Olivian Sanderson
Conrad Scotchburn
Two students from Saint Mary's University have been named among the eight recipients of the prestigious Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies, recognizing their outstanding academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to community impact.
Olivian Sanderson of Pugwash, Nova Scotia, a third-year student known for her strong academic performance and active engagement in the Saint Mary’s community, and Conrad Scotchburn of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a fourth-year student recognized for his leadership and commitment to excellence in business studies, are the University’s 2026 award recipients. Selected through a rigorous process, they were chosen from a competitive pool of 34 nominees put forward by business school deans across Atlantic Canada.
Each year, the Frank H. Sobey Awards celebrate undergraduate business students who demonstrate excellence not only in academics but also in entrepreneurship, leadership, philanthropy and future career potential. This year’s cohort reflects a diverse and accomplished group of emerging leaders from across the region.
As award recipients, they will each receive $50,000 and be paired with an experienced mentor through the program—an element consistently highlighted by past winners as one of the award’s most valuable aspects.
Demonstrating leadership and peer support
During her time at Saint Mary’s, Olivian has been active in programs at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre, including the award-winning Enactus team. This helped her create Sociable, an online community platform that helps students connect, get peer support and gain access to campus events. "The Frank H. Sobey Award gives me space and the resources needed to build my business or start other ventures that also contribute to the mission I have of helping young students," she said.
Conrad used his experience as a former varsity athlete and business student to create Sideline Reset, an app that connects student athletes with peers who share their unique mental health concerns. "Winning the Frank H. Sobey Award is an incredible honour and validation of the hard work I put in." Learn more about their businesses in the videos below.
In addition to the eight winners, 26 other finalists will receive $3,500 scholarships in recognition of their achievements.
Established in 1989, the Frank H. Sobey Awards for Excellence in Business Studies support the development of future business leaders at universities across Atlantic Canada. Since its inception, the program has awarded more than $4 million to students.
For Saint Mary’s, the recognition highlights the strength of its business students and their growing impact both locally and globally.