Undergraduate Awards

Summer Research Awards

Eligible students are encouraged to apply for undergraduate summer research awards (university-wide competition).

Students that apply for the undergraduate summer research awards above will automatically be considered for two additional research scholarships offered by the Biology department (no separate application required). The Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Scholarship and the Dr. Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship are offered to Biology students that were not successful in the university-wide competition, but show strong research potential.

Biology Achievement Awards

Biology Achievement Awards are given to our top students every fall, based on course grades from the previous academic year. An Academic Improvement in Biology Award is awarded to the student who has demonstrated a strong improvement in course grades. 

Congratulations to the 2024 Biology Achievement Award winners! 

Junior - Third Year

1. Carly Booth
2. Brooke MacEachern
3. Jillian Davies

Sophomore - Second Year

1. Isla Etches
2. Autumn Petti
3. Lauren Pictou

First Year

1. Kate Harding
2. Lorynn Crawford, Zoe Power, and Joanna Martinsen
3. Adrianna Rocca

Biology Achievement Award Recipients
2023

Junior - Third Year
Tanner Clow
Falyn Coates
Victoria Tweedie-Pitre

Sophomore - Second Year
Carly Booth
Brooke MacEachern
James Hanlon

First Year
Mairead MacPherson
Alexa Robinson
Claire Keyes
Reese Mann
Simone Beck

2022

Junior - Third Year
1. Annika Gillian Nobbe
2. Peter Archibald MacGregor
3. Makayla Butorac

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Falyn Coates
2. Tanner Clow
3. Victoria Tweedie-Pitre

First Year
1. Siona Chisholm
2. Madison Walker
3. James Hanlon

Academic Improvement in Biology Award

Emma Jamrik

2021

Junior - Third Year
1. Robyn Walter
2. Taylor Christina Smith
3. Julia Alexandria Ward

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Annika Gillian Nobbe
2. Hannah Grace Neilson
3. Peter Archibald MacGregor

First Year
1. Brooke Breen and Simon Maltby 
3. Evan Pye

Academic Improvement in Biology Award

Mairinn Christine Campbell

2020

Junior - Third Year (GPA in year 3)
1. Carmen Celine Ucciferri
2. Lauren Allyson Sobot
3. Melanie BeLong

Sophomore - Second Year (GPA in year 2)
1. Madison Pendleton
2. Julia Ward
3. Elise Collet

First Year (average of Biol111/112)
1. Julia Shields
2. Kathleen Dolan
3. Erin Usher

2019

Junior - Third Year (GPA in year 3)
1. Emmerson Ruth Wilson
2. Avery Elizabeth Malpass
3. Amanda Nicole Gormley

Sophomore - Second Year (GPA in year 2)
1. Amy Susan Dodge
2. Lauren Allyson Sobot
3. Carmen Celine Ucciferri

First Year (average of Biol111/112)
1. Gazi Abdullah Almutakabbir
2. Abigail Moore
3. Madison Pendleton & Alison Walsh

Academic Improvement in Biology Award

Emilie Jessica Knighton

2018

Junior - Third Year (GPA in year 3)
1. Emma Kathleen Manning
2. Tessa Evelyn Elizabeth Anzai
3. Megan Margaret Strong

Sophomore - Second Year (GPA in year 2)
1. Avery Elizabeth Malpass
2. Maggie Clare Forbes
3. Lauren Elise Berrington

First Year (average of Biol111/112)
1. Charlotte Elliott
2. Jordi Green
3. Carmen Ucciferri

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Emma Hoffland-Burry

2017

Junior - Third Year (GPA in year 3)
1. Hannah Elizabeth Roberts Stevens
2. Laura Riley Davidson
3. Alexa Olivia Nicholson

Sophomore - Second Year (GPA in year 2)
1. Emma Kathleen Manning
2. Kyle William Lasseter
3. Patrick Angus Ross

First Year (average of Biol111/112)
1. Avery Elizabeth Malpass
2. Bronwyn Ellen Douglas Papadogianis
3. Amanda Nicole Gormley & Emma Kathleen Manning

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Natalie Danielle Cantle

2016

Junior - Third Year
1. Cassia Lee Robertson Tremblay
2. Emil Howard Jurga
3. Siobhan Boylan Semadeni

