A classical soprano, Lowe sang in a children’s choir for six years and joined her church choir in Grade 12. She took private voice lessons for nine years, along with piano and theory. She also spent 13 years studying ballet and volunteered in the dance studio. Along with her mother and sisters, she sang once a month at a nursing home church service. She was also involved in acting and musical theatre.

At Mount Allison, Lowe is part of the Swing Dance Society and the Garnet and Gold Society.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, she says her favourite part of her time at Mount Allison so far has been the people she has met, especially those in the Music program.

“It’s such a small group and everyone knows everyone and understands what you’re going through,” she says.

Lowe’s goal after graduation is to be a performer and also teach singing.

 

Jacob MacPhee
Bell Achievement Award
Saint Andrews, NB

Jacob MacPhee’s high school interests ranged from student council and yearbook to track and field and speedskating. But one of his activities stands out above the rest: MacPhee is an accomplished wood carver.

“I’ve always been interested in the outdoors and the carving I do is called bush craft — I do detailed wood carvings of birds, carving each feather,” says MacPhee, who is from Saint Andrews, NB. “One of my mother’s friends was into it and got me interested. I’ve been doing it since 2016.”

Each carving takes about three months to complete, from carving to painting.

“The painting in the hardest part,” he says. “I can’t paint on a canvas. With a 3D object, the shape is already there, but it requires a lot of shading and blending.”

Although he has had offers of up to $1,000 for a carving, so far, his family members have been the sole beneficiaries of his work, as he presents them as gifts.

A graduate of Sir James Dunn Academy, MacPhee is the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

Mount Allison has become something of a tradition in the MacPhee family — MacPhee’s older brother and sister also graduated from Mount A, something that influenced his choice to attend.

“I knew the campus well and I like Sackville too,” he says.

MacPhee is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree, with the intention to attend dental school after Mount Allison. He was a member of the Cross-Country Club this fall, as well as the Tennis Club, the Creative Writing Society, and the Dental Society.

Although the pandemic has created challenges, MacPhee says it has also helped him develop skills he will need in his future career.

“I worked really hard in Grade 10 to gain a work ethic, but then in Grade 11 COVID happened and it is a lot harder to maintain that work ethic when no one is pushing you to do anything,” he says. “But having to do that did help me because if I am a dentist in future, working for myself, I won’t have deadlines and someone telling me what to do. I actually like online school because you can organize your own time.”

 

Rajan Minocha-McKenney
Bell Scholarship
Amherst, NS

For first-year Science student Rajan Minocha-McKenney, Mount Allison has always felt like a home away from home. From nearby Amherst, NS, he grew up attending summer camps at Mount Allison with his brother Rohin, who is a third-year student, and his sister Risha (‘20) who is an alumna. His mom Rachna (‘86) is an alumna and dad Rick also took classes at Mount Allison before both entered dental school.

“I always had a love for Mount A, the close-knit community, and the ability to get involved easily in clubs and societies,” he says. “The Bell Scholarship just really solidified my decision and I’m excited to get that extra mentorship from my peer Bell Scholars.”

Minocha-McKenney was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“It was a surreal moment when I found out,” he says. “It is nice to be recognized for the work I’ve done. I love being involved and it’s heartwarming to be honoured in that way for my academic and volunteer work.”

He was highly involved at his high school and within his community — becoming the youngest Student Council President, serving for two years, and also Junior Mayor with the Amherst Youth Town Council. He captained the basketball and cross-country teams; played alto saxophone in the stage and senior concert bands; and was the head of his Athletic, Gender Sexual Alliance, and Yearbook Committees.

He strives to help people across Canada by volunteering with the RCMP; with PREVNet, creating resources for teen dating violence; and co-founded a non-profit organization called Race to a Cure, which empowers youth interested in STEM and provides reliable information during the pandemic. He also attended the prestigious summer enrichment SHAD program virtually and was named SHAD of the Year.

