Recognizing our outstanding graduating students
At the end of each academic year, we come together as a university community to recognize the contributions and achievements of our graduating students during the annual Last Lecture.
2025 Last Lecture and Grad Award Winners
Help us identify graduating students whose leadership, dedication, and service are deserving of recognition.
- Nominees must be eligible for graduation in May or October
- Nominators must be students, staff, or faculty at Mount Allison
- Self-nominations accepted
Graduating Students Awards Committee
The committee is composed of students:
- MASU President-elect
- MASU VP Student Life
- Incoming Grad Class Executive President
- Non-graduating student appointed by Athletics
And staff representatives from:
- MASU
- Alumni Engagement
- Experiential Learning and Career Development
- Athletics and Recreation
- Student Life Office
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Meighen Centre
- Staff member from academic faculties (Science, Arts, Social Sciences)
Questions about student awards? Email studentlife@mta.ca.
University Graduating Student Awards
Application deadline: Jan. 26, 2026
The Graduating Students Awards Committee will receive nominations and consider candidates based on eligibility criteria for each award that may include but is not limited to academic achievement, service to the University, and involvement in co-curricular activities during their years at Mount Allison.
To nominate a graduating student, submit the nomination form. This form includes basic information regarding the student's involvement at Mount Allison and in the community.
The Don Norton Memorial Award
The Don Norton Memorial Award is given to a graduating student who:
- through extracurricular activities, employment and/or volunteering has positively impacted the University
- has a strong academic record
- participated in athletics and/or student governance or any other activity that served Mount Allison
The Don Norton Memorial Award was provided by the Class of 1942 to honour a classmate and as a memorial to all °®¶¹´«Ã½app students who gave their lives in the Second World War, 1939-1945.
Donald Blair Norton ('42) of Milltown, NB, "while a student at Mount Allison exemplified, by his rare ability and character, those qualities of scholarship, athletics and student government of which a university may be justly proud."
He was an outstanding student, winner in numerous track and field events, President of the Student Union, and a leader in various university activities.
The Frances S. Allison Award
The Frances S. Allison Award is awarded to a graduating student who:
- through extracurricular activities, employment/or volunteering has positively impacted the student experience at Mount Allison
- has a strong academic record
One of Mount Allison's oldest awards, the Frances S. Allison Award was established by Mrs. Walter C. Allison (Frances S. Allison), Ladies’ College Class of 1896. During its first 62 years, it was presented to the top female graduating student.
The Charlie Hunter Award
The Charlie Hunter Award is presented to a graduating student who:
- through extracurricular activities, employment and/or volunteering has positively impacted the residence life experience at Mount Allison
The award was established by friends and co-workers of Charlie Hunter in honour of his many years as dean of students at °®¶¹´«Ã½app.
Barritt-Marshall Award for international students
Awarded to a graduating international student whose contributions to the internationalization of campus and the community have helped to promote cross-cultural understanding and cooperation.
Alternatively, you may submit the following information in hard-copy form (paper) to the International Centre:
- Full name of the student
- A description of the student's extracurricular involvement
- A 500-word (max.) summary of how the student's efforts and involvement over his/her time at Mount Allison tie in with the criteria outlined above.
For more information, please contact Mount Allison's International Student Advisor at intadvisor@mta.ca.
Chris Metallic Prize in Indigenous Leadership
Recognizes a graduating student who has exhibited leadership in the indigenization of the Mount Allison campus.
Established by the Class of 2016 and the Campbell-Verduyn Fund in honour of Chris MacKenzie Metallic.
Black Student Leader Award
Recognizes the hard work and dedication of a graduating Black student who has worked to foster community within Mount Allison’s Black student community.
- A student who identifies as Black
- Must be a graduating student
- Must have been actively involved in one or more of the following groups African Students Association, Black Students Union, or Caribbean Students' Association in the year when applying
- Must be in good academic standing
- Must have a demonstrated commitment to community leadership and the advancement of social equity for members of the Mount Allison Black community
The Black Student Leader Award was created by Danai Bélanger, Mount Allison’s first Black Director of Student Experience.
This $500 prize is awarded annually at the Last Lecture.
Crake-Sawdon Award in print journalism
Awarded to a graduating student who has made a substantial contribution to print journalism at Mount Allison.
Named for William Boyle Sawdon, who died in 2001 and was the editor of the Argosy as well as the Sackville Tribune Post's publisher. After Sawdon passed away, his family and the Crake Foundation established the award in his honour.
Departmental Awards
Departmental Awards are chosen by faculty members and reflect not only a high academic standard but also a high involvement within the department. No nomination required.
A. Jane Avard Eaton Student Leadership AwardsThe family of A. Jane Avard Eaton (’61) established an award to honour her leadership skills and her many contributions both as a student and a member of the Board of Regents of her beloved alma mater. Jane's many contributions to Mount Allison were recognized upon her graduation in 1961 with the Frances S. Allison Award and a Gold A Award. This monetary award is given to the recipients of:
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MASU Graduating Students Awards
The following two grad awards are administered by the (MASU). To nominate a student, visit
Gil Latter Memorial Award
The Gil Latter Memorial Award is a plaque presented to a graduating student who has volunteered their time and demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Sackville community.
The Gold A Awards
Four Golden A lapel pins are awarded to graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding contributions to the University community.
What happens once a student is nominated?
All nominated students will be contacted and asked to submit their C.V. and one letter of support for the committee to review.
- The C.V. should include all of their extra-curricular and co-curricular activities they've been involved in during their time at Mount Allison.
- The letter of support should come from someone that can speak to the student’s leadership, dedication, and service while they have been students at Mount Allison. The nominated student may not write a letter of support for themselves.
The nominated student’s C.V. and 1-page letter of support will be used by the committee to evaluate and determine award recipients. The results will be announced at the annual Last Lecture.
Questions? Contact studentlife@mta.ca.