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Hannah Elizabeth Roberts Stevens
2. Carmen Francesca Landry
3. Alexa Olivia Nicholson

First Year
1. Andrew Duffy
2. Erin Samson
3. Sophie LeBlanc

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
James Arthur Nelson

2015

Junior - Third Year
1. Robert Scott Bennett
2. Veronica Zotique Ells
3. Michael Patrick Dube

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Cassia Lee Robertson Tremblay
2. Emil Howard Jurga
3. Justine Lynn MacPherson

First Year
1. Genevieve MacDonnell
2. Carmen Landry
3. Alex Corrigan & Eric Locke

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Evan Mercer

2014

Junior - Third Year
1. Laryssa Halat
2. (Barbara) Claire Lothian
3. Emily Smith

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Veronica Ells
2. Theora Holden
3. David Feehan

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Cassia Tremblay
2. Briony Merrit
3. Michael Kinach

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Emily Smith 

2013

Junior - Third Year
1. Kathleen Grosicki
2. Elizabeth Barretto
3. Holly MacPhee

Sophomore - Second Year
1. (Barbara) Claire Lothian
2. Laryssa Halat
3. Rebecca Kennedy

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Anisha Dhalla
2. Kelly Garrow
3. Jessica Overmars

Academic Improvement in Biology Award

Hannah Saxon

2012

Junior - Third Year
1. Evan Losier
2. Kathleen Schuller
3. Patricia White

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Kathleen Grosicki
2. Jonathan Schwarz
3. Damita Hansen
First Year (Book Prize)
1. (Barbara) Claire Lothian
2. Tessa Lambourne
3. Laryssa Halat

Academic Improvement in Biology Award

Evan Losier

2011

Junior - Third Year
1. Katelyn Barnes
2. Gabrielle Oliver
3. Elizabeth Faour 

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Kathleen Schuller
2. Evan Losier
3. Alicia Malone

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Jessie Lund 
2. Ian Carrigan 
3. Stephen Deering

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship

Alicia Kennedy

2010

Junior - Third Year
1. Jantina Toxopeus
2. Scott Haslam 
3. James Gould 

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Katelyn Barnes 
2. Rochelle Wolff 
3. Elizabeth Faour 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Kathleen Schuller 
2. Zachary MacDonald 
3. Grace Phillips 

Academic Improvement in Biology Award 
Leanne Delaney 

2009

Junior - Third Year
1. Chris Day
2. Sarah Morrow 
3. Emily Love

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Jantina Toxopeus
2. Katrina Zefkic
3. Matthew Boyko

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Shawn Brophy 
2. Michelle Begin 
3. Rochelle Wolff & Kaleena Johnston

Academic Improvement in Biology Award
Neill Davis

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship
Kelsie Chapman

2008

Junior - Third Year
1. Corinne Dewar
2. Kelsie Gillies
3. Amy Purdy

Sophomore - Second Year
1. Chris Day
2. Emily Love
3. Elizabeth Allen

First Year (Book Prize)
Scott Haslam 
Tianna MacLeod 
Beth Ann Ferguson 
Jean Ketterling 
Jessica Inglis 
Brittany Corkum

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship
Amanda Lowe

2007

Junior - Third Year 
1. Jahnavi Vadaparti
2. Oluwatomilayo Oladayo (Tito) Daodu
3. Zephyr Chinook Swenson Polk

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Corinne Dewar
2. Laura Smit
3. Kelsie Gillies

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Travis Ryan 
2. Elizabeth Allen 
3. Laura Thompson

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship 
Shannon Needoba

2006

Junior - Third Year 
1. David Clark
2. Gregory Power 
3. Amy Deveau 

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Jahnavi Vadaparti
2. Bonnie Jean Murphy 
3. Gabriela Pelinska

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Corinne Dewar 
2. Kelsie Gillies 
3. Laura Sherrard

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship 
Amy Elizabeth Deveau

2005

Junior - Third Year 
1. (Theresa) Louise Brennan 
2. David Clarke 
3. Amy Deveau 

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Heather Main
2. Maryjo Doiron
3. Jillian MacDonald 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Jahnavi Vadaparti 
2. Bonnie Murphy 
3. Ryan Brennan

