Leading with connection: student-athlete champions mental health at SMU

May 4-10 marks Mental Health Week in Canada and this year the Canadian Mental Health Association is inviting people across the country to “Come Together.” The message is simple but powerful: stronger connections lead to better mental health. 

For Saint Mary’s student Marisa McClocklin, that sense of connection is at the heart of everything she does. From witnessing the impact of mental health challenges among friends and family growing up to recognizing how those challenges often go unspoken in varsity athletics, McClocklin has been driven to create greater access to mental health support for those around her. 

Marisa McClocklin

“Creating spaces where people feel safe, included and understood can shift mental health from something people struggle with privately to something communities address together,” she explains. 

A leader, advocate and varsity athlete, McClocklin has been named this year’s recipient of the David G. Smith Memorial Award. Named in memory of David G. Smith, the award recognizes students whose experiences and endeavours help reduce the stigma associated with mental illness through advocacy, support, lived experience or by uplifting others. 

One of McClocklin’s most significant contributions has been founding the Cam’s Kids Society at Saint Mary’s – a campus chapter connected to Kids Help Phone. What began as a two-person initiative has grown into a network of nearly 30 student ambassadors working to make mental health conversations more visible and approachable. 

“Connection has been one of the most powerful tools I’ve seen in reducing stigma and supporting mental well-being,” she says. “When people feel connected to others, they are more likely to open up, seek support and realize they are not alone.” 

Marisa-McClocklin playing for the SMU Varsity Women’s Hockey Team

Through outreach events, awareness campaigns and peer-led initiatives, the society has created low-pressure, welcoming spaces for students to engage in conversations about mental health. That sense of connection has also extended into the varsity community. As a member of the Saint Mary’s women’s hockey team, McClocklin has seen firsthand how team environments can both challenge and support mental well-being. 

“Having that support system has been a huge factor in helping me expand my advocacy roles,” she says. “It’s also provided a unique space to support my teammates and create a culture where people feel comfortable opening up.” 

Her involvement doesn’t stop there. As a member of the Varsity Athletic Council and an Athletics Ambassador with the Sexual Violence Prevention Initiative (SVPI) and the Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health, McClocklin works alongside fellow student-athletes to promote education, bystander intervention and overall well-being across the athletics community.

McClocklin credits her experience at Saint Mary’s with helping her turn passion into action. 

“SMU is a place where students are genuinely supported when they want to lead or start something new,” she says. “There is a culture of openness where student ideas are taken seriously, which creates space for students to turn their interests into real initiatives.” 

Marisa McClocklin presenting her honours thesis

Preparing to enter her final year, McClocklin will step into the role of Captain of the Saint Mary’s women’s hockey team in the 2026–27 season. She notes how her experiences across athletics, leadership and advocacy have also shaped her academic and career path. Her Honours thesis in Psychology, “Retired at 22: Surviving Inequity, Imbalance, and Identity Loss in Varsity Athletics,” explores how student-athletes navigate the transition out of sport and the impacts on identity and well-being.  

“This work has strongly influenced my future goals,” McClocklin says, reflecting on the opportunities that set her on this path. “I want to continue supporting individuals, especially athletes, in navigating mental health challenges, performance pressures, and identity, while also working at a systems level to improve access to support.” 

At Saint Mary’s, there are a wide range of health and wellness resources available, along with opportunities for students to get involved in peer support, advocacy and leadership, from The Counselling Centre to the Sexual Violence Support Centre to  student-led societies and individual initiatives. 

“You don’t need a formal role or a perfect plan to make a difference,” McClocklin says. “Mental health advocacy can start in really small, everyday ways through conversations, listening and showing up for others.”

Enactus Saint Mary’s returns to Nationals to defend championship title

Enactus national competition presenters: Becca Sullivan, Mariam Ahmed, Ava Doiron and Mia Makhlouf.

Last week, the Enactus Saint Mary's team at Saint Mary's University showcased their 12-minute presentation to a room full of students, alumni, donors and supporters at the Enactus Saint Mary’s Send-off Event. After the presentation, the crowd was invited to ask questions to help the team prepare for the Enactus Canada National Exposition. 

Sarah Wheeler and Courtney Dingle, Co-Presidents of Enactus Saint Mary’s

From May 6 to May 8, 42 students from Saint Mary’s University will head to Montreal for the Enactus Canada National Exposition, where they’ll compete against 50 post-secondary teams from across the country. With their national title on the line, the team is focused on defending it and returning to the world stage. 