At Mount Allison he is on the cross-country team, is a first-year councillor-at-large for the Mount Allison Students’ Union, worked with the Get Out The Vote campaign during the past federal election, and is the volunteer and fund raising co-ordinator for the Pre-Dental Society.

Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Minocha-McKenney has remained motivated with the help of his support system.

“I am very fortunate to have a lot of incredible role models in my life,” he says. “I have maintained close connections with my family, past teachers, SHAD participants, and Bell mentors. These people are the ones who will lift you up when you’re not feeling your best and support you no matter what. They have impacted me in becoming very passionate about helping others.”

He plans to follow in the footsteps of his parents and pursue dentistry, more specifically orthodontics.

 

Sophie Tsaltas
Bell Scholarship
Halifax, NS

Despite the limitations of the pandemic, Sophie Tsaltas of Halifax, NS, has found a number of ways to get involved at Mount Allison over her first term.

Tsaltas was the assistant stage manager for the Motyer-Fancy Theatre’s fall production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder and helped hang lights for the theatre’s second production of the year, Henry’s Law. She also is a floor rep in her residence and has been exploring potential summer research opportunities.

“Even with COVID, there has been lots of stuff going on — I didn’t think I would be able to get so involved,” she says. “I chose Mount A because it was a small school and I like having smaller classes, but also every time you go anywhere, you know someone. When I have a class, I always know someone in it, and there is always a table where I can sit at Jennings, always that sense of community.”

Tsaltas was in the middle of a practice exam when she received a phone call from Mount Allison telling her she was being awarded a Bell Scholarship, one of the University’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. A graduate of Citadel High School in Halifax, NS, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in chemistry and minors in physics and math, with the aim of becoming a teacher. Her interest in teaching was sparked by her long-term involvement in Scouts.

“I was in it from age 10 to 17,” she says. “It taught me a lot about leadership and about being independent. Being trusted with responsibility taught me a lot.”

Tsaltas served as a patrol leader and says taking on that leadership role from an early age has been valuable in the rest of her life.

“That is one of the biggest reasons I want to be a teacher, because I really learned in Scouts how to teach people, and different ways to teach them,” she says. “If you are out in the woods and someone doesn’t know how to use a compass, you have to teach them on the fly. Or if they don’t know how to do a lashing, they need to learn because you need a structure for shelter.”

Scouting also gave Tsaltas opportunites to travel, including a trip to England where she met other Scouts from across Europe and beyond.

In addition to Scouts, Tsaltas was a head delegate for her school’s Model UN club and assistant stage manager for a 100-cast-member production of Beauty and the Beast, which unfortunately had to be cancelled shortly before the performance due to the pandemic. She also worked at Citadel Hill as an interpreter, an experience that gave her an opportunity to meet visitors from around the world, hone her French, and learn in-depth history of the site.

 

Claire Wilbur
Bell Achievement Award
Saint John, NB

Claire Wilbur lives for the outdoors. The Rothesay Netherwood alumna has made the most of her home province of New Brunswick has to offer, including hiking and sailing, as well as embarking on adventures across Canada.

The first-year Science student is also the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

Wilbur is now working to ensure other students have ample opportunity to learn more about and enjoy time in the great outdoors. Working with local New Brunswick companies in her senior year of high school, she has established the Outdoor Adventure Scholarship Fund, aimed to help introduce high school students to outdoor activities.

“Before the pandemic, I was fortunate to travel to Alberta and camp in the Rockies for two weeks with Outward Bound Canada,” says Wilbur. “It was an amazing experience and I realized how lucky I was to have this opportunity. I wanted to find ways other students could have this opportunity as well, which led to the idea around the scholarship project.”

Outward Bound Canada is a national non-profit organization that offers social-emotional education through experiential adventures in the outdoors. 

