​​The Barbara Roberts Aya Award​

Open to full and part-time students enrolled in any year of study of any program at any campus.

Application assessment will consider

• Financial need
• Career aspirations
• Community involvement, volunteerism and extra-curricular involvement
• Good academic standing
• Self-identification: African Nova Scotian or of African Descent (Black or African American) and Person with a Disability
• Preference given to Student from a Rural Community

About the donor
​​AYA (pronounced as “eye–ah”) is part of adinkra—visual symbols linked to the (former) Gyaman kingdom (Côte d’Ivoire) and Ashanti culture (Ghana). The word Aya is derived from the Twi language, and is translated to “fern”. Aya is a symbol of endurance, resourcefulness, and defiance against oppression (Kojo Arthur, 2017).

Barbara has been a practicing Social Worker for the past 13 years. Barbara owns and operates a private practice called Roberts Wellness Services, where she provides counselling, consultation and facilitation services from an Anti-Racist and Africentric Approach. Barbara is currently working as a Student Services Advisor and African Canadian support person at NSCC and has also worked as a faculty member with NSCC teaching in the school of Health and Human Services. Her commitment to education is further exemplified by her role as the Vice President of the Association of Black Social Workers.

Beyond academia, Barbara co-owns AfroNova Jewelry and Accessories. Both of her businesses are grounded in the core values of education and community.