The Enactus team, comprised of over 100 students, representing all faculties at Saint Mary’s University, operates a total of 11 projects. This year, the team will be highlighting two of those projects, Square Roots and Alaagi.

"It has been rewarding to watch our team deliver a 12-minute presentation that showcases the success of Alaagi and Square Roots, just two of the 11 projects the team operates. says Sarah Wheeler, Co-President of Enactus Saint Mary’s. She adds “We’ve spent the year really focused on creating positive and impactful change in the communities we serve.” 

Square Roots 

Square Roots is a standout Enactus Saint Mary’s initiative and one of the longest-running projects in the Enactus Canada network. Founded in 2016, this Community Interest Corporation tackles two major issues—food waste and food insecurity—by rescuing surplus produce and providing it to customers in need at reduced prices. 

The project sources “seconds” —fresh produce that’s often discarded due to slight imperfections in appearance—directly from local farmers. Square Roots Community Managers then distribute it affordably across Nova Scotia.   

Started with two locations in Halifax, Square Roots has expanded to 23 locations across Nova Scotia and has provided over 1-million pounds of fresh produce to community members.  

Alaagi  

Launched in July 2024, Alaagi is redefining the future of packaging. This student-led initiative has created a durable, fully compostable bioplastic made from seaweed. This innovative material can be used to make items like sandwich bags and grocery bags.  

Now, Alaagi is pioneering the world’s first industry-standard 10K Oxygen Transmission Rate bioplastic film suitable for meat and seafood packaging—an innovation with enormous commercial potential. 

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The 2026 Enactus team with Halifax Mayor Andy Filmore, centre.

2025 World Champions

In 2025, students from Enactus Saint Mary's were named world champions at the Enactus World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. Standing out among student entrepreneurs representing 28 countries from across the globe for their innovative, impact-driven projects. It was a defining moment not just for the team, but for the broader Saint Mary’s community. 

To become Team Canada again this year and defend their World Championship title, the Enactus Saint Mary’s team must first compete at the Enactus Canada National Exposition. Pitching against 50 teams, Enactus Saint Mary’s will be vying for the networks first ever three-peat. If crowned National Champion, the team will then proceed as representatives of Canada for the third time in a row, defending their World Cup title in San Palo, Brazil in Sept. 2026.  

But for the students involved, this journey is about more than just competition. 

Enactus Saint Mary’s focuses on creating real-world solutions to social, environmental and economic challenges. Their projects are built around impact, supporting communities, launching sustainable initiatives and applying business principles to drive meaningful change.  

As the team heads into nationals, there’s a mix of excitement, pressure and pride. They’re not just representing themselves, they’re representing Saint Mary’s on a national stage once again. 

And if things go their way in Montreal, they’ll be right back where they were last year: competing against the best in the world, with another opportunity to make history. 

Follow the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and Enactus Saint Mary’s on social media for more updates:   

• Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

• Enactus Saint Mary’s on Facebook and Instagram. 

Students tackle dual-venture challenge at Innovation Sprint

Innovation Sprint participants from Saint Mary’s and Dalhousie

It’s not every day that students are asked to build strategies for two completely different ventures at the same time, but that’s exactly what made this Innovation Sprint stand out.

Hosted in collaboration with the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre and New Leaf GSI with the BraveArt Project, the sprint brought together 13 students, six from Dalhousie University and seven from Saint Mary's University, to tackle a unique challenge: building strategies for not one, but two ventures operating side by side. 

New Leaf is a strategy-driven business focused on helping organizations scale through rigorous operations and leadership. The BraveArt Project, by contrast, is a social enterprise brand rooted in creativity, storytelling and advocacy. 

However, they are deeply linked by a shared mission of impact: a percentage of all revenue generated by New Leaf Fractional COO Services is donated directly to The BraveArt Project, the non-profit founded by founder Jessie Taylor. This unique model ensures that every operational success at New Leaf directly fuels the creative advocacy and community work of BraveArt. 

Jessie Taylor

Taylor, the founder of both organizations, set up the tone early, sharing her journey to launching both ventures, along with the challenges, pivots and momentum that shaped them. Her energy carried through the day, especially as she spoke about her continued collaborations, including her work with a previous sprint partner, The Wine Spa, showing students how these experiences can extend far beyond a single event. 

