Student Awards and Learning Stories
Investing in talent: Office Interiors and RICOH mark 17 years of supporting student success
A 17-year partnership reached a remarkable milestone this September as Office Interiors, alongside their partner RICOH Canada Inc., celebrated surpassing $500,000 in donations to NSCC Foundation.
“It turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made”: Brittany Bowden’s NSCC Story
After university with the help of student awards, NSCC student Brittany Bowden is on a journey of discovering new opportunities at home and abroad with a newfound confidence.
Building tomorrow's workforce: $1.6 million per year in bursaries for skilled trades students at NSCC
NSCC partners with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency to offer 320 bursaries of $5,000 each for skilled trades students, focusing on equity-deserving groups and high-demand construction programs.
Clean Foundation invests in Nova Scotia's green future through student awards at NSCC
A $400,000 gift from the Clean Foundation is supporting equity-deserving students in clean energy programs at NSCC to help Nova Scotia's clean energy sector.
$250,000 gift from Horizon Maritime to support Mi’kmaq learners pursuing healthcare careers at NSCC
Horizon Maritime's $250,000 gift to NSCC creates Mi'kmaq Learners Healthcare Bursary, offering five $3,000 renewable bursaries annually to support Mi'kmaq students pursuing healthcare careers in Nova Scotia.
Evolving Together: NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations 2023-24 Annual Report on Giving
Read Evolving Together: NSCC Foundation and Alumni Relations’ 2023-24 Annual Report on Giving. Thanks to your generosity, $7.1M was raised to support NSCC students.
Bridging Mi’kmaw culture and early childhood education: Ethan Paul’s story
Ethan Paul, a Mi’kmaw student at NSCC, blends cultural heritage with modern education practices locally and abroad through the Mi'kmaw Early Childhood Education program.
A Life Rebuilt: Chris Rice’s success through accessibility at NSCC
In 2012, an accident left NSCC eCampus student Chris Rice paralyzed from the chest down. Today, he is an inspiring example of resilience and determination for students with disabilities in post-secondary education.
Sensor Technology challenges NSCC students to champion sustainable solutions
In collaboration with Sensor Technology, the Making Waves Competition at NSCC's Ivany Campus brought excitement and innovation by challenging students to foster sustainable solutions for our communities.
Awards uplifting Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
By tailoring their awards to provide unique supports to students, many donors have dedicated their awards to Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC to overcome barriers they may face in post-secondary education.
Maestro Fresh Wes Scholarship supporting Black youth in trades: Meet Maxwell
Maxwell, a Welding student at Akerley Campus, is honoured to be the first recipient of the Maestro Fresh Wes Scholarship, created by Wes to celebrate his induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame at the JUNO Awards.
NSCC accessibility supports ignites a student’s potential
With accessibility supports, student awards, and perseverance, Judy Lewis thrived at NSCC and created her own award to support students like her.
Maestro Fresh Wes introduces new scholarship at NSCC
Godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro Fresh Wes, is celebrating his induction to the Canadian Music Hall of Fame by creating the Maestro Fresh Wes Scholarship at NSCC.
Celebrating a legacy: Five years of The Sobey Award
On Nov. 7 at NSCC’s Ivany Campus, the NSCC Foundation hosted the Five Years of The Sobey Award Celebration, welcoming students, alumni, volunteers, community partners and College leadership to celebrate the milestone.
Success at sea: Chelsea King’s ocean dream
Chelsea King, a second-year Marine Navigation Technology student at NSCC's Strait Area Campus Nautical Institute, embodies the essence of determination and spirit of the Ocean Dream Award for Women and Indigenous People.
NSCC Accessibility Supports ignite a student’s potential
With accessibility supports, student awards, and perseverance, Judy Lewis thrived at NSCC and created her own award to support students like her. Read more in the Halifax Chamber of Commerce's Business Voice Magazine.
Awards supporting Mi'kmaq and Indigenous students at NSCC
Thanks to donor support, NSCC offers dedicated awards for Mi'kmaq and Indigenous students, as well as many more open to equity-deserving groups.
