UPEI Frederick M. Davison Award for Excellence

The Frederick M. Davison Award for Excellence is awarded to the student entering UPEI who, in the judgement of the Scholarship and Awards Committee, best reflects the following criteria: will have achieved well academically, though not necessarily the highest aggregate in high school; and exhibits dedication and a desire to make a difference in the community.

Background:

The Frederick M. Davison Award for Excellence was established at the University of Prince Edward Island in memory of Frederick M. Davison, a well known Prince Edward Island businessman, who was born in Burlington, P.E.I. For most of his adult life Fred Davison worked for the M.F. Schurman Co. Ltd. where he was a valued employee and rose to the position of executive vice president and director of the company. He was a community minded person, serving as a member of the Board of Trustees of Prince County Hospital, the Summerside Chamber of Commerce and the Kensington Town Council. He and his family regularly attended Kensington United Church where he was on the Board of Stewards. For a number of years he was a volunteer fireman in Kensington donning coveralls and responding to emergencies at all hours of the day and night. He was also a man of great compassion. As a member of the Rotary Club of Summerside he became an advocate for children coping with physical challenges. Not only did he chair the crippled children's committee of the service club but strove to get to know these young people personally. Fred died untimely in 1976 and his widow, the late Helen Whitenect of Charlottetown, wishing to honour his memory provided for a scholarship in her estate. Both she and her husband held education in great esteem, although neither had had the benefit of higher learning. She thus endeavored to provide funds for students to be educated on this Island which they so deeply loved. Through this bequest her vision has been made a reality and the memory of Fred Davison is carried into the future.