What made this sprint stand out was how quickly ideas turned into real opportunities. Some students even expressed interest in applying for open roles with New Leaf, turning their solutions into potential next steps for their own careers. 

By the final presentations, the level of thought and execution was clear. 

First place went to Patricia Tagliapietra and Mila Souilliere (Dalhousie University students), who delivered a comprehensive plan for New Leaf, covering communication, revenue generation, community growth and a full implementation roadmap. 

Second place was awarded to Hinesh Patel and Swapnil Kanade (Dalhousie University students) for their deep dive into revenue generation, including three scalable models and a creative proposal for a community-driven podcast. 

Taking third place, Stuti Sandhu (Saint Mary’s University) presented a powerful concept focused on workplace equity, financial independence and using both ventures as a platform for advocacy and consulting. 

Beyond the competition, Jessie’s growing list of recognitions, including being a 2026 Canada’s Choice Award Finalist and a nominee for multiple national and regional awards, added another layer of inspiration for participants. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter. 

TRIUMF triumph: Two Saint Mary’s science students awarded prestigious fellowships

Two Saint Mary’s University science students, Tehya Mohammed and Clara Wrightman-Dillon, will be travelling to Vancouver this summer for the Richard E. Azuma Summer Fellowships at TRIUMF, Canada’s particle accelerator centre.

Only two of these prestigious fellowships are awarded each year to students from TRIUMF’s 21 member universities across Canada, making it extra special that both students will be representing SMU.

The fellowships support promising Canadian undergraduate students in pursuing careers in TRIUMF’s research fields, including accelerator science and technology, detectors and instrumentation, life sciences, molecular and materials science, particle, nuclear, and theoretical physics, and scientific computing.

“Watching students succeed is the greatest reward for an educator. Having two SMU stu-dents win the only two fellowships at TRIUMF, and knowing that they competed against students from much larger institutions makes this a very proud moment.” says Dr. Sam Veres, Dean of Science. “These wins are a testament to Tehya and Clara’s dedication to their studies, and the exceptional education that our faculty and staff in the Department of As-tronomy and Physics provide.” 

Tehya Mohammed

Tehya Mohammed, from East Preston, N.S., just completed her third year of a BSc in Physics with an honours in Chemistry. She is excited to start working on a research project titled “Antimatter Physics with the ALPHA Collaboration” with Dr. Makoto Fujiwara at TRIUMF and at the CERN scientific research laboratory in Switzerland.

When she graduates in spring 2027, Tehya plans to attend graduate school; longer-term goals may see her staying in academia, teaching and doing research, and she credits her experience at Saint Mary’s with helping her land the fellowship this summer.

“I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had at Saint Mary’s,” says Tehya. “I was able to do research with my professors each summer starting after my first year. There are more opportunities available to undergraduate students at smaller schools like SMU.”

Chemistry professor Dr. Christa Brosseau is Tehya’s honours supervisor; she also worked with Dr. Rob Singer in chemistry, publishing a paper with him. She credits these experiences with helping to round out her resume for the fellowship.

Clara Wrightman-Dillon

Clara Wrightman-Dillon, a physics major from St. Andrews, N.B., will be working with Dr. Adam Garnsworthy and researchers at the University of York. Their project, titled “Decoherence of Quantum Entangled Photons,” will involve the collection, sorting and analysis of data for research that could affect PET medical imaging.

This won’t be Clara’s first visit to TRIUMF; she was there last year thanks to her work alongside Dr. Greg Christian, a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s.

After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Clara intends to pursue a Master of Science in physics.

Tehya and Clara have both spent the previous two summers at Saint Mary’s conducting research with their professors in positions funded by the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)’s Undergraduate Student Research Awards program and the Faculty of Science at Saint Mary’s.

The paid, four-month fellowship includes travel and a week's stay at TRIUMF House, a “home away from home for TRIUMF’s national and international visitors”. When fellowship winners complete their undergraduate degrees, a $5,000 scholarship is available to any of the 21 TRIUMF schools in Canada.

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Meson Hall at TRIUMF. Credit: triumf.ca

About TRIUMF

Established in 1968 in Vancouver, TRIUMF is Canada’s particle accelerator centre. The lab is a hub for discovery and innovation inspired by a half-century of ingenuity in answering nature’s most challenging questions.

