Scotiabank is helping Lakeland College students achieve success now and into the future by supporting frontline resources.

On April 8, Scotiabank committed $125,000 over a three-year period to maximize student success supports, including Indigenous support services, financial aid and employment enhancement programs, as well as Lakeland's School of Agricultural Sciences.

“At Lakeland, we challenge every student to go beyond the classroom so when industry knocks, they are ready to thrive. Scotiabank's gift will enhance our students' transformative educational experience by removing barriers to their success,” says Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, President and CEO at Lakeland College. “Student success supports take many forms. Together, we are preparing our students to grow as confident, collaborative leaders ready to excel in their chosen industries and communities. On behalf of Lakeland and our students, we thank Scotiabank.”

Scotiabank's investment will support the Support our Students (SOS) Enhanced Bursary, which assists students in dire financial need with no other means of financial support. The current economic climate and pandemic have only made the SOS Enhanced Bursary demand grow, with application numbers exceeding the support available. Scotiabank's welcome support will be distributed to students who need this lifeline of support.

Their investment will also enhance Indigenous cultural services at each campus and fund Lakeland's employment skills enhancement certificate, which bridges the gap for those needing to get their first fulltime job or move toward additional post-secondary programming.

“We're proud to invest in success supports and services at Lakeland College that will ultimately help students gain full-time, meaningful employment,” says Tanja Perry, District Vice President Alberta North and Northwest Territories. “This partnership is one of the many ways Scotiabank is continuing to help students jumpstart their professional careers."

Scotiabank has been a longstanding partner in supporting student success and the student awards program at Lakeland.

Photo: (Left-right) Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College, Courtney Wallace, bachelor of agriculture technology student, Barb Rozka, branch manager of Scotiabank Vermilion, Rob Chubaty, small business development manager at Scotiabank, and Sandra Stone, senior financial advisor at Scotiabank.