When not on the water or hiking trail, Wilbur spent several hours a week volunteering at the Saint John Regional Hospital throughout high school and also conducted research for the hospital’s NB Heart Centre. She says this experience has been rewarding and eye-opening.

“My volunteering experience at the hospital has obviously changed in the pandemic but previously I volunteered in both the gift shop and the oncology units,” says Wilbur. “I think it’s important to give back when you can but I also learned so much from this experience. You see people with so many health and physical challenges ahead of them in these settings. Yet their mindsets and attitudes are really incredible. I hope to work in health care someday.”

Wilbur has continued her love for all things outdoors and health at Mount Allison as an active member of the cross-country team.

 2020-21 Bell Scholars

Kenzie Auger
Bell Scholarship
Woodstock, NB

Woodstock, NB’s Kenzie Auger chose to Mount Allison for a number of reasons: its small size, personal connections, and its ‘feel like home’ advantage. But Auger has embarked on many regional and international experiences during her high school career, including a humanitarian trip to the Dominican Republic as a Duke of Edinburgh Award recipient and being chosen for the prestigious Students on Ice program, conducting research in the Arctic.

“Both of these opportunities were wonderful and obviously very different from each other. I learned a lot about research and working in different communities and cultures,” says Auger.

These experiences, along with a stellar academic record, earned her a Bell Scholarship, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program with plans to major in psychology.

“Even though it’s been a different first-year experience, I’m happy for the sense of community at Mount A. I moved to Sackville and am taking some of my classes online, along with in-person ones,” says Auger. “The Bell Scholarship has certainly helped to support my education and allowed me to focus on my studies.”

Auger is using her first year to focus on her transition to university. A life-long member of the Girl Guides, she plans to get involved with the organization locally in the future.

“I completed all levels of the Girl Guides program. I got so much out of the program, through camping and volunteer opportunities in the community. I look forward to being able to be involved in it again,” says Auger.

In her hometown, Auger also volunteered at the local soup kitchen and helped assemble care baskets for cancer patients in the hospital. 

 

Shannon Bowes
Bell Achievement Award
Miramichi, NB

Shannon Bowes remembers the moment her decision to attend Mount Allison was confirmed. It came with a phone call during the pandemic lockdown in March 2020.

“I got a call from one of the admissions staff members. New Brunswick had been in lockdown for a few weeks so my whole family was home,” she says. “I couldn’t believe I had been selected for a Bell Award.”

Bowes, who is from Miramichi, NB, is studying in the Bachelor of Science program and plans to major in physics. She’s also the recipient of a Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

Taking classes both online and in-person, Bowes says she has a particular interest in STEM and seeing more females enter the field.

“I hope to pursue graduate studies someday and I want to encourage more girls to look at this field,” she says. “I am volunteering with the local Women in STEM club and we hope to work with the schools in Sackville when we’re able.”

Bowes is also a volunteer with MtA Healthcare Outreach, a member of the Parks Canada Club, and part of a committee working on a new house constitution for her residence.

In Miramichi she was an active volunteer and community member, playing piano for residents at the Miramichi Nursing Home, playing soccer and track, and participating in student council at her high school.

Bowes also worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor, teaching lessons to individuals of all ages. As part of this work, she helped lead a program called Autism Swims, run through Autism Resources Miramichi.

Having two older siblings who attended Mount Allison, Bowes said she had always considered the University. But it was participating in a Royal Canadian Legion Youth Leadership Camp held on campus that also helped guide her decision.

“I attended the camp in Grade 10 and it was great to spend that much time on campus. I was always leaning towards Mount Allison but this experience, as well as the scholarship helped solidify my decision.”

 

Maggie Kerr
Bell Achievement Award
Fredericton, NB 

First-year Science student Maggie Kerr, from Fredericton, NB, has been an accomplished musician since she was young, playing both the piano and the cello. When it came time to choose a university and her academic focus, she decided to pursue physics and math at Mount Allison, while also having the opportunity to minor in classics and play the cello with the University’s Chamber Orchestra.

