Cheyenne Toms, a 2025 StFX graduate, has been recognized for her leadership potential, community engagement, and innovative thinking, earning a Pathy Foundation Fellowship for 2025-2026.
Cheyenne Toms
The prestigious community development program recognizes exceptional leaders who have strong ties with their community and propose innovative approaches to change. Each Fellow receives a $50,000 living and initiative stipend, enabling them to dedicate a year of their early career to a cause and community they are passionate about through hands-on and practical learning.
In her initiative, Ms. Toms of Enfield, NS will work to help expand and sustain the Mini U program at StFX and address barriers that exist between Indigenous communities and universities. She will work with Paqtnkek and Pictou Landing Mi'kmaq Indigenous Communities.
"I applied to the Pathy Fellowship because I want to continue creating meaningful change by addressing the barriers that exist between Indigenous communities and universities," says Ms. Toms, who graduated from StFX in May 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in human kinetics. She was the recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Gold Medal for a graduating student who has demonstrated excellence in scholarship, community service or engagement, and leadership.
"Through the Fellowship, I hope to expand and sustain the Mini U program; a project that builds stronger, more accessible connections between Indigenous youth and universities."
Ms. Toms identified this initiative as an opportunity to create meaningful change for Indigenous youth after gaining firsthand experience with the need for greater access to and awareness of educational pathways. Her initiative provides Indigenous youth with an early hands-on university experience, fostering academic growth, cultural connection, and mentorship to inspire future higher education pathways.
By building strong, culturally relevant relationships on campus, Ms. Toms hopes that Indigenous youth in Paqtnekek and Pictou Landing will be more likely to envision themselves attending university, creating a lasting connection to university education and leadership opportunities.
She will begin her Fellowship year in July with four weeks of training covering topics such as participatory community engagement and leadership principles, project planning and management, strengths-based approaches, fund development, and more.
After this training period, Fellows will develop and implement their initiatives over the course of a 10-month Community Phase while benefiting from dedicated program support.
The Pathy Fellowship is a self-directed opportunity for young leaders to test and develop their skills in their respective fields while benefiting from a rich support network of driven peers, skilled facilitators, and experienced practitioners. Fellows can propose a self-directed initiative in any field, sector, and community they have a meaningful connection with, providing them with the opportunity to gain a competitive advantage for their future careers.
To learn more about the Pathy Foundation Fellowship, visit www.pathyfellowship.com.
