AEF CAMPAIGN CONNECTION
Investing in Diversity The APEGA Education Foundation is increasing its support of women and Aboriginals in the professions through targeted outreach, scholarships and bursaries
BY CORINNE LUTTER Member & Internal Communications Coordinator
Recipients of APEGA Education Foundation (AEF) scholarships and bursaries have a lot in common: a shared love of math and science, a penchant for out-of-the-box thinking, and an affinity for problem solving. They also come from a variety of diverse backgrounds and bring many different perspectives, experiences, and ideas to the mix. That’s a good thing for the future of the engineering and geoscience professions in Alberta. Not surprisingly, research continues to confirm that a diverse workforce helps drive creativity and innovation, which helps fuel business growth, productivity, and success. To that end, one of the AEF’s key strategies over the next five years is to support increased diversity in the professions by reaching more young women, Aboriginals, and other underrepresented groups. This will be done through increased funding for outreach programs, scholarships, and bursaries focused in these areas. There will also be a stronger focus on supporting students in financial need, to ensure that education remains accessible to all.
Apply now $200,000 in Awards Available from APEGA Education Foundation University tuition continues to climb, and many engineering and geoscience students graduate with hefty debt. One of the goals of the APEGA Education Foundation (AEF) is to help ease this financial burden so that students can focus on their education. This year, AEF will award $50,000 in bursaries, while another $150,000 in AEF scholarships and bursaries will be distributed by Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, and the University of Calgary. WHAT’S AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FROM AEF? • Undergraduate Bursaries: Seven $5,000 bursaries will be awarded to undergraduate students studying engineering or geoscience at Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, or the University of Calgary. Awards are based primarily on financial need, along with non-academic accomplishments. • APEGA Education Foundation/Enbridge Aboriginal Bursary: Two $5,000 bursaries will be awarded to First Nations students from Treaties 6, 7, or 8, studying engineering or geoscience at the University of Alberta or the University of Calgary. Awards are based primarily on financial need, along with non-academic accomplishments. • Alex Hemstock Bursary: One $5,000 bursary will be awarded to an engineering graduate student, in any discipline, at the University of Alberta or University of Calgary. The award is based primarily on financial need. The deadline to apply for AEF awards is July 31. Apply at apega.ca/educationfoundation or contact scholarships@apega.ca. Other AEF-funded scholarships and bursaries are also available, by applying directly through Mount Royal University, the University of Alberta, or the University of Calgary.
WHO YOU HELP
On the next few pages, we’ll introduce you to two outstanding young students — and future APEGA professionals — who were recently on the receiving end of AEF scholarships and bursaries.
FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE
The APEGA Education Foundation’s 2015-2019 business plan aims to: • double the number of bursaries available to groups that are underrepresented in the professions, including women and Aboriginals, from $55,000 to $110,000 annually • increase outreach funding from $95,000 to $145,000 annu- ally, to attract more Alberta youth — girls and Aboriginals in particular — into Professional Engineering and Geoscience careers • increase the number of APEGA donors from 4,000 to 5,000 and increase their average donation from $75 to $100, for an impact of $200,000 annually
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