This summer, four St. Francis Xavier University students—Dana Morrison, Erica Cameron, Piper Bullivant, and Isaac Hierlihy—are bringing bold, community-focused ventures to life through mentorship, innovation, and self-directed learning. The four have been selected for the 2025 Wallace Family Internship program—an initiative made possible by the generous support of the Wallace Family Entrepreneurship Fund.
The Wallace Family Internship, administered by the Coady Institute’s DiscoverBox, empowers aspiring entrepreneurs to develop new products, services, and solutions while receiving one-on-one support from StFX faculty and staff.
“The program provides an invaluable platform for students to translate their passions into action through hands-on entrepreneurial experience,” says DiscoverBox Coordinator Paula Brophy. “Each of these ventures reflect the core values of the Wallace Family Internship—innovation, community impact, and student-led enterprise. As these young entrepreneurs develop their ideas over the summer, they are also shaping a future where creativity, resilience, and purpose lead the way.”
This year’s interns and their projects include:
Dana Morrison – Antigonish Black Youth Mentorship Program
Dana Morrison is a 2025 graduate of StFX’s Gerald Schwartz School of Business with a focus on accounting. She is championing equity and empowerment through the Antigonish Black Youth Mentorship Program (ABYMP.) Her project pairs Black high school students with Black university mentors and professionals, creating an affirming and culturally relevant support network. “I wanted to create a space I wish I had growing up,” Ms. Morrison says, citing her personal journey as inspiration. Rooted in community-building, ABYMP aims to increase confidence, leadership, and post-secondary participation among Black youth in Antigonish. By centering Black voices, Ms. Morrison’s initiative is not just addressing representation gaps—it’s actively reshaping the educational landscape. Her long-term vision includes expanding the program across Atlantic Canada.
Erica Cameron – Kinō Barre
Fourth year student Erica Cameron is blending entrepreneurship, mental health, and movement with her business, Kinō Barre—a wellness platform centered around a handcrafted wooden workout barre and a suite of mindful, digital fitness sessions. With a dual background in entrepreneurship and human nutrition, Ms. Cameron brings both creativity and strategy to her work. “Kinō Barre is about more than fitness—it’s about connection, mindfulness, and well-being,” she says. The product uses locally sourced wood and supports mental health through accessible, low-impact movement. As she approaches launch readiness, Ms. Cameron hopes to turn Kinō Barre into a trusted wellness brand that builds relationships, not just products.
Piper Bullivant – Olympus Team Sports School
Going into her third year of a combined degree in human kinetics and education, Piper Bullivant is bringing her passion for youth development outdoors with the Olympus Team Sports School. Inspired by her father’s legacy of community programming, Ms. Bullivant’s project offers summer sports and recreation programs tailored to high school students in her local community. By encouraging active lifestyles and fostering social connection, her venture addresses both physical and mental well-being. “Some of my fondest memories are from those neighborhood activities,” she recalls. Her vision for the future includes expanding across Nova Scotia to offer enriching experiences to even more youth.
Isaac Hierlihy – Athlete Aid
Third year Gerald Schwartz School of Business student Isaac Hierlihy, who is majoring in finance with a minor in economics, is tackling injury management in youth sports with his venture, Athlete Aid. This mobile platform offers AI-powered triage tools for coaches and health volunteers, helping them track injuries and make safe return-to-play decisions in real time. Born from personal experiences with sports injuries and inspired by the challenges faced by his co-founder, Mr. Hierlihy’s mission is to create safer sports environments for amateur athletes. “We’re designed for the realities of community sports, where medical resources are often limited,” he explains. He hopes to pilot Athlete Aid with local organizations this summer and eventually partner with large-scale platforms like Team Snap to expand its reach globally.
