The Joyce Lucey Award in Interactive Arts and Science has a rich history rooted in the early days of Brock University. Mrs. Joyce Lucey was the administrative assistant for the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies who arrived in August 1980. Renowned for her dedication and expertise, Joyce worked with the technology of the day, including IBM electric typewriters, carbon paper, and Gestetner duplicating machines. Her meticulous nature and memorable character left a lasting impression on the faculty and students.

In 1986, Joyce Lucey was diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly after. In her honor, the colleagues of Germanic and Slavic Studies established the Joyce Lucey Award in 1989. Initially, this award was intended for outstanding students majoring in German or Russian, funded by monthly payroll contributions from seven faculty members. However, over time, as colleagues retired or moved on, only one contributing member remained, sustaining the award through payroll deductions.

As German transitioned from a major to a minor and Russian was no longer offered, the terms of the award could not be met. The award was then converted into an endowment and, after consulting with Student Awards, it was decided to associate the award with the Centre for Digital Humanities. Consequently, the Joyce Lucey Award was redefined to honor an outstanding student majoring in Interactive Arts and Science (IASC).

The Department of Digital Humanities would like to thank Barry W. K. Joe especially for making payroll deductions until their retirement. These gifts reflect the generous spirit of those who seek build and make new things at Brock University.