NSCC awards to celebrate Black and African Nova Scotian community leaders
Thanks to the generosity and endorsement of NSCC’s Black African Nova Scotian Employee Resource Network (BAERN), four new $2,500 awards have been launched to support Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC.
Playing for a better future
The family of D. Stuart MacLeod, known fondly amongst his peers as Mr. Rotary, made a transformational $200,000 donation to Sydney Waterfront Campus.
A winning recipe
Mark and Krista both joined NSCC’s culinary program in 2013. Today, the husband-and-wife team is well-known in Cape Breton for their three culinary businesses.
Reaching new heights through education
Tuma, a multi-award recipient, will graduate from NSCC’s Business Administration program in 2023. Read how scholarships and bursaries made his dreams a reality.
Where there’s a WIL there’s a way – New bursaries for students on unpaid work placements
Thanks to funding from CEWIL Canada, NSCC’s new Where There’s a WIL There’s a Way program provides financial aid bursaries for equity-deserving students at the College participating in mandatory, unpaid work placements.
Urgent Aid drives student to her dream career
NSCC Urgent Aid helps students through financial challenges impacting their education. Thanks to donor funding, Urgent Aid recipient Marcia H. can complete her work placement and continue her path to becoming a nurse.
Admiral provides financial aid to uplift women in trades and technology
On April 25, Admiral announced a generous three-year commitment to support the Women Unlimited program at NSCC to establish the Admiral Women Unlimited Bursary and the Women Unlimited Urgent Aid Fund.
Jeannine Deveau Achievement Fund gift supports $45K in awards for PREP alumni at NSCC
The Jeannine Deveau Achievement Fund's $530,000 gift to the PREP Academy is supporting $45,000 in entrance and graduating awards for PREP alumni at NSCC.
Student awards helping to make creative dreams a reality
When Amber H. finished university, she was searching for something that would help her explore her creative side. Thanks to student awards, she's chasing her dreams to make her mark on the creative sector.
Empowering Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
February marked African Heritage Month. Learn more about news we shared of new initiatives and dedicated supports for Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC.
Cheesecakes for Carpentry: Richard Byers Memorial Bursary
During the holiday season, the Byers family hosted a nostalgic cheesecake raffle to fundraise for the Richard Byers Memorial Bursary, an award they established in their dad’s memory to support Carpentry students at NSCC.
NSCC awards inspired by women, for women
Through the generosity of our donors and partners, NSCC offers a variety of scholarships, bursaries and awards dedicated to helping women pursue post-secondary education.
Awards supporting Black and African Nova Scotian students at NSCC
Learn more about NSCC’s seven dedicated awards, scholarships and bursaries for Black and African Nova Scotian students funded by our donors and partners and how you can support them.
Archy Beals Legacy Award
Deanna Mohamed and Barbara Roberts created the Archy Beals Legacy Award to honour Archy's legacy and 27 years of service at the College while supporting African Nova Scotia high school students starting at NSCC.
Journalism students learn responsible reporting in Mi'kma'ki
Through donor funding, four second-year Radio Television Journalism students participated in the Reporting in Mi’kma’ki workshop. Students learned in class and in the Mi’kmaw community of Eskasoni to gain cultural competency when telling Indigenous stories.
Heather O’Brien and Kristen Beaton memorial awards – celebrating their care and compassion
Together, the families of Heather O’Brien and Kristen Beaton, the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) and NSCC Alumni Relations are celebrating the lives and legacies of Heather and Kristen by establishing awards in their memory.
New beginnings for refugee and equity-deserving students at NSCC
Continuing NSCC’s efforts to address financial barriers and increase opportunities for equity-deserving groups, new awards will be offered for the upcoming academic year. One of the newest bursaries being the New Beginnings Bursary for incoming refugee students.
Continuing a legacy in the trades through the Adam Folk Memorial Endowment
The Folk family’s generous $1 million Adam Folk Memorial Endowment is funding its first two scholarships in the spring of 2022. The scholarships will support Plumbing students who embody Adam Folk’s legacy as a plumber and a community leader.
