New Judge Corrine Sparks Community Award to Recognize MSVU Students Contributing to the African-Nova Scotian Community

Leaving a Legacy

New Judge Corrine Sparks Community Award to Recognize MSVU Students Contributing to the African-Nova Scotian Community

Connie Sparks, ‘74

The newly created Judge Corrine Sparks Community Award was presented for the first time during the 2020-2021 academic year to 3rd year, Bachelor of Science Applied Human Nutrition student, Nicholas Hickens . Established by MSVU alumna Corrine (Connie) Sparks, this award will be presented annually to an MSVU student who has demonstrated service and recognized contribution to the African-Nova Scotian community .

“I have committed to making an annual donation that will provide funding for this award each academic year,” said Connie . “To ensure this award is available to future generations of MSVU students, and to support the African-Nova Scotian Community more broadly, I have also made provisions in my Will for a gift to MSVU that will create an endowed fund, seeing this award into perpetuity . ”

Connie credits the Sisters of Charity for their commitment to social justice and forward thinking in ensuring she and other African-Nova Scotian women from her Lake Loon, Nova Scotia community were afforded an MSVU education .

“I came from a large family,” said Connie . “My parents, Helen and Spencer Sparks, were very good to us and believed in the value of education . However, being the oldest of nine, there was just no way they could afford to send us to university . In 1971, thanks to the Sisters of Charity waiving my tuition, I began my studies at MSVU, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1974 .”

Supported by a solid educational foundation from the Mount, Connie went on to study law at Dalhousie University, graduating in 1979 with an LL .B . She later returned to Dalhousie Law School to pursue graduate studies in law and completed an LL .M . in 2001 . In 1987, Connie made history as she became the first African-Nova Scotian to serve on the judiciary in her native province and the first African-Canadian woman to be appointed to the bench in Canada .

Mount Saint Vincent University is deeply grateful for Connie’s contributions to the Mount community as an alumna, donor and volunteer, having served on MSVU’s Board of Governors from 2012 to 2018 and currently as a member of MSVU’s Students of African Descent Advisory Committee .

“My goal with this award is two-fold,” said Connie . “First, to provide financial support to Mount students who are preparing for a successful career and life, and second, to help provide inspiration for community empowerment through the vehicle of post-secondary education . I certainly remember my days at the Mount as a student with limited financial resources, and I want to help hard-working, community-minded students as much as possible . Many helped me on my journey in life, and this is my way of giving back to the Mount community . ”