From the hunt for the smallest particles in our universe to research that advances the next generation of batteries or develops isotopes to diagnose and treat disease, TRIUMF drives more than scientific discovery. Powered by its complement of top talent and advanced accelerator infrastructure, TRIUMF is pushing the frontiers in isotope science and innovation, as well as technologies to address fundamental and applied problems in particle and nuclear physics, and the materials and life sciences. 

First-year student launches travel startup LocalLink

Noah Hemphill

Saint Mary’s student and Enactus Saint Mary's member Noah Hemphill is turning his passion for travel and entrepreneurship into a tech-driven solution designed to reshape how people explore new places.

Noah chose Saint Mary’s for its strong business reputation, supportive environment and the opportunity to experience a new city while staying connected to his home in Prince Edward Island. He also highlighted the value of the university’s highly accredited business program and the opportunities it provides, which made choosing the Bachelor of Commerce at Saint Mary’s an easy decision.

Now, as a student entrepreneur, Noah is building his venture LocalLink through Enactus SMU, with additional support from the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre. The project is a trip itinerary builder designed to create highly personalized travel experiences based on user preferences.

“LocalLink takes basic information about a user and asks a series of questions to build a hyper-personalized itinerary,” Noah explains. “Instead of only showing generic attractions you might find on TripAdvisor or Expedia, it highlights well-known destinations as well as hidden gems tailored to individual interests, budgets and preferences.”

Beyond curated itineraries, LocalLink is also being developed as an all-in-one travel platform. Users will eventually be able to book hotels, activities and flights directly through the site, keeping everything in one place and aligned with their personal budget and travel style.

His inspiration for LocalLink comes from years of hands-on experience in tourism. Having worked in the PEI tourism industry through his teen years, he noticed a consistent pattern: travellers often remember the lesser-known, unexpected experiences most, yet major platforms tend to prioritize larger, more established attractions.

“Smaller businesses and unique experiences often get overlooked because they don’t have the same visibility. LocalLink is about changing that—helping people discover experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise considered, while also supporting small businesses.”

— Noah Hemphill, SMU student and LocalLink founder

Noah and the LocalLink team recently won the Sobey Strategy Case Competition hosted by the SMU Accounting Society

As a member of Enactus SMU, Noah has also been inspired by the organization’s recent national and global success, which he sees as a reinforcement of his decision to study at Saint Mary’s. He credits the Enactus community with providing access to mentorship, resources and like-minded innovators who help strengthen his entrepreneurial journey.

Looking ahead, Hemphill sees strong alignment between his commerce studies and his venture. Skills learned in areas like data analytics and accounting are already being applied directly to LocalLink’s development.

“Everything I’m learning in my degree feeds back into my business,” he says. “It all connects.”

As LocalLink continues to grow, Noah is encouraging others to follow along on Instagram as the platform moves toward launch.

Interested in learning more about how entrepreneurship can blend with other areas of study? Explore programs and events at the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre.

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VCIC sparks Atlantic venture capital ecosystem

Hosting international competition puts spotlight on Sobey School of Business

Students from across Canada participated in the VCIC competition held at Saint Mary’s in March

Venture capitalists from across eastern Canada judged the student competition

On March 6, Saint Mary’s University was proud to host the ninth annual VCIC Canada regional competition.

Dr. Ellen Farrell. Photo: Katie Murray

“For me, this is a pinnacle in the competition landscape in Canada,” said Dr. Ellen Farrell, professor of management at the Sobey School of Business and VCIC organizer. “It’s international, it’s well-organized, it’s professional. We’re going into our 10th year. This is sparking the Atlantic VC ecosystem into national attention.”

VCIC is a layer cake

A Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) is like a layer cake. From the top down, the three layers are entrepreneurs, students and judges.

High-performing founders are recruited to pitch to a group of students and VC judges for funding. The students, who compete as teams from across the country’s best universities, evaluate the founders. The third layer, the judges, are venture capitalists from eastern Canada, who then evaluate the student VCs.  

Over the course of one full day, the student teams participate in three events.  The student VC teams conduct due diligence with the founders, prepare a term sheet, and then defend their decision to the VC judges. 

