Katie Murphy announced as STFX recipient of AUS PepsiCo James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award

(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce STFX X-Women rugby student-athlete Katie Murphy as St. Francis Xavier University's recipient of the AUS PepsiCo James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award.

Beginning this year, Atlantic University Sport is recognizing one student-athlete from each member university as a recipient of the prestigious award, highlighting outstanding achievement in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship.

Each recipient receives a $500 scholarship in recognition of their accomplishments.

Established in 1985, the James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award is one of Atlantic University Sport's premier student-athlete honours.

A fourth-year human kinetics student from Millvale, P.E.I., Murphy has distinguished herself through her excellence in athletics, leadership and community service.

A scrum half and wing with the STFX X-Women rugby team, Murphy scored a league-leading 14 conversions this season and finished the regular season with 28 points.

This season, Murphy was named the recipient of AUS women's rugby's Student-Athlete Community Service Award. She was also recognized as a Leader of Distinction through the STFX Leadership Academy and is a member of the X-Women rugby leadership group.

Murphy has made a remarkable impact in the STFX and Antigonish communities through her extensive volunteer work and service initiatives.

She was one of the co-founders of the X Gives Blood Society, helping organize fundraising and awareness events in support of Canadian Blood Services while promoting the critical need for blood, stem cell and organ donors.

Murphy has also been actively involved with motionball for Special Olympics, the Best Buddies program in partnership with l'Arche Antigonish, the STFX Pucks for Purpose initiative supporting the Canadian Cancer Society, Coastal K9 Rescue Society and the RK MacDonald Nursing Home.

In addition, she has served as a volunteer trainer with the Antigonish Bulldogs U15AA hockey team, coached U17 provincial girls rugby in Prince Edward Island, volunteered with STFX Mini U programming and participated in an Immersion Service Learning trip to Guatemala.

Murphy's extensive involvement reflects a commitment to leadership, service and community engagement that has defined her time at STFX.

Katie Murphy becomes the seventh student-athlete to be announced as a 2026 AUS PepsiCo James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award recipient. Previously announced recipients include Acadia's Leah Adams, Cape Breton's Ellie Lancaster, Dalhousie's Melina Collins, Memorial's Norm Burry, Mount Allison's Walker Ratte and Saint Mary's Charlie Da Fonseca. The remaining four recipients will be announced over the coming days.

James Bayer taught education and physical education at both high school and university levels. He served as supervisor and consultant for the Nova Scotia Department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness.

At Acadia University, he served as dean of recreation and physical education and as director of athletics from 1978-1985. As an administrator in the AUAA and the CIAU, he was a key player in the establishment of intercollegiate athletic policy.

The PepsiCo James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award is presented annually by PepsiCo Beverages Canada.