Fred George, Mariah Williams, Nali George, Susan Summerby-Murray, Jake Arsenault, Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray
Students at Saint Mary’s University are already benefiting from a generous gift from Dr. Fred and Mrs. Nali George. Fred George received an Honorary Doctorate of Commerce from Saint Mary’s in 2011 and is the recipient of a Saint Mary’s Distinguished Community Service Award. He and his wife, Nali, are dedicated philanthropists who share the University’s commitment to global awareness and social responsibility.
Jake Arsenault
“I am very grateful to be the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship,” said fourth year Bachelor of Commerce student, Jake Arsenault. “It’s a great honour to be acknowledged by such an accomplished and generous family. This award will certainly alleviate some of the financial stress I experience as a full-time student with my own business.”
A 5th generation woodworker who was born and raised in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Arsenault launched a business while taking a Sobey School of Business course called Structuring the Startup. His company, Creative Urban Timber, is focused on repurposing Nova Scotian trees into beautiful tables and other unique creations.
Mariah Williams
As the inaugural recipient of the Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies, fourth year Geology major Mariah Williams is also the beneficiary of the George family’s generosity. “I am extremely grateful for the George family’s philanthropy and support and very honoured to see my hard work rewarded in this way,” said Williams. “In addition to helping me balance a heavy academic workload with part time employment as a research assistant, this award will afford me the time to engage in co-curricular activities and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.”
In addition to maintaining top marks in her Bachelor of Science program, Williams serves as Vice-President of the Saint Mary’s University D. Hope Simpson Geology Society. Last summer she worked as a Geo technician in the Yukon on the exploration site at Triumph Gold: an experience she hopes to use as the basis for her Honours project in deposit exploration.
“I am delighted to see these new endowed scholarships having an impact on such promising young people,” said Saint Mary’s University President Dr. Robert Summerby-Murray. “Fred and Nali George are valued members of the Saint Mary’s community. Thanks to their generosity, our students will go on to do remarkable things.”
The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Entrepreneurship is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student in the Sobey School of Business who has declared a major in either Entrepreneurship or Global Business Management. The Fred and Nali George Scholarship in Geology/Business Studies is awarded annually to a full-time undergraduate student who is enrolled at Saint Mary's University in a major or honours program in Geology, with preference given to students in the BSc combined Geology and Business Program.