At the VCIC Canada competition, the presenting entrepreneurs were six founders from across a range of startups:

• Jennifer Johnston, MD, founder of Elle MD, Biotechnologies

• Katie Carpenter, a multi-exit entrepreneur and founder of Lunavii

• Maricel Alcantara, founder of Quest Jobs

• Ranah Chavoshi, co-founder and CEO of PhyCo Technologies

• Garnette Weber, co-founder of Ethnomet

• Diane Hollett, founder and CEO at NL Marine Organics

This year’s undergraduate competition included teams from six universities across Canada, including the University of Guelph, University of New Brunswick, and the Lazaridis School of Business & Economics at Wilfred Laurier University. Acadia University ranked third in the competition, with University of Waterloo taking second and University of Alberta earning first place.

The graduate competition included teams from the University of New Brunswick and Dalhousie University, along with the third-place team from the University of Alberta, the second-place team from the Rotman School of Business at the University of Toronto, and the first-place team from the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University.

Queen’s University placed first in the graduate competition. Photo: Katie Murray

The U of T Rotman School of Business team placed second in the graduate competition. Photo: Katie Murray

The University of Alberta placed third in the graduate competition. Photo: Katie Murray

The University of Alberta placed first in the undergraduate competition. Photo: Katie Murray

The University of Guelph undergraduate team

The Sobey School of Business was pleased to have three VCIC alumni among the 20 judges—Alejandro Sanchez-Avila from Deloitte, Kory Henn from RBCx, and Ugochi West from CEED. See the full list of judges’ profiles, along with competitor names at 2026 Undergraduate Canada (Sobey) – VCIC or 2026 MBA Canada (SMU Sobey) – VCIC.

Building the VC ecosystem in Canada

Organizing a VCIC is highly complex, with multiple stages and layers that need to be coordinated. A team of 15 volunteers supported the organizing committee in finding the right entrepreneurs and high-quality judges for the competition.

“The event is well-coordinated with our Master in Technology Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MTEI) degree program, where Venture Capital is the nexus of technology entrepreneurship and finance,” said Dr. Ellen Farrell.

Farrell sees the international Canada VCIC as integral to her longer-term vision of building the VC ecosystem in Canada and particularly in the Atlantic region. She describes the virtuous circle of benefits to all the types of participants: “The entrepreneurs are pitching in a room with venture capital professionals; the students practice their due diligence and analytical skills and can win prizes; and the judges get insight into innovative startups, plus an early look at potential new hires. Everyone is contributing to the VC ecosystem.”

A new tradition: Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition debuts at Saint Mary’s

Students presented compelling pitches at the inaugural Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition hosted at Saint Mary’s

The Sobey School of Business was buzzing as students from across Atlantic Canada gathered for the inaugural Atlantic Sustainable Marketing Case Competition (ASMCC).

Twelve undergraduate teams from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University, the University of New Brunswick and the University of Prince Edward Island tackled real-world marketing challenges through a sustainability lens, with more than 80 students, faculty, judges, sponsors and volunteers participating.

From idea to reality

Katie and Chris welcome participants to the case competition

ASMCC started as a bold idea from student co-chairs Katie Murray and Chris Nemeskeri, aiming to give students hands-on experience solving real-world business challenges.

"I’m super proud of what Chris and I have built together from scratch," says Katie Murray. "Starting all of it was a learning curve, but it gave me so much experience for my future endeavours."

"Our goal was to create a platform for students to tackle real-world challenges through a sustainable and innovative lens," says Chris Nemeskeri.

With support from advisor Dr. Hao Lu and Dean of the Sobey School Dr. Michel Delorme, the team managed everything—from branding and sponsorships to logistics—turning a student-led idea into a full-scale competition

The challenge

This year’s case partner, Sprout Dwellings, challenged teams to rethink their marketing strategy as the company transitioned from business-to-consumer to business-to-business marketing while expanding into larger developments.

Students had just three days to analyze the case, submit slide decks and present their solutions to a panel of judges. The case, designed by Jocelyn Grabke and Yanting Wu, has been submitted to the Sustainability Case Writing Awards through Ivey Publishing.

After preliminary rounds, six teams advanced to the finals, showcasing creativity, strategy and professionalism.