“One of the main reasons I chose Mount A was because I was excited about the research opportunities for undergraduate students,” says Kerr. “There are so many opportunities at Mount Allison to work alongside the professors in so many different areas of physics, it’s incredible.”

Kerr was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She says one of the best parts of the award has been the network she has established at the University.

She says it was music that taught her so much of the skills and competencies that led to her receiving this award.

“Music has taught me so much, including resilience, persistence, and with practice anything is possible,” she says.

Kerr spent two summers in high school attending a music program in Quebec aimed at university students, with instructors from all over the world.

“It was an amazing experience and helped me also get involved at FHS in the string orchestra, band, as well as some community orchestras," she says.

During her first year at Mount Allison she has been involved with the programming competition, solving computer science programs, and is a member of the Classics Society. This term she will be a teaching assistant for math and physics.

“Mount A encourages you to be well-rounded and to pursue interests that might not be explicitly linked to your main subject,” she says.

Kerr has enjoyed her experience living in residence so far and is looking forward to getting more involved as pandemic restrictions change.

“I really like being able to live independently; I think it is an important skill,” she says. “Residence is a nice stepping stone from home to having my own apartment.”

During the pandemic, Kerr says what has kept her motivated is keeping her end goal in mind. She plans to pursue graduate studies and a PhD with an eye on a career in research.

“I have always been a curious person and I like having the answers to things,” she says. “I am interested in working to get a deeper understanding of how the universe works and how everything interacts together.”

 

Aakanksha Khandwaha
Bell Scholarship
Truro, NS

Aakanksha Khandwaha says it was in part because of her teachers at Cobequid Education Centre in Truro, NS that she first applied to Mount Allison.

“I applied on a whim, I didn’t know much about the school but had visited campus in Grade 11 as part of my high school’s Relay for Life team. Several of my teachers at CEC recommended Mount A and I learned more about the school’s programs, and the Bell Scholarship in particular. Mount A was the perfect match for me, I just didn’t realize it was at the time,” she says.

Khandwaha applied and as the saying goes, the rest is history. She is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program with plans to study biochemistry, math, and computer science, and minor in the arts. She is also the recipient of the Bell Scholarship, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I’ve always been interested in STEM and research but also social justice and the intersection between the two. I think it’s really important to look at how these connect,” she says. “The Bell Scholarship is a great fit for me because I’m involved in a wide range of subjects/activities and it gives me the opportunity to combine my varying interests!”

Khandwaha has already started this exploration. In Grade 11 she launched a period access equity group at her high school, working to ensure menstrual products were freely available in all women’s and non-gender-specific washrooms. This group has grown into the Truro Period Collective and continues to improve education and accessibility around periods in schools. Through this work, she also got involved with Code Red Co. an international cooperative that’s also working towards increasing period equity.

She plans to start a similar group at Mount Allison.

At CEC, Khandwaha was also co-president of the Symphonic Band, the Social Justice Committee, and Environmental Club in Grade 12 as well as organized a teen tutoring mentorship program.

An IB (International Baccalaureate) graduate, Khandwaha volunteers with Mount Allison’s Rose Campaign, Because I am a Girl society, EnactusMtA, and is the computer science rep for Mount Allison’s Women in Science Club. She is also a member of the University’s Anti-Racism Judicial Panel.

Through EnactusMtA’s enviroot program and Mount Allison’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Khandwaha is part of a team of students working on a research project exploring how orange peels could be upscaled to be used as particle boards.

“I’m not sure what my career path will be yet, but having the opportunity to do STEM research like this as part of my university experience is amazing,” she says.

She also works for Girl Up Canada on its national team. Girl Up was established by the United Nations Foundation and aims to advance the skills, rights, and opportunities for girls everywhere.

“With Girl Up, it’s exciting to work with individuals across the country,” says Khandwaha. “I’ve been fascinated to hear about the some of the projects happening in other places like Ontario and Alberta.”

