Greg Somerville Award in Innovation. Established in 2018 by David Huestis (’63), the Greg Somerville Award in Innovation is granted in recognition of exceptionality. Demonstrating achievement academically and socially, through community service, student leadership, and innovation, the recipients also persevere through adversity and have financial need. Available to full-time students who are engaged in studies in the David Huestis Innovation Pavilion, the awards are valued at $6,000–$7,000 annually. Greg Somerville was born and raised in Ontario, graduated with a BA in History from the University of Waterloo, and started his career as an insurance adjuster in 1979. Over the next decade he progressed to Vice President of Claims. At Aviva Canada, he was Senior Vice President and then Executive Vice President, retiring as President and CEO in 2018. His extraordinary contributions to the insurance industry are recognized by colleague David Huestis with the establishment of this award. David Huestis graduated from Acadia University in 1963 with a BSc in Mathematics. David attained a second degree in business from Dalhousie and, on his return home to New Brunswick, incorporated Huestis Insurance Group in 1966. Now operating over 40 brokerages, Huestis is the largest independently owned insurance brokerage in Atlantic Canada. David has been involved for over 40 years with the world scouting organization, as past Board Chairman of Scouts Canada and Chairman of Audit Committee of World Scout Foundation, and was recognized with the Bronze Wolf, World Scouting’s highest award. Helen and Douglas Buckler Scholar-Bursary. Established in 2018 by Grant Buckler (’79), this scholar-bursary is awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in recognition of academic excellence and financial need. Douglas Buckler earned his MA at Acadia in 1950 and taught in Sheffield Mills, Digby and Cornwallis and was principal of the Clark Rutherford Memorial School on the Cornwallis base. He finished his teaching career as vice-principal and finally principal of New Germany Rural High School. Helen taught in Shawinigan (Quebec), Middle Stewiacke, Digby, Cornwallis and New Germany, where she taught both math and English at the senior high level. Value: $1,000 30
Holly Turner Scholarship. Established in 2018 by Holly (Turner) Gunn (’68, ’69, ’02), the Holly Turner Scholar-Bursary is awarded on a renewable basis to an entering full-time undergraduate student from rural Lunenburg County in recognition of academic excellence and financial need. If there is no eligible candidate from rural Lunenburg County, a student from rural Nova Scotia will receive the scholar-bursary. Originally from New Ross, Lunenburg County, Holly went to Acadia University at age 16. During her BEd year, a course about managing a school library for teachers sparked a lifelong interest in school libraries. Holly taught and managed the school library for several years and graduated from Dalhousie School of Library and Information Science in 1978. She had a full career in education, teaching all levels of public and private school as well as university and adult education courses. A published writer, Holly conducted workshops across the country and internationally, and has received several awards for her work throughout her 35-year career as a teacher-librarian. Value: $4,000 John and Margaret Forbes Award in Entrepreneurship. Established in 2018 by Margaret and Gerald Kazma through the Kazma Family Foundation in honour and memory of Margaret’s brother John A. Forbes and wife Margaret (MacIsaac), this renewable award is granted to third-year students annually, one female and one male. Preferably from Nova Scotia, the recipients display entrepreneurial spirit, academic achievement and financial need. Value: $7,500 John and Margaret Forbes did not benefit from a university education, but they encouraged and supported their four children and in doing so influenced many others. Brian (’79), Heather (’80), Mark (’83) and Sandra (’85) graduated from Acadia. Brian’s wife, Wendy Brookfield (’82), and Sandra’s husband, John Greer (’86), were also supported in their educational endeavours at Acadia by their soon-to-be in-laws. Grandchildren Alexander Cannon (’12), Brandon Greer (’13) and Rylan Greer (’15) launched their business careers from Acadia, and Hayley Cannon pursued her first love, Theatre Studies, at Acadia in 2015–16. A former naval officer, John began his entrepreneurial career in cable tv systems in Halifax where he spearheaded the expansion of Metrovision. This experience brought him to the US where he worked