Lakeland College is celebrating a gift of $650,000 from Cenovus Energy to support Indigenous students announced on Monday. (From left) Patty Hill, director of the Cenovus Lloydminster Asphalt Refinery, Jon Albert, a power engineering student and member of Lakeland’s Indigenous Council, Dr. Alice Wainwright-Stewart, president and CEO of Lakeland College, Doreen Cole, Cenovus Senior Vice-President, Downstream Manufacturing, Adam Waterman, chair of the Lakeland College Board of Governors, Brooklyn Gray, business administration student and member of Lakeland’s Indigenous Council. Supplied Photo
Lakeland College is celebrating a $650,000 donation from Cenovus Energy to support Indigenous student success programs at its Vermilion and Lloydminster campuses.
The investment, announced in Lloydminster on Monday, will assist Indigenous students throughout their college journey, from their transition to Lakeland to graduating and joining the workforce.
“We see this as an investment not only in our industry and in the province and its future workforce, but most of all an investment in the students,” said Doreen Cole, Cenovus senior vice-president, downstream manufacturing.
“Cenovus is committed to Indigenous reconciliation and self-sufficiency, especially when it comes to preparing Indigenous youth for the future.”
Lakeland president Alice Wainwright-Stewart says the donation from Cenovus will help strengthen programming and student success resources to help Indigenous students as they work to achieve their goals.
“We strive to ensure that Lakeland is always a supportive, inclusive environment for all of our students. Cenovus shares this commitment to inclusivity with us and have come forward with this amazing gift,” said Wainwright-Stewart.
On-campus Indigenous supports funded by this donation will include learner success resourcing, employment skills, alumni mentorship and engagement, Elder-in-residence programs and cultural programming.
The donation will also support essential financial aid and student emergency funding.
Cenovus has supported the student awards program since 2013 and was a major contributor to the college’s Energy Centre, which includes the Cenovus Energy Lab on the Lloydminster campus.
For the second year in a row, Cenovus is the title sponsor for Feast on the Farm, a Lakeland fundraiser that supports student-led learning initiatives.
