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Three New Brunswick Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Údents have been recognized for their hard work and academic achievements.

Maisie Briggs, Jenna Taylor, and Bryan Gagnon were the 2025 recipients of the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Scholarship, which covers their full tuition and is renewable over four years.

This entrance scholarship at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú is generously funded by the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation and Irving Oil in honour of former St. Thomas University President Dawn Russell. It also recognizes Arthur Irving’s lifetime of dedication to education. Arthur Irving was a visionary and extraordinary leader who passed away in May of 2024. The scholarship represents his steadfast commitment to community and supporting students in Atlantic Canada.

“We are very grateful to the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation and Irving Oil for celebrating and supporting our students and for recognizing the excellent education we offer at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú,” said Dr. Nauman Farooqi, Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú President and Vice-Chancellor.

Maisie Briggs – Moncton, NB

For Maisie Briggs, a first-year Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Údent from Moncton, NB, receiving the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Scholarship provided the support she needed to pursue her education at Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú.

“Education is an investment, and this scholarship helped me invest in my future and my aspirations,” she said.

In high school, Briggs was a leader in music and theatre clubs and volunteered on several committees, including the Grad Council. When she arrived on campus, she quickly found her place in Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú’s Black Box Theatre.

“As soon as I got to Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú, I was eager to get involved in theatre. I auditioned and was accepted — I felt so welcomed in this new space.”

Briggs, who is studying Psychology and Fine Arts, said she is confident her Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú education is shaping her future.

 

Bryan Gagnon – Saint John, NB

Bryan Gagnon was drawn to Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú’s tight-knit community and small class sizes. As an aspiring lawyer, the opportunity to get involved with Moot Court and the Pre-Law Society made Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú an obvious choice.

Receiving the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Scholarship made these opportunities a reality.

“Receiving this scholarship means the world to me,” Gagnon said. “It takes so much stress off my shoulders and allows me to focus fully on my schoolwork.”

Gagnon got involved right away on campus, joining the men’s rugby club. Academically, he is considering a major in Philosophy or French.

Jenna Taylor – Durham Bridge, NB

Jenna Taylor, a first-year Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Údent from Durham Bridge, NB, chose Â鶹¹ÙÍøÊ×Ò³Èë¿Ú for the close-knit community and opportunity to form meaningful connections with her peers and professors. Receiving the scholarship allows her to focus on her learning without financial stress.

“Receiving this scholarship is a huge honour,” she said. “It motivates me to achieve my goals.”

Taylor intends to major in English Language and Literature with the hope of completing her Bachelor of Education following her undergraduate degree.