Belleville, Ontario, September 16, 2014 – With the start of the fall semester, Loyalist College has welcomed 24 new recipients of the W. Garfield Weston Foundation Fellowship. The Fellowship provides financial support to help post-secondary students and apprentices pursue careers in the skilled trades. The pilot project, introduced at Loyalist last fall, encourages participants to complete their education with a combination of tuition credits from the College and bursary funding from The W. Garfield Weston Foundation. A total of $240,000 is available to 30 post-secondary students and 30 apprentices over the three-year project.
Fellowships were awarded to three Automotive Service Technician apprentices and 21 post-secondary students beginning their studies in the skilled trades this term:
Travis Brown, Port Hope Automotive Service Technician
Rocky Mitchell, Colborne Automotive Service Technician
Chris Sheremeta, Kingston Automotive Service Technician
Leith Reilly, Milford Construction Renovation Technician
Brandon Daiken, Quinte West Electrical Technician — Automation
Jacob Huiskamp, Bloomfield Electrical Technician — Automation
Kyle Kent, Cobourg Electrical Technician — Automation
Liam St. John, Belleville Electrical Technician — Automation
Brett Whitmore, Brighton Electrical Technician — Automation
Benjamin Coish, Palmer Rapids Electrical Techniques — Automation
Braedan Kennelly, Shannonville Electrical Techniques — Automation
Niklos Berry, Haliburton Manufacturing Engineering Technician
Sean Leahy, Havelock Manufacturing Engineering Technician
Alyxandria Amaral, Elginburg Motive Power Technician — Service and Management
James Johnston, Brighton Motive Power Technician — Service and Management
Mikaila MacLeod, Warkworth Motive Power Technician — Service and Management
Nicholas Companion, Barrie Welding and Fabrication Technician
Nicholas Paiva, Roslin Welding and Fabrication Technician
Evan Payne, Pembroke Welding and Fabrication Technician
Austin Stoddart, Consecon Welding and Fabrication Technician
Sarah Wells, Milton Welding and Fabrication Technician
Turner McLaughlin, North Gower Welding Techniques
Jacob Spencer, Belleville Welding Techniques
The group joins returning Fellowship recipients who began their studies in skilled trades last fall and in January 2014. Loyalist College President and CEO Maureen Piercy welcomed new and returning Fellowship recipients.
Quotes
“Congratulations on choosing such an exciting career path! As you know, skilled trades workers are in high demand across Canada. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a prestigious organization and their investment in this program reflects a strong commitment to your success. Your apprenticeship and post-secondary studies will lead to a wonderful range of career options. The hands-on expertise you’ll gain in our Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre will prepare you for the industry developments of tomorrow.”
– Loyalist College President and CEO Maureen Piercy
“I was happy to hear I got the Fellowship and proud of myself. I was also really thankful. I wouldn’t be able to focus as well if I didn’t have this financial support.”
– First-year Welding and Fabrication Technician student Evan Payne
“I’m definitely enjoying the program. I’ve learned a lot from my professors and I’m looking forward to the remaining years I have at Loyalist. The hands-on experience has been really rewarding.”
– Automotive apprentice Will Joyce, returning for his second year of study with the Fellowship
The W. Garfield Weston Foundation is a private Canadian family foundation, established in the 1950s by Willard Garfield Weston and his wife, Reta. In 1924 Garfield inherited his father’s company and established baking and retail businesses throughout Canada and in many parts of the world. The founders believed that, as the funds are generated through the hard work and success of his Canadian companies, grants should be given in Canada for the benefit of Canadians. For three generations, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has maintained a family tradition of supporting charitable organizations across Canada. Today the Foundation directs the majority of its funds to projects in the fields of neuroscience, land conservation, education and scientific research in Canada’s North.
About Loyalist College
Located on 212 acres in the beautiful Bay of Quinte region, Loyalist College is a close-knit community where students and their success come first. Internationally renowned for its enriched student learning and living experiences, Loyalist provides personalized attention in small classes, rewarding field placements and superior success services. To prepare students for in-demand careers, Loyalist offers 65 full-time programs; apprenticeships; and more than 500 online, distance and in-class courses, as well as opportunities for continuing education through more than 70 university transfer agreements. The College’s wide selection of advanced diplomas, diplomas and certificates aligns with market-driven disciplines including applied sciences, biosciences, building sciences, business and management studies, health sciences, human studies, justice studies, media, arts and design, and skills and technology. In Ontario, the College’s new Digital Media Centre and the LEED® Silver certified Sustainable Skills, Technology and Life Sciences Centre are training centres of choice for students, as well as College business and industry partners. For more information on the College’s Belleville and Bancroft campuses, visit loyalistcollege.com.
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Loyalist College Media Contact: Dianne Spencer, Executive Director, College Advancement & External Relations; 613-969-1913 ext. 2235; dspencer@loyalistc.on.ca.
Loyalist College Awards Contact: Joanne Farrell, Awards Officer;
613-969-1913 ext. 2202; jfarrell@loyalistc.on.ca