Having lived in India, Toronto, and the Maritimes, Khandwaha says she’s thankful for her family’s support and glad she decided to stay in the Atlantic region and attend a small university.

“My mom, along with all the other women in my family, have really allowed me to be able to grow and develop and achieve things,” she says. “She’s genuinely done so much for me, and I’m here where I am because of her.”

 

Grace MacIntosh
Bell Achievement Award
Valley, NS

First-year Science student Grace MacIntosh, from Valley, NS, knew she wanted to study at Mount Allison University as soon as she set foot on campus for her first visit.

“I felt at home as soon as I got here,” she says.

MacIntosh was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — a Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities. She says one of the best parts of the award has been the network she has established at the University.

“I really like the interconnectedness of the Bell network already,” says MacIntosh. “Even though things are a lot different this year, we still have that sense of community through Facebook and e-mail. It feels nice to part of a community of like-minded people that I can interact with.”

An IB graduate of Cobequid Educational Centre in Truro, NS, MacIntosh was highly involved at school and in the community. She was President of the Junior Rotarian Interact program, starting a volunteer initiative that assisted a different community group each week. She was the head of communications for the Student Council Executive and took part in the Social Justice Club, Knitting Club, and Posters with a Purpose. She volunteered with the Christmas Index Program, the food bank, Challenger Baseball, and as a junior high tutor with Teen Tutors.

“I’m very passionate about volunteering and helping others,” says MacIntosh.

So far at Mount Allison, she is involved with Rotaract, Make a Wish, Biology Society, and is the SHARE and health and wellness rep for Harper Hall.

Although starting her first year during a pandemic has posed some challenges, MacIntosh says making so many new friends has been the best part of her first year.

“It seems like it would be hard to make friends during this time, but the whole experience has brought us all closer together,” she says. “In residence it has been a weird year with all the restrictions, but we still have that family feeling.”

MacIntosh intends to major in biology and double minor in women’s and gender studies and psychology with the plan to attend medical school and become an OB-GYN.

“I absolutely love biology and I have always been interested in medicine, but I am also interested in obstetrics and gynaecology for the social justice aspects of it,” says MacIntosh. "Understanding the racialized and gendered nature of this field of medicine has made me really hopeful to be able to work against these oppressions.”

 

Isaac McCardle
Bell Scholarship
Charlottetown, PE

First-year Science student Isaac McCardle, from Charlottetown, PE, says being named a Bell Scholar was a big part of him choosing to come to Mount Allison.

“It was a big part of me choosing to come to Mount A financially, but also it was really meaningful to be recognized for my past involvement and volunteering as well as my academics,” he says. “I also really enjoyed the application process and meeting with interesting people.”

He was also looking for a strong academic reputation and to experience someplace new, close to home. When he visited campus for Open House, Mount Allison moved to the top of his list.

McCardle was awarded one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious scholarships — the Bell Scholarship — valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

McCardle joined a junior sailing camp at the Charlottetown Yacht Club in Grade 5 and has been sailing ever since. He began coaching at the camp three years ago and has sailed throughout the Maritimes and in Bermuda and Turks and Caicos.

“I have had many memorable experiences, especially from coaching, but my time sailing in Bermuda was one that really stands out for me. Exploring a new place by sailing along the coast was incredible and I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to do it," he says.

McCardle is also a pianist, playing in Colonel Gray High School’s concert band and in the school’s musical. He was captain of the cross-country team and competed regularly throughout high school. He was a member of the student council executive, Key Club (a partnership with Kiwanis Club), and completed the three levels of the international Duke of Edinburgh Award Program by volunteering in his community and developing new skills.

At Mount Allison so far, he is a co-floor rep at Harper Hall and has been involved with HealthCare Outreach MtA. He also began running with the cross country club team.

Despite the pandemic, McCardle is really enjoying his first-year at Mount Allison.

