CAMPUS NEWS
KING’S CELEBRATES 56 NEW ACADEMIC ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS The inaugural Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes were awarded this fall DEBRA DEANE LITTLE AND ROBERT (BOB) LITTLE did an extraordinary thing for King’s this year. They chose to fund 14 new renewable scholarships to be awarded annually to incoming students to the Foundation Year Program (FYP) who also play varsity sports for the Blue Devils. “It’s a selfish act for us to do this in a way because we want to help and we want to give back,” Little said, of the initial $1.4 million gift that he and his wife Debra gave from the Deane-Little family’s Alpha Aquilae Foundation.
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TIDINGS | WINTER 2020
Conversations between Debra Deane Little, Robert Little and the university began last February when the family decided to make their gift to support scholar-athletes. Things moved quickly, and the first Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes were awarded this fall. “I couldn’t even imagine it working out better. The strategy and everything lined up…we’re really really happy that we got off to this start,” Bob said.
‘IT ALLOWS ME TO CONTINUE MY STUDIES’ Luke Dyment is a first-year FYP student and Blue Devils rugby player who was chosen to receive a scholarship. He was mowing lawns in Tyne Valley, P.E.I. last summer to pay for his education, and described the moment he opened the letter telling him he’d won a scholarship as “so special.” “It allows me to continue my studies… and be able to take steps toward my future knowing that I have the support and confidence of two outstanding donors who contributed this award,” Dyment said. He was speaking at a reception held in King’s gym in September to celebrate the benefactors and recipients. “For that, Debra and Bob, I cannot thank you enough for your generosity and consideration.”
Fourteen Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Scholarships for Varsity Athletes are given out each year. Each $5,000 incoming scholarship is renewable for up to three years, provided the student maintains scholarship standing. This means as many as 56 scholar-athletes will hold a Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Athletic Scholarship by 2022/23 and in subsequent years. Also, for the next three years, the family has agreed to offer 14 additional renewable scholarships to scholarathletes in each of the three upper years while the first three years of scholarships are being offered to incoming students.
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE IN WHOLE ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT Isabelle Roach is a fourth-year science student at King’s, Blue Devils volleyball team captain, and King’s 32nd Rhodes Scholar. She also received a Debra Deane Little and Robert Little Academic Athletic Scholarship this year and spoke at the September reception, thanking Debra and Bob. “It’s not only financial support for the athletes at King’s but it’s a vote of confidence in (Athletics Director) Neil (Hooper) and (Athletics Coordinator) Trish (Miles) and every single athlete in our department.” Roach spoke about the excellence of a King’s education, and its uniqueness. “It’s something you don’t get anywhere else—
