Fundraising for bursary ongoing two years after death of Mount A grad remembered for compassion and intelligence
When Mount Allison graduate Kavana Wa Kilele died unexpectedly two years ago in her home country of Kenya, a group of people came together to establish an endowment to honour her memory.
The goal is to create a needs-based bursary that will support Black students who are passionate about social justice activism. It will be Mount Allison’s first endowment meant specifically to support Black students.
Kavana has been described as a beloved friend known for her compassion and intelligence. She co-founded the Sackville Refugee Response Coalition, which helped resettle several families in the Maritimes.
“I know she was definitely an important part of the Sackville community and the Mount A community,” said Helen Yao, a Mount Allison graduate involved in the effort.
About $10,000 has been raised towards the goal of $25,000 for the endowment so far. Once that goal is achieved, the bursary is expected to become self-sustaining, producing about $1,000 per year.
During Black History Month, organizers are asking local businesses to pitch in, noting that Kavana held a number of jobs around town to afford her studies. Tuition for international students at Mount Allison is about $20,000, approximately double that of domestic students.
Kit Nicholson, who was a close friend of Kavana, described her as a natural leader who left a powerful impression. “She… Continue
Students concerned about rising costs for mostly online learning
By Erica Butler and Meg Cunningham
Mount Allison students will be facing more than just increased tuition costs in September, says Student Union president Jon Ferguson.
Ferguson is concerned for students experiencing hundreds to thousands more in unexpected residence fees on top of the tuition increase.
He explains that students are no longer able to share rooms due to COVID-19 risks.
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“There’s a lot of students that were going to be in double or triple rooms and they had to upgrade to single rooms. In certain scenarios it would be somewhere from $500 to $1000 for a lot of students that would have to upgrade. If we’re talking about the worst-case scenario, you’re looking at an upgrade of well over $2000. I think it was closer to $2500 or actually even higher for one student living in residence for those eight or nine months.”
Mount Allison’s media relations officer Laura Dillman says students who are impacted “will be able to apply for bursary assistance based on financial need.”
Mount Allison student Alison S. is concerned about the increased tuition fees for herself and fellow students.
Alison could not find a summer job due to COVID-19.
She is relying exclusively on student loans to pay for the increased tuition and fees this year, which she says is, “very unsettling.”… Continue
July 10: Students concerned about rising costs at Mount A
On today’s CHMA daily news:
- Students concerned about rising costs in residence fees and tuition;
- Sackville town council to consider support for two summer events;
- Chiefs disappointed in Premier after meeting on systemic racism inquiry;
- New Brunswick’s border form is now online;
- Assault at the border weigh scale;
- and the COVID numbers update.
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COVID numbers
New Brunswick Public Health reported one new case of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
A man in his forties from Zone 3, the large region surrounding Fredericton, has tested positive.
Officials say it is a travel-related case, and the man is self-isolating.
Just over 1900 test results were reported in the province in the past week, about 400 short of the threshold recommended by Chief Medical Officer of Health Jennifer Russell in May.
Prince Edward Island officials also reported one new case of COVID-19 yesterday.
Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Heather Morrison says the latest case is a close contact of someone in the cluster of cases discovered last weekend.
A man in his 20’s originally tested negative, but then developed mild symptoms Wednesday and was tested again.
PEI now has six active cases of COVID-19.
Nova Scotia announced no new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday.
The province has four active cases.
Worldwide, daily new cases are still on the rise, with the US reporting the most—over 60,000—new cases yesterday.… Continue