“I would say my favourite part is getting to know people in a new environment,” he says. “I haven’t had a university experience before, so there were no preconceptions or expectations. The community in residence really sold it for me. I enjoy learning, so that’s my academic motivation and being around my peers who are also studying motivates me. I really want to get the most out of my university experience socially and academically.”

McCardle plans to major in biochemistry and minor in political science, but he is open to the possibilities.

“I could see medical science, healthcare policy, or epidemiology in my future, but so far I’m really enjoying my classes and the distribution credit system that is allowing me to take courses I never really thought about taking before,” he says.

 

Olivia Nowe
Bell Achievement Award
Liverpool, NS

They say it takes a village and Olivia Nowe, who grew up in Liverpool, NS, is grateful for hers.

“I come from a town of giving people,” she says.

When Nowe was looking into attending Mount Allison, her ride to Open House unexpectedly fell through. By chance she ran into her third-grade music teacher, someone she hadn’t seen in eight years, and mentioned her dilemma.

“She said, ‘I will take you to Mount A,’” Nowe says. “Both her sons went to Mount Allison and months later I was able to call her about the scholarship I got. I love how full circle it came — she was from that community that supported me.”

The scholarship is one of Mount Allison’s most prestigious — the Bell Achievement Award — valued at $44,000 over four years, including internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I’m the first one from my family to go to university, so when I first got the e-mail that they wanted to interview me, I thought I didn’t want to mess this up,” she says, with a laugh.

The community may have put opportunities in Nowe’s way, but Nowe has made the most of each one.

A summer theatre camp scholarship from the town led to a lifelong love of theatre — a great passion to have in the town that hosts the annual Liverpool International Theatre Festival.

“I went back to the camp every summer, it was a big part of my life,” she says. “That all contributed to my own resilience and really did help me grow.”

In Grade 6, Nowe and fellow students helped launch a drama program at their middle school that eventually led to the creation of A Breath of Fresh Air, a community youth theatre group. Nowe was involved from the beginning and throughout high school.

Nowe was also a member of the Queen’s County Girls’ Choir for six years, participated in the province-wide Catapult Leadership Camp, and — a highlight — got to see Barack Obama speak in Halifax in 2019.

Although her high school was small, there was lots to do.

Nowe was co-President of the Student Council and was involved in the Yearbook Club, Kiwanis Key Club, Safe Grad, the Tutoring Program Co-op, and the Scholarship Auction Committee, which organizes an auction each year to fund scholarships for graduating students. She played on the basketball team throughout high school and was co-captain in her final year.

She was also a member of the REP (Respect, Empathy, Positivity) Committee, which focused on mental health advocacy, as well as organized food bank donations and volunteered in the community in other capacities.

Nowe is planning to pursue a degree in modern languages, literatures, and cultures with the long-term goal of teaching English as a second language.

“I’ll be able to speak three languages at the end of it,” she says. “The main language is French, but I will also be fluent in German and have conversational Spanish.”

She’s also looking forward to getting more involved at Mount Allison. So far, she’s participating in the Mounties in the Making blog and is part of the Mount Allison Students’ Union (MASU) communications board, but she definitely plans to get involved in theatre on campus once those activities are able to resume.

“I’m really excited to see what Mount A has to offer in a non-pandemic world,” she says. “But there is a lot that I’ve enjoyed so far. The friends I have made are astounding — it feels like I have known them for years. We’ve made the best of it — Sackville has so many opportunities to have fun, even if you have to follow guidelines.

“Every day I am grateful I get to go to university because not everybody does.”

 

Sailee Shringarpure
Bell Scholarship
Mumbai, India

Sailee Shringarpure can’t wait to see snow. Shringarpure, who is from Mumbai, India, was very much looking forward to attending Mount A this past fall, but the pandemic disrupted those plans. Instead, she is part of a unique Mount Allison first: one of a small group of students completing their entire first year of studies without ever setting foot on campus — something that has never occurred in Mount Allison’s 180-year history.

