Each year, the Mount Allison Federated Alumni Board recognizes outstanding alumni whose achievements, leadership, and service reflect the values of the University and the strength of the Allisonian community.

During Reunion Weekend 2026, the board celebrated three exceptional alumni at the Alumni Banquet: Alicia Postuma (’22), Dr. Garland Brooks (’60), and Carol Chapman (’81). Through their achievements, leadership, and service, they have made meaningful contributions to their professions, communities, and the University.

Carol Chapman ('81)

Charles Frederick Allison Award

The Charles Frederick Allison Award honours alumni whose sustained commitment and leadership have significantly strengthened Mount Allison University.

Carol Chapman ('81) has long been a steady and dedicated presence in the Mount Allison community, distinguished by her energy, commitment, and enduring service to her alma mater.

Through her service on the Board of Regents, Chapman has been a strong and consistent advocate for students, with a particular focus on the spaces and experiences that shape daily campus life. Her contributions to the Wallace McCain Student Centre stand as a lasting example of her belief that physical spaces play a vital role in building connection, community, and belonging.

Chapman is widely known for her ability to connect with both students and alumni, bringing people together and remaining actively engaged in university life over many years. That sustained presence has had a meaningful and lasting impact on the Mount Allison community.

Her leadership extends beyond campus through continued community involvement, reflecting a deep and consistent commitment to service and connection.

In her acceptance speech, Chapman reflected on a lesson she first heard at the International Marketing Conference held in conjunction with the 2010 Paralympics in Vancouver. Recalling a keynote speaker's message, she noted that "there is only one rule — it is all about the story."

Her own Mount Allison story stretches across generations of family members and is just one of many connected to Mount Allison University. 

"So that is just my story, one story, thousands of similar Mountie stories," she says. "No matter the year, your background, your hometown, your discipline, our collective story is one I believe that makes us all better."

Dr. Garland Brooks ('60)

Lifetime Achievement Award

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes alumni whose lifelong service and leadership have had a lasting, positive impact beyond the Mount Allison community.

Dr. Garland Brooks ('60) has built a distinguished career defined by academic leadership, teaching, and sustained community service.

He spent more than three decades as a professor of psychology at St. Francis Xavier University, where he taught and supervised generations of students while contributing significantly to academic life and institutional leadership.

Alongside his academic work, Brooks maintained a long-standing commitment to community service across Nova Scotia. He has served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Bravura Nova Scotia, the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts, and the College of Registered Nurses of Nova Scotia. In many of these roles, he served as chair, advisor, or lead contributor, supporting governance, program development, and organizational direction.

Over a career spanning more than 65 years in higher education and community leadership, Brooks has demonstrated an enduring commitment to service and impact.

In his acceptance speech, he began by sharing a family story. His brother had recently given him a set of old photographs, including one of his father as a teenager standing with other young men outside Centennial Hall. He realized the photo had been taken 99 years ago, highlighting his family's longstanding connection to Mount Allison.

He also reflected on his recent role as the alumni representative on Senate, which he says has been "a marvellous experience, both to be engaged with Mount Allison but also to get back into the academic world. This award means more to me than I could actually say. Thank you so much."

Alicia Postuma ('22)

Contemporary Achievement Award

The Contemporary Achievement Award celebrates alumni who have graduated within the past 15 years and have already made a significant mark through professional achievement, innovation, or community leadership.

Alicia Postuma ('22) is making a significant impact in physics through her research, mentorship, and leadership in STEM.

She is currently part of the fast-track graduate program at the University of Regina, one of Canada’s most competitive scholarship pathways. Her research in particle physics focuses on experiments at the Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility in Virginia, where she studies the structure of protons and neutrons to better understand the fundamental nature of matter.

At Mount Allison, she led the lab component of a second-year physics course, revising materials and supporting students through complex concepts.

Postuma has also contributed to building community in STEM, volunteering with the Canadian Conference for Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities in Physics and serving as conference chair for the national 2SLGBTQ+ STEM conference.

While Postuma was unable to attend, her sister, Sarah Postuma ('26), accepted the award on her behalf and shared a few words about her sister’s achievements: "I nominated Alicia for several reasons — not just for her incredible academic talent — but also for how she changes the lives of the people around her for the better. She’s absolutely the coolest person I know, and I know a lot of cool people — I got to Mount A!"