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 2023 Biology Achievement Award winners!
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
Biology Achievement Award Recipients
2022/23
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
2021/22
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
2020/21
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
2019/20
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
2018/19
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
2017/18
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
2016/17
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
2015/16
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
2014/15
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
2013/14
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
2012/13
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
2011/12
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
2010/11
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
2009/10
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
2008/09
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
2007/08
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
2006/07
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
2005/06
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
2004/05
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
2003/04
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
2002/03
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
2001/02
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
Contact
208 J. Bruce Brown Hall
2320 Notre Dame Avenue
Antigonish NS B2G 2W5
Canada
