Gift provides student award support for the next decade
January 20, 2016 - Saskatchewan Polytechnic celebrated a $325,000 contribution from Viterra this morning at the Regina Campus. The funds have been designated to student awards via bursaries and scholarships.
In 2015, Viterra Inc. earmarked donations totaling $900,000 to colleges in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, with Saskatchewan Polytechnic receiving the largest percentage of the gift.
"We're pleased to be strengthening our partnership with Saskatchewan Polytechnic and its students to provide access to quality post-secondary educational opportunities," said Kyle Jeworski, Viterra's president and CEO for North America. "Through this funding we aim to support students in gaining the knowledge and experience they need to pursue meaningful careers in industries such as agriculture, and to help us recruit and retain the best people our province has to offer."
"Viterra's contribution reinforces what a pivotal role industry partners play in supporting technical education in our province," said Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic's president and CEO. "At Saskatchewan Polytechnic, we are student-focused and employer-driven. This funding is a significant investment in our student's education and provides a direct link for Viterra to a future workforce."
"I am pleased to see Viterra making such a strong commitment to post-secondary education," said Scott Moe, minister of Advanced Education. "Our Government believes in supporting students, and we appreciate private sector partners who share that belief."
The contribution will support over 40 scholarships and bursaries each year for over 10 years. Where applicable, Viterra's scholarships also benefited from matching funds from the Saskatchewan Innovation Opportunity Program.
Awards will be provided at each campus location to students in the School of Business, the School of Construction, theSchool of Information and Communications Technology and the School of Mining, Energy and Manufacturing.Thiswill include certificate and diploma programs, apprenticeship programs, and awards specifically designated for Aboriginal students.
An additional student awards program, provided through sponsorships of the Saskatchewan Polytechnic Business and Industry Dinners, will be designated to students with disabilities.
Viterra is Canada's grain industry leader, supported by the expertise of its people, a superior network of assets, and unrivalled connections to world markets. Headquartered in Regina, Saskatchewan, our commitment to agriculture goes back over 100 years, partnering with farmers to market and move their crops to areas of need around the world. Our continued focus on operational excellence throughout North America allows us to efficiently handle, process, distribute and transport grains and oilseeds. We provide further value to our partners through a wide variety of contracting and risk management tools to help them realize the full potential of their crops. For more information on Viterra in North America, please visit www.viterra.com. Viterra is part of the Agricultural Business Segment of Glencore.
Saskatchewan Polytechnic serves 26,000 distinct students through applied learning opportunities at campuses in Moose Jaw, Prince Albert, Regina and Saskatoon, and through extensive distance education opportunities. Programs serve every economic and public service sector. As a polytechnic, the organization provides the depth of learning appropriate to employer and student need, including certificate, diploma and degree programs, and apprenticeship training. Saskatchewan Polytechnic engages in applied research, drawing on faculty expertise to support innovation by employers, and providing students the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills.
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