Top honours went to:

• 1st Place – Saint Mary’s University: Vaishali Sachdeva, Trang Truong, Hazza Sujeer, Chloe Pobjoy-Ridolfo

• 2nd Place – Dalhousie University: Ryan Ski, Jaime Mason, Naomi Johnston

• 3rd Place – University of New Brunswick: Rahma Khanes, Domenica Vasco, Natalie Liscuna, Matthew Heans

Judges praised the level of preparation and insight. "The level of preparation and creative thinking was inspiring," said one judge.

First-place team: Saint Mary’s University

Second-place team: Dalhousie University

Third-place team: UNB

Expanding sustainability in the Sobey School of Business

ASMCC highlights Saint Mary’s growing focus on sustainability and experiential learning. Building on the competition’s success, the Sobey School of Business will launch a new sustainability-focused major in Fall 2026.

The Sustainability Management Program will prepare students to integrate responsible practices throughout a business. Students will tackle real-world challenges, develop sustainable solutions and gain the skills to lead organizations with social and environmental impact in mind. Learn more here.

Highlighting the SMU Community during National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week (April 19-25) is an annual opportunity to recognize and celebrate people who give their time, skills and energy to strengthen communities across Canada. At Saint Mary’s, many faculty, staff, students and alumni across the university quietly give back and make a meaningful difference through volunteering.

Through initiatives such as the Co-Curricular Recognition program and Community Service Learning, volunteering has also become an important way for students to put their learning into practise while making a positive impact.

“Volunteering enriches the student experience by connecting academic content to real-world situations,” says Christy Starkey, Co-Curricular & Career360° Lead at Saint Mary’s. “It helps build professional connections and offers a meaningful way to give back to the community.”

The impact is impressive: in 2025, over 450 students volunteered a total of 22,000 hours with 111 local organizations, including the IWK Foundation, Chisholm Services for Children (Links Literacy program), Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank and more.

This week, we are highlighting just a few of our student and alumni volunteers who are committed to making things better for all. Read on to be inspired and join us in thanking volunteers across SMU for all that they do!

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Yusupha Njie

Yusupha is a third‑year Bachelor of Science student double-majoring in computer science and business administration. As Coordinator of the SMU Community Food Room, he proudly oversees a team of more than 50 volunteers, providing essential support to fellow students.

In 2025, Yusupha logged the highest number of CCR volunteer hours, contributing an exceptional 840 hours.

“To me, being part of a community means showing up for one another and ensuring everyone has the support they need to succeed.”

Deana Symes

Deana, a fifth-year Master of Science in Applied Science student, was recently named the 2025-26 Huskies Female President's Award winner for Outstanding Academic and Athletic Performance for her commitment to her rugby team and community, as well as being a five-time Academic All-Canadian and Dean's List recipient.

A leader with women’s rugby, she pairs excellence on the field with service off campus, volunteering as an assistant coach with Sackville High Rugby, supporting the SMU Community Food Room, serving as a medical responder at campus sporting events and being an active member of the Chemistry Society.

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Melissa Alvarez Del Angel

Melissa, a fourth-year Bachelor of Science Honours student majoring in psychology, is highly involved on and off campus. She has provided extensive support to students as a Senior RA and she volunteers at Peter’s Place, assisting individuals recovering from brain injuries. Melissa is also involved in the French Woodland Conservation Project and has supported initiatives at the IWK Foundation.

“Volunteering has allowed me to give back to a community that has given me so much, and to create a positive difference, even if only in a small corner of the world.”

Noah Martin

Noah has made a lasting impact through sustained volunteer leadership and community engagement. He completed a work‑integrated learning placement with Shelter Movers, which provides moving and storage services to individuals and families fleeing abuse. He continued as Lead Volunteer with Shelter Movers, mentoring students, coordinating volunteers and modelling trauma‑informed practice.

His long‑term commitment to both Shelter Movers and the Nova Scotia Environmental Network has strengthened community partnerships, built trust and ensured meaningful, ongoing learning opportunities for future SMU students.

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Naomi Onyechi

Naomi is a third-year Arts student majoring in psychology and criminology who participates in the Co-Curricular Recognition and Community Service Learning programs.

Following her CSL placement, she continued volunteering with the Halifax Association for Community Living. She is one of the first recipients to receive the Community Engaged Learning Certificate, which celebrates students who have gone beyond the classroom to meaningfully connect their academic learning with community-based work. 

