Shannex has donated $100,000 to establish a scholarship for nursing students at UNB.
Beginning in September 2018, three Shannex New Brunswick Scholarships, valued at $3,750 each will be awarded to nursing students at each of UNB’s three New Brunswick locations – Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton. Selection will be based on academic achievement and recipients will demonstrate excellence in the practice of gerontological nursing.
“Many of Shannex’s skilled nurses graduated from UNB," says Jason Shannon, president and COO of Shannex Incorporated. "They are now part of our team of Great People who provide exceptional care and service to residents every day in leadership roles throughout our organization. Our hope is that these scholarships will give talented student nurses the support they need to join our region’s next generation of skilled health care professionals, and we sincerely hope they consider joining the Shannex team in the future.”
Cathy O’Brien-Larivee, chair of the department of nursing and health sciences at UNB Saint John says that these scholarships will provide significant assistance to hard-working students who are actively pursuing an interest in the care of the elderly in our region.
“The senior population is increasing in our province, as it is all over Canada and we need to prepare and encourage more students to pursue areas of practice where they can work with the aging population once they graduate, says O’Brien-Larivee. "The Shannex New Brunswick Scholarships will reward ambitious students who have expressed an interest in pursuing elder care as a career.”
These new scholarships will help reduce the cost of tuition for nursing students, relieving financial uncertainty and allowing them to focus on their studies. They will also provide affirmation that each recipient’s hard work and dedication to the profession of nursing is valued.
UNB President Eddy Campbell explains that student support is a significant part of UNB’s $110-million fundraising campaign, It Begins Here. Fully one-half of the campaign goal – $55 million – is dedicated to student financial support, funding scholarships, bursaries and programs to expand accessibility.
“We are grateful for donors like Shannex that have stepped forward to support this campaign,” says Campbell. “Our nursing students graduate into one of the most demanding professions in our health-care system and partners like Shannex are giving them motivation to succeed. Together, we can prepare them to be leading health care professionals within our community.”
