The Soto-Wright Foundation has donated to the University of Prince Edward Island to fund a medical school scholarship in honor of Velma and George Wright. The scholarship supports students in UPEI's Doctor of Medicine program who demonstrate a commitment to serving their communities.
The Wright family has deep roots on Prince Edward Island. Establishing this scholarship was a way for the Soto-Wright family to honor that connection while investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals on the Island.
Meet the Scholarship Recipient: Nate Visser
This year's recipient is Nate Visser, a medical student from Victoria by the Sea, PEI. Nate came to medicine after a career in the Canadian Armed Forces and as a paramedic. He has a focus on rural primary care, advocating for children with special needs, and improving healthcare access for underserved communities across the province.
In a letter to the foundation, Nate shared his family's story. His son, Emmett, was born with two rare genetic conditions that cause developmental challenges and seizures. Doctors initially told the family that children with his condition typically don't survive past age two. Nate and his wife Keirstin have refused to let those odds define Emmett's future, traveling across the country to find specialists and pushing to expand resources on PEI so other families don't face the same uphill fight.
"Your support not only helps us to achieve this goal but also empowers me to drive change within our province so that other families do not have to fight as hard as we have."
Nate Visser, Scholarship Recipient
Outside of medical school, Nate is a volunteer firefighter and medical first responder with the Crapaud Volunteer Fire Department, a deputy emergency management coordinator for his municipality, and an active member of search and rescue operations. He also contributes to academic research through the Dalhousie Prehospital Evidence Based Medicine Database.
Education as a Foundation Priority
The UPEI scholarship is part of the Soto-Wright Foundation's broader commitment to education — one of the foundation's three core pillars alongside the arts and personal well-being. The foundation was established by Ivan, Adrianna, and Natalie Soto-Wright to support mentorship and scholarships for people working to make a tangible difference in their communities.
Ivan Soto-Wright, the founder of MoonPay, experienced firsthand how mentorship and early access to opportunity can change a person's trajectory. The foundation's scholarship programs are designed to remove barriers for students like Nate who are already doing the work — they just need the financial support to keep going.
Dr. Valena Wright, the family's mother, has been instrumental in connecting the foundation's work to Prince Edward Island. The scholarship bearing Velma and George Wright's names reflects the family's belief that investing in education creates lasting impact across generations.
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