2004

Junior - Third Year 
1. Kellyann Knickle 
2. Matthew Gilchrist 
3. Jonathan Bennett 

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Lindsey MacGillivray 
2. Andrew Moeller 
3. Mary Brothers 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. (Christine) Therese Chisholm 
2. Heather Main 
3. Sarah Moore 

Jack McLachlan Scholarship 
Jonathan Adrian Bennett

2003

Junior - Third Year 
1. Meaghan MacInnes 
2. Karen Long 
3. Mary MacIsaac 

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Kellyann Knickle 
2. Tara Friel 
3. Janice Campbell 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Lindsey MacGillivray 
2. Karen Glenn

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship 
Carrie Ferguson

2002

Junior - Third Year 
1. Jane Anne Howard
2. Gabrielle Tompkins
3. Meghan Elkink

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Meaghan MacInnes 
2. Karen Long 
3. Carrie Ferguson 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Tanya Feehan 
2. James Clancy 
3. Sarah Fraser  & Shauna Kennedy

Jack L. McLachlan Scholarship 
Mary Jamieson

2001

Junior - Third Year 
1. Monica Schuegraf
2. Jennifer Oldford
3. Chelsea Hatcher 

Sophomore - Second Year 
1. Gabrielle Tompkins 
2. Jane Anne Howard 
3. André Nimigan 

First Year (Book Prize)
1. Meaghan MacInnes 
2. Jill Cunes 
3. Kathleen Brennan

Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Award

The Leo P. Chiasson Fund was established by the faculty members of the Department of Biology to honour and recognize the significant contribution that Dr. Chiasson made to the department. The fund currently provides a cash award and a certificate, which are presented at Spring Convocation to the meritorious graduating senior. The successful candidate is selected by the faculty members of the Department of Biology.

Dr. Leo P. Chiasson was the Head of the Department of Biology from 1944 to 1983. He was a respected researcher, conducting studies on fisheries, forest tree hybridization, and microbial and human genetics. While at StFX, he served on the Board of Governors and Senate and played a central role in the development of the J. Bruce Brown Hall, which houses the departments of Biology and Human Nutrition. Born and raised in Chéticamp, Cape Breton, Leo P. arrived at StFX in 1934. He received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees in 1938 and 1940, respectively, and continued his studies at the University of Toronto, where he received a doctoral degree in biology with a major in genetics. This renowned teacher also held numerous voluntary positions locally, provincially, and nationally. He was chair of the Antigonish County School Board, chair of the Board of St. Martha's Regional Hospital, chair of the Nova Scotia Hospital Association, and president of the Canadian Hospital Association. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to his alma mater, his community and his province, StFX bestowed upon him the degree doctor of laws, honoris causa, in 1987. Dr. Leo P. Chiasson was a professional influence on the careers of many StFX students and has touched the lives of thousands.

Recipients of the Dr. Leo P. Chiasson Award 

For the outstanding graduating student in Biology:

2024 Tanner Clow
2023 Peter Archibald MacGregor
2022 Taylor Christina Smith
2021 Lauren A. Sobot
2020 Megan Ruth Fraser
2019 Lara Lynn Westhaver
2018 Hannah Elizabeth Roberts Stevens
2017 Cassia Lee Robertson Tremblay
2016 David Daniel Feehan
2015 Laryssa Halat
2014 Kathleen Grosicki
2013 Connor Ryan McGuire
2012 Katelyn Barnes
2011 Jantina Toxopeus
2010 Christopher Warren Day
2009 Kelsie Gillies
2008 Euan Thomson
2007 Amy Deveau
2006 Caitlin Chisholm
2005 Mary Elizabeth Brothers
2004 Matthew Craig MacIsaac
2003 Adeola Mary Epega
2002 Jane Anne Howard
2001 Monica Jean Schuegraf
2000 Lisa MacNeil-Covin
1999 Patrick MacGillivray
1998 Devon Lane
1997 Derek Knoechel
1996 Danika Goosney
1995 John M. Gillis
1994 Karen A MacDonald