Giving Back to STU Connie Munroe Creates Bursary to Support Students

Fifteen years after graduating from St. Thomas University, Connie Munroe has achieved one of her personal dreams: creating a bursary to support future St. Thomas students. It’s her way of saying “thank you” to the community that supported her through a devastating medical diagnosis and long, arduous treatment.

Connie was a single mother of autistic twins in her second year of studies when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002.

“October 3rd was the day that I found the tumour, and October 31st was the official day of diagnosis,” she says. “My boys had been diagnosed with autism about a month before.”

Immediately, Connie’s life plans were put on hold so she could focus on her health. She went on leave from her part-time job at a Fredericton pub, left school, and flew her twins to Vancouver so they could live with her parents.

“I just put my head down and did everything the doctor told me to. I had to make sure that my children were set up and had good care,” she says. “The hardest thing I ever did was leave my kids in British Columbia to come home. I literally got off the plane in Fredericton and was on the operating table for my third surgery nine hours later.”

Her health challenges led to financial challenges, but thankfully insurance available through St. Thomas provided support.

“Without that coverage, I would never have been able to afford the supplemental drugs that I needed for my treatments,” she says. “Prior to the cancer diagnosis, I worked three nights a week at the Snooty Fox and suddenly I wasn’t able to work anymore. And we all know that a student loan is certainly not enough to live off of.”

Throughout her treatment, Connie says St. Thomas was extremely supportive. Her professors showed “care and compassion” throughout her journey, providing her with independent work she could do when she was well enough.

“The professors that I had during that year, I still communicate with them. It’s been 20 years but we’ve developed long-term friendships.”

Connie graduated from St. Thomas with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours in History) in 2007. Today, with a clean bill of health and successful real estate career in Fredericton, she is giving back.

“I made a pledge to myself that when I was financially capable, I was going to set up a bursary at the university to give back,” she explains. “This year we’re doing two $750 bursaries.”

Connie plans to invest $100 from every home sale to the bursary fund to support its growth into the future.

“Sometimes people just need a hand up – it’s not a handout, it’s a hand up.” •

by Jacqueline Cormier, BA’08