Six Students Celebrate the New Year with Major Scholarships

Over $1,000,000 awarded from the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies since 1989

STELLARTON, N.S. – Six business students studying at Atlantic Canadian universities will each receive $15,000 as recipients of the 2013 Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies. In addition to the award recipients, four students will receive an honourable mention award of $2,000. All finalists, nominated by the Deans of Business at each university, receive a $500 honorarium.

“These winners are exceptional role models for people of all ages. They exemplify compassion for their communities and demonstrate a healthy balance with everything else in their lives, all while maintaining outstanding academic performance,” said David F. Sobey, Chair of the Board of Directors for the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies. “They demonstrate qualities, skills, passion and dedication to their communities, and are the leaders of the next generation. We are proud to recognize and celebrate their achievements and tremendous potential.”  

The award recipients were chosen from 30 finalists based on academic standing, entrepreneurial interest, extracurricular and community activities, and career aspirations. The recipients of the 2013 Frank H. Sobey Award for Excellence in Business Studies are:

Taryn Greig
Taryn Greig is a fourth year Business student at St. Francis Xavier University, who plans on pursuing her Chartered Accountant designation.  She is actively involved in a number of committees on campus and in the local community. She was Vice President Executive[c1] , 2011-2012 and Junior Executive in the 2010-2011 school year on the Gerald Schwartz Women in Business Society, a member of the Bergengren Credit Union Youth Council, and president of Enactus StFX. This past summer while working at KPMG, she was selected as one of only four Canadian interns to take part in the Global Internship Program, where she travelled to South Africa to complete a four-week placement at KMPG Johannesburg. In addition to her many volunteer activities, Taryn maintains a high academic standing, and demonstrates a strong passion for helping her community.

Heidi Landry
Heidi Landry is a third-year student at Saint Mary’s University, studying at the Sobey School of Business and pursuing a double major in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. Heidi demonstrates her leadership talents and passion for her community through her commitment to excellence in her studies and maintaining a 4.3 GPA, working part-time, and participating in a variety of extracurricular and leadership opportunities that allow her to give back to her community.

Notably, Heidi is the Project Manager for Ryan’s Project with Enactus, where they teach local children to be environmentally conscious, financially literate and how they too can be young and upcoming entrepreneurs. She is also Vice President for Enactus at Saint Mary’s and serves as a mentor in many programs, and actively participated in Saint Mary’s impact fund, a student run investment fund management group.

Heidi credits her skills and knowledge in her field from working in her family’s businesses. Following her education, she hopes to remain in Nova Scotia and aspires to become a Chartered Accountant or a lawyer.

Patricia McCann
Patricia McCann is a third-year Bachelor of Business Administration student at Cape Breton University. Patricia is recognized amongst her peers for her work with Enactus, involvement in student government, excellence in athletics, passion for helping her community and for always making time for her family.

On campus, she is the Cape Breton Universities’ tutor coordinator, she served as the Vice President Finance and Operations of the Cape Breton University Student Union, a tour guide for the Shannon School of business and President of the Cape Breton University Honours Society. In her community, Patricia volunteers with the United Way of Cape Breton, Junior Achievement of Nova Scotia, and Bowl for Kids Sake with Big Brothers Big Sisters in addition to a variety of fundraising initiatives.

Patricia is on-track in her intent to obtain an MBA and a professional accounting designation. Her aspiration is to become a senior financial or accounting executive in Atlantic Canada.

Daniel Saulnier
Daniel Saulnier is a third-year Business Administration student at the Université de Moncton who has a passion for marketing and is always eager to learn and do more.

Daniel’s passion shines in his company, Memories2Go, an entertainment company based in Moncton that provides unique photo booth services for events. Along with his classmate, Daniel prepared a business plan, sought independent funding and developed the company from the ground up.

Daniel also takes time to mentor new business students and support them as they transition into university life. He is also a student ambassador for the Pond-Deshpande Centre for Entrepreneurship. 

Known for his outstanding entrepreneurial spirit, leadership qualities and communication skills, Daniel’s enthusiasm and passions are infectious. He encourages and celebrates creativity and promotes new ways of thinking amongst his peers and colleagues. Daniel manages all this, and more, while maintaining an impressive academic standing, and participating in a variety of sports.

Ben Wilson
Ben Wilson is a third-year Bachelor of Commerce student at Mount Allison University.

Ben has a reputation for thinking outside the box, conducting himself in a professional and caring manner and seeking advice and input to make well-rounded decisions. He is a charismatic leader involved in many service activities [c2] both on and off campus. He serves as co-president and founder of the Bell Scholar Network, a mentoring and support network for past, present, and future Bell Scholars. He is also the Leadership Mount Allison Coordinator, being responsible for running a program of 25 mentors and approximately 75 participants. Ben also serves on the executive for the Building Optimal Development of Image through Educating Students, an awareness group that hosts workshops and events to educate students of all ages about current social issues.

Ben is passionate about food, technology and serving the needs of older generations, and hopes one day to start his own business.

Kate MacKenzie
Kate MacKenzie is a fourth-year marketing Business Administration student at Acadia University.

Kate’s unprecedented re-election as the president of the Acadia business society demonstrates her strong leadership skills, passion and abilities. Kate shows her civic pride through her volunteer work with Best Buddies, CC Riders Youth Soccer and Special Olympics.

She received accolades for her hard work and innovative ideas during her internships at TalentEgg, a web-based resource that helps students navigate the post-graduate transition from academic life to the working world.

Kate feels strongly about staying and working in her home province of Nova Scotia and is searching for her next opportunity to shine in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The following four students each received Honourable Mention and a prize of $2,000.

Nicole Sanscartier- St. Francis Xavier University
Alex Whalen- University of Prince Edward Island
Ryan Meyers- Dalhousie University
Erin Hayes- Acadia University

About the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies

The Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies currently presents six awards of $15,000 each. All full-time business students attending Atlantic universities are eligible for consideration. Deans of Business at each university nominate candidates based on academic standing, entrepreneurial interest, extracurricular and community activities, employment history and career aspirations.

Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies have awarded more than $1,000,000 to business students in the four Atlantic Provinces. Each university in the region offering a business program has had at least one recipient of a Frank H. Sobey Award.

 

- 30 -

For further information, please contact:

Cynthia Thompson
Director, Communications, Sobeys Multi-Format
Phone: 902.752.8371 ext. 8455