Students at UNB now have more opportunities to study and learn abroad thanks to Scotiabank, Canada’s international bank.
As part of UNB’s It Begins Here campaign, Scotiabank announced that it is furthering its commitment to international study awards at UNB with a leadership gift of $1 million. The new funds will be used to support awards for students interested in pursuing educational opportunities overseas.
“I wish to extend my thanks to Scotiabank for this exceptional gift,” says Eddy Campbell, UNB president and vice-chancellor. “Because of the bank’s generous gift, more students at UNB will gain first-hand knowledge and perspective of other places and cultures. Individually and collectively, these students will become enthusiastic ambassadors for the idea that international experience broadens the mind.”
The Cedric Ritchie Scotiabank International Study Awards will provide financial assistance to students at UNB campuses in Fredericton and Saint John who wish to participate in UNB’s student abroad opportunities, available through partnerships with 90 international institutions.
The second part of the donation will support the Scotiabank Special International Internships, offered through Renaissance College, UNB’s specialized undergraduate leadership school, which has international internships built into the curriculum. The award will provide financial support to students who intend to work with individuals who are managing physical challenges during their overseas internship.
With the gift, Scotiabank is honouring New Brunswick’s own Cedric Ritchie, who began his career at the bank as a teller in Bath, NB, in 1945 and spent more than 20 years as president, CEO and chairman before retiring in 1995. Dr. Ritchie, who was awarded an honorary doctorate from UNB in 1986, passed away in March of this year.
“Cedric Ritchie had the vision to realize the need for businesses to think globally, particularly those in the financial industry,” says James McPhedran, executive vice-president of Canadian Banking at Scotiabank. “Under his leadership, the bank expanded into more than 40 countries. This award is a great fit to recognize his legacy of appreciating perspectives and insights from around the world. We look forward to seeing just how much these students achieve throughout their academic careers and beyond.”
Dana Dodsworth, fourth-year business student, describes the impact The Cedric Ritchie Scotiabank International Study Award has had on her life.