Pathways to Rock – supporting a mother’s passion and perseverance
Chris Murdoch’s Pathways to Rock award is combating stereotypes that Black people face in the Nova Scotia music industry. Breaking barriers for Music Arts students like Thaydra G., a mother driven by her love for music, and especially her son.
Donor support helps student reach graduation
After years of working and traveling across Canada, Kris is back in Nova Scotia. He just completed the Remote Sensing Program at NSCC AVC – COGS, a journey filled with ups and downs.
Cyber Security enthusiast gets a career head start with Sponsor-a-Student
Hannah has had an interest in technology from a young age. Thanks to the Sponsor-a-Student Program and the generosity of a local technology management company, she is pursuing a career in Cyber Security.
AFNWA establishes Nujo’tmu’k Samuqwan Award
The newly established award from Atlantic First Nations Water Authority (AFNWA), titled Nujo’tmu’k Samuqwan Award (Taking Responsibility for our Water), will give Indigenous students enrolled at NSCC the opportunity to explore careers in the water sector.
Six NSCC grads receive Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Culinary Excellence
This summer, six exceptional NSCC grads were selected to receive the prestigious Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Culinary Excellence, presented in July by The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC, Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.
VERB Interactive launches NSCC bursary program for women in technology
Through a partnership with VERB Interactive, the newly launched Women in Tech Award will support more women entering technology professions, including IT, Applied Media and Communications Arts, Digital Marketing, Business Intelligence Analytics, Cyber Security, and Graphic Design.
Recent grads paying it forward to empower future students
The 2020 class from the Irving Pathways to Shipbuilding is paying it forward. Through their newly established award–The Black Empowerment to Success Award, two African Nova Scotian students will have the opportunity to receive much-needed financial support during their program at Akerley Campus. This initiative was born out of the group’s own experience being supported while at NSCC, and their desire to give back in the same vein.
Office Interiors giving back with Love The Way You Learn
Office Interiors' Jim Mills speaks to NSCC on community and education. He talks about their commitment through the Love the Way You Learn bursary.
Musician Chrissy Crowley plays a new tune as proud businesswoman
Musician Chrissy Crowley puts aside her fiddle to pursue full-time studies at NSCC Marconi Campus. A dream made possible with the support of NSCC donors.
Fostering diversity in the workplace.
Over the years, Halifax Water, led by Cathie O’Toole has partnered with NSCC to offer bursaries that encourage diversity in the talent pool and help students,
Video: Finding motivation for career advancement
Receiving an award made it possible for Alicia Montague, a technology enthusiast from Labrador, to return to school and pursue a lifelong dream career.
Future Health Practitioner on the right path thanks to donor-funded community award
Through the Jim and Dawn MacLeod Community Award, students like Kirsten Surette, a Mental Health Recovery and Promotion student at the Burridge Campus, have the opportunity to pursue learning in a field that they love, with great potential for positive community impact.
Sobey family gift largest in NSCC history
A major philanthropic gift by members of the Sobey family to the Make Way Campaign is helping students, their families and their communities across Nova Scotia.
NSCC students help Make Way
A generous gift from NSCC students, facilitated by Student Association leaders, supports fellow students across the province.
New hope for a newcomer's culinary dream
For aspiring chef Tsubaki Onishi, the newly established Devour Diversity Scholarship was just what she needed to kick-start her dream career.
Student touched by donor generosity
Paralegal Services student and bursary recipient Disha Jaggi is happy to see so much financial support available to NSCC students.
Planned gift offers second chance
Malcolm Lake's parents valued education. Now a legacy gift in their memory will ensure more students have access to a transformational experience.
Foodie gets bursary boost
Culinary Management student Carl Gardner did a happy dance when he found out he'd received the Sobey Foundation Culinary Award.
Grad employer opening doors to learning
A $50,000 gift from Web.com, facilitated by Vice President Karen Churchill, is helping local students with tuition costs each year.
CIBC donation supports financial literacy for NSCC students
A $125,000 gift is supporting the development of a financial literacy course for NSCC students across Nova Scotia.
The Joyce Foundation donation to support students, College’s largest gift
This generous contribution, which kick-started the Make Way Campaign, supports hundreds of students annually through bursaries and urgent aid.