Despite the difficulties of a nine-and-a-half-hour time difference, “all of my classes are in the evening and late at night, which was a little challenging at first,” she says, Shringarpure has dived into her first-year classes as she works toward a Bachelor of Science, majoring in psychology.

“To be honest, I don’t feel that distance between my classes and teachers and friends — they try to connect and I think that really helped,” she says. “The teachers have kept it very flexible and the University has offered me wonderful support. And there are peer sessions so I don’t feel left out. They are doing a good job to bring us together, even though we are apart.”

Still, connecting and making friends from half a world away hasn’t been easy. Shringarpure has used social media a lot to get to know her fellow students and engage with them. She is also a member of MOSAIC, Mount Allison’s multicultural association.

When she finally is able to get to campus, she is looking forward to getting involved in drama as theatre was a key part of her high school experience. She starred as Princess Fiona in a production of Shrek, among many other roles, and also worked in stage management. She was also a member of the National Honour Society, helped put together a weekly newscast for her fellow students, and was President of her school’s Psychology Forum, which raised awareness about psychology and mental health.

Shringarpure was awarded a Bell Scholarship, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $56,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I was so grateful to receive this scholarship and honoured to be considered an eligible candidate,” she says. “It made me believe in myself more — that I have potential and capabilities and can achieve what I want to.”

She chose Mount Allison for its small community and its sense of family after admissions counsellor Saniya Korhalkar made a presentation at her school.

“I had never heard about Mount A from anyone,” she says, “but it was so interesting how she presented Mount Allison: a small community, a small family, so united. And there was so much warmth in her presentation, it was so happy and so joyful.”

She says she can’t wait to get to campus to experience that first-hand.

“I’m looking forward to just being in Sackville itself and exploring the small town and small community, being part of a lot of societies and clubs, volunteering, and learning more about myself and what I can do there,” she says.

And, of course, the snow.

“Something I’m really looking forward to is snow and winter in Sackville,” she says. “I’ve never seen snow before.”

 

Emma Yee
Bell Achievement Award
Toronto, ON

It was music that brought Emma Yee to Mount Allison University.

“I was singing in the Ontario Youth Choir. Each year the provincial honours choir has a different conductor. That year, Dr. Vicki St. Pierre [Mount Allison Music professor and interim dean of arts] was conducting,” says Yee. “We talked after the rehearsal and I learned that she taught at Mount Allison. I hadn’t heard of the university before Grade 12.”

Yee is now pursuing two degrees, a Bachelor of Music in voice and a Bachelor of Arts with plans to major in history. She is also a recipient of the Bell Achievement Award, one of Mount Allison’s top entrance awards, valued at $44,000 over four years, including an internship and peer mentorship opportunities.

“I had a chance to visit Mount Allison pre-pandemic and I knew it would be a good fit for me,” she says.

While classes and rehearsals look different than in previous years, Yee, who is from Toronto, ON, says she is enjoying the campus community, both virtually and in person. Along with her studies, she is a member of the Choral Society, and an arts and culture reporter for The Argosy, Mount Allison’s independent student newspaper.

An IB (International Baccalaureate) graduate from Bayview Secondary School, Lee also turned her love of reading into a wider hobby.

“In high school I became involved with Inspire Teen Reads, a non-profit organization that aims to encourage youth’s love of reading. I’m currently part of their leadership team,“ she says. “I noticed a lot of my peers either weren’t reading for pleasure or not talking about it if they did. We wanted to encourage the conversation around reading for fun.”

Yee also found creative ways to connect with other students to practise her love of theatre during the pandemic lockdown in the spring of 2020.

“I worked with students across Canada, the U.S., and the U.K. on online play readings and productions. It was a lot of fun. I was so happy to be able to participate in Mount Allison’s Drama program’s online productions this fall,” she says.