Maxim Jacques awarded 2020 3M National Student Fellowship

Bishop’s University is delighted to announce that Maxim Jacques, a fourth-year Williams School of Business student majoring in Global Management & Leadership has been awarded the prestigious 3M National Student Fellowship.

The 3M National Student Fellowship recognizes up to ten full-time students at Canadian post-secondary institutions who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in their lives, at their post-secondary institution, and in their communities. These students embrace a vision of education that enhances their academic experience through leadership and community engagement. Four Bishop’s students have been awarded the 3M prize in the last five years: Jason Earl (2015), Chloé Soucy (2018), Ethan Pohl (2019) and Maxim Jacques (2020).

Maxim chose to attend Bishop’s to have a meaningful impact on campus. During his first year, Maxim joined the Bishop’s University Commerce Society (BUCS). He launched a merchandising line for the business school, implemented recruitment and training tools for BUCS, and was involved on many business case competitions. Maxim developed an interest in sustainability and climate change while on exchange in the UK. Through the Bishop’s Exceptional Student Talent Project Fund (B.E.S.T.), he spent 10 days in Peru in the summer of 2019 (TGP) learning about water resource management and sustainable development. In his final year at Bishop’s, he increased environmental awareness on campus by organizing an information session for TGP, joined the Bishop’s sustainability task force to advise the school on how to position itself as a sustainable institution, and worked as a research assistant to determine how environmental sustainability could be integrated in business curriculums. Maxim will later pursue his education with a Master’s degree in sustainable development to become an environmental leader. Professor Denise Fortier was instrumental in nominating and supporting Maxim during the qualification process and remains one of his biggest fans.

Professor Reena Atanasiadis, Dean of the Williams School of Business, was thrilled about Maxim’s journey being celebrated on a national level: “What a wonderful achievement for Maxim Jacques and the Williams School of Business. Maxim is a great example of how dedication and hard work leads to outstanding accomplishments and recognition.”

Dr. Jessica Riddell, 3M National Teaching Fellow (2015) and Associate Professor of the Department of English at Bishop’s, has also been mentoring Maxim throughout the 3M qualification process: “Maxim embodies the values that drive the vision, mission, and values of our institution. This is truly one of the feel good stories of the year for the power of education and values of empathy and ethics Max models in every aspect of his life. He is a true leader.”

Bishop’s University is a member of the Maple League of universities, a consortium of four universities that also includes Acadia, Mount Allison and St. Francis Xavier. Together, this alliance of small, primarily undergraduate institutions collaborate to deliver an extraordinary 21st century liberal education. The Maple League created a mentoring network for student leaders in 2019: this year four out of the ten 3M Fellows were from Maple League institutions. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the focus on extraordinary student experience across these four universities as they deliver a 21st century education.