UPEI student awards reach $3.5 million
Scholarships and awards at the University of Prince Edward Island now total $3.5 million annually. Financial support for UPEI students has more than doubled over the past seven years. The increase reflects, in large part, the generosity of people who are creating new student awards as a way of supporting post-secondary education while paying tribute to their own family members.
Two of the newest awards recognize Michael and Aletha Hennessey of Charlottetown. Their children, Maureen, Frank, Sean, and Patrick Hennessey, and Kathleen Garrett, have established two annual scholarships in their honour. One is awarded to a mature female student entering third or fourth year in any faculty, who has returned to university full-time, and the other is for a student entering third or fourth year in Arts or Business, based on academic achievement.
Aletha Hennessey worked at the Robertson Library from 1968 to 1976. Michael Hennessey (SDU '50) served as UPEI's first registrar. 'We are pleased to support UPEI students, and we appreciate our family for creating these two awards,' he says.
Business student Laura Moore is one of the two first recipients of the scholarships. 'I am grateful for the generosity of the Hennessey family and feel it is an excellent opportunity for students to take advantage of as well as other bursaries and scholarships offer at UPEI,' she says.
The Audrey J. Tinney Nursing Scholarship is another newly established award. Audrey Tinney (PWC '49 and PEI Hospital School of Nursing Class of '52) worked for more than 40 years as a registered nurse. To recognize her passion for nursing and her enthusiasm for life on PEI, her son Bill (UPEI '82), son Roger (Holland College '83), and husband Donald (PWC '48) created the scholarship for students entering first year in the UPEI School of Nursing.
"Receiving this scholarship has definitely lightened my load substantially, and is greatly appreciated,"says Erin Acorn, the first recipient of the Audrey J. Tinney Scholarship. "The generosity and unselfishness of families who set up scholarships for students is a wonderful gift to be recognized and appreciated for its greatness. I hope, one day, to be as generous and selfless, both in my practice as a nurse and as an alumna of UPEI."
Other recent student awards include the Dr. Brendan O'Grady Scholarship in Catholic Studies; Passion for Life Award in memory of René Ayangma; the Doug Riley Memorial Music Award; the George E. Howatt MBA Scholarships; and the Kyle and Kody Men's Hockey Award.
Students looking for more information can take advantage of UPEI's re-designed website at upei.ca/scholarships. Information on how to establish a new scholarship or award is available through the UPEI Department of Advancement.
