Dalhousie celebrates outstanding members of our alumni community through the Golden Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award and the Aurum Awards each spring.
These awards honour community-minded innovators and visionaries who are making a difference here at home and around the world.
The Golden Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award
This award honours a remarkable alum with a long-standing connection and commitment to advancing academic excellence at Dalhousie.
This year’s Golden Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award recipient is Dr. Richard Murray (Beng’66, LLD’15). Dr. Murray was an award-winning and internationally renowned engineer who dedicated his career to improving infrastructure in Canada and the Caribbean. Together with his family, he established scholarships for Jamaican engineering students attending Dal and helped advance the IDEA Project, including the Richard Murray Design Building and the Murray Engineering Student Centre. His enduring legacy continues to inspire future engineers and strengthen the communities he cared so deeply about.
Further reading: Remembering Dr. Richard Murray: An engineer, philanthropist, and champion for students
The Aurum Awards
The Aurum Awards recognize alumni for their achievements in innovation, community engagement and leadership, as well as for their contributions to society's social, cultural and economic well-being.
Each year, the Dalhousie Alumni Association selects the winners from nominations submitted by our alumni community. This year’s winners include a community-builder, a physician-advocate, an entrepreneur, and an Indigenous business leader. Though their stories are unique, they share a deep commitment to improving our society and creating a better world.
Meet the 2026 Aurum Award winners:
Veronica Marsman (BA’79, BSW’83, MSW’93) is a dedicated community-builder with an unwavering commitment to uplifting the African Nova Scotian and Black communities in Nova Scotia. As the Executive Director for Akoma Holdings Ltd., Veronica continues to be instrumental in shaping the future of the largest parcel of Black-owned land in Nova Scotia.
Dr. Meng Hee Tan (BsC’65, MD’69) is an accomplished physician-scientist and a tireless advocate for people living with diabetes. For more than 50 years, he has played a vital role in advancing diabetes care, including developing standardized clinical guidelines and education programs, sharing knowledge through teaching and publications, and raising public awareness of diabetes.
Faten Alshazly (BsC’99) is an inspiring entrepreneur, recognized as a champion for women’s empowerment and leadership. As the CEO of HealthEMe and Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of WeUsThem, she has enabled her businesses to grow through her strong leadership, creativity, and strategic focus. Through her dedication to mentorship, Faten is inspiring the next generation of women to lead with integrity and purpose.
Clint Davis (LLB’95) is a visionary Indigenous business leader dedicated to expanding Indigenous economic participation and self-determination. As CEO of Cedar Leaf Capital, Canada’s first majority Indigenous-owned investment dealer, he fosters greater Indigenous participation in capital markets and creates more opportunities for Indigenous business development.
Hear the incredible stories of this year’s Aurum and Golden Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award winners.
Recognize an exceptional alum
Do you know an outstanding member of our alumni community who deserves recognition? Nominations for the 2027 Aurum Awards will open later this year, so be sure to prepare your nomination and help shine a spotlight on our incredible alumni. Visit dal.ca/alumni to learn more.