“Volunteering is an invaluable experience that changed how I connected with my schoolwork, as it took theories I saw in my textbooks and showed me what it looked like in a real-life context. I got to grow with a team and learned new ways of connecting with people, which helped expand my mind on what inclusion could look like.”

Maddie Vanderlinden BA’24

While completing her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Intercultural Studies and French, Maddie built a strong sense of community through her involvement with SAGA (Students Acting for Global Awareness), the French Society, WUSC (World University Service of Canada), and as a Welcome Weeks Leader—connections that made her experience unforgettable. 

Today, she continues that connection as a member of both the Alumni Council and the Young Alumni Committee, roles she stepped into immediately after graduating. 

“I chose to continue volunteering with SMU as a way to stay connected after graduating,” she shares. “I had such a positive experience during my time there.” 

Empowering women through bold ideas

Students from three universities participated in the FemXchange Innovation Sprint

In celebration of International Women’s Month, the Arthur L. Irving Entrepreneurship Centre brought together students and founders for an Innovation Sprint featuring FemXchange, a growing platform designed to help female+ individuals share skills, build connections and support one another.

The sprint welcomed 14 students from Saint Mary’s University, Dalhousie University and Mount Saint Vincent University, all tasked with tackling a real challenge: how FemXchange can grow sustainably through partnerships while continuing to engage the right members and stakeholders. The opportunity came at the perfect moment, as conversations are already underway to deepen collaboration between FemXchange and the Centre, particularly in ways that could better connect students, alumni and existing programming.

“I was blown away by the bright, diverse minds in the room,” said FemXchange Founder Caroline Mastropaolo. “As a solo founder, having such a range of fresh, objective perspectives is incredibly valuable. I’m excited to hit the ground running with all these new ideas.”

Not only were students solving for business growth, but they were doing so for a platform rooted in empowerment and access. As a bonus, all female participants received one year of free access to FemXchange, turning the experience into something that extends well beyond the classroom.

The solutions presented reflected both creativity and strategic thinking. First place went to Saint Mary’s University arts student, Stuti Sandhu, who proposed partnerships with university alumni offices, venture capital firms and small business insurance companies. Her idea also highlighted an important social impact angle, suggesting the platform could support survivors of domestic violence and economic abuse by promoting financial independence.

Second place was awarded to commerce student Isabella Scuse and science student Abdinasir Ali, both from Saint Mary’s University, who developed a multi-partnership approach. Their strategy included collaborations with Etsy to support DIY entrepreneurs, Credly for certifications, Shopify for scaling businesses and RBC for funding and financial literacy.

Third place went to Saint Mary’s MBA students Laura Thompson, Benjamin Broadbent and Noah Zelin-Opps. Their plan focused on partnerships with universities, professional organizations and platforms like PrestaShop, alongside a detailed activation strategy that included chatbot integration and a WhatsApp ecosystem.

Overall, the Innovation Sprint highlighted what’s possible when the right people, purpose and timing come together.

If you’re interested in learning more about the next Innovation Sprint, sign up for our newsletter.

From campus to community: Maddie Vanderlinden’s alumni journey

Maddie (on the right) volunteers with SMU Alumni during Homecoming

For Maddie Vanderlinden BA’24, staying involved with Saint Mary’s University was a natural next step after graduation—and a meaningful way to stay connected. 

While completing her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in Intercultural Studies and French, along with a minor in Asian Studies, Maddie built a strong sense of community through her involvement with SAGA (Students Acting for Global Awareness), the French Society, WUSC (World University Service of Canada), and as a Welcome Weeks Leader—connections that made her experience unforgettable. 

Today, she continues that connection as a member of both the Alumni Council and the Young Alumni Committee, roles she stepped into immediately after graduating. 

“I chose to continue volunteering with SMU as a way to stay connected after graduating,” she shares. “I had such a positive experience during my time there.” 

For Maddie, volunteering is about supporting students and helping foster the same welcoming environment she experienced. She’s especially enjoyed attending cultural events like Caribanza and believes it’s important for alumni to show support for student societies and the work they do. 

We are very grateful to Maddie for her continued involvement and the energy she brings to the SMU community. 

Her advice for students and new graduates: 

“Getting involved before you graduate makes the transition to alumni engagement much easier—but it’s never too late to start.” 

Saint Mary’s students earn recognition as 2026 Frank H. Sobey Award winners

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. 

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