Peter Mockler announces details of Lenovo Canada's $2-million donation in support of Durham College students during a visit to campus on September 26.
Students have more opportunities than ever before with the September 26 announcement of a $2-million investment that will provide significant financial aid to Durham College and University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) students and deliver $1 million in computer hardware.
Peter Mockler, president and chief executive officer of Lenovo Canada, a global leader in the personal computer market, made the announcement at the schools' Oshawa, Ontario campus. The Lenovo Canada Inc. Access Awards have been established through a $1 million donation and will provide enhanced opportunities for post-secondary education to students requiring financial assistance, particularly those who are first-generation, post-secondary students and single parents. The gift qualifies for the Government of Ontario's fund matching program, the Ontario Trust for Student Support, boosting the total endowment to $2 million.
"On behalf of Durham College, I would like to thank Lenovo for its generous support. This donation helps our students alleviate some of the financial challenges they face, and allows them to focus on developing their potential so they can pursue rewarding careers and make a difference in the world," said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. "Partnerships with leading businesses such as Lenovo help ensure that our students have a high-quality learning experience with the benefit of the latest technology."
The Lenovo Student Access Awards will support full-time students who meet the Ontario Student Assistance Program's (OSAP) Ontario residency requirements; demonstrate financial need; and are in good academic standing. In recognition of Canadian Equity and Diversity legislation and initiatives, special consideration will be made to students who are members of visible minorities; persons with disabilities; of aboriginal descent; and women studying for non-traditional careers.
In addition, the donation of $1 million in computer hardware will help renew computer resources and support academic programs.
Durham College is increasingly attracting the support of respected corporations such as Lenovo partly due to its reputation for being a post-secondary visionary in the use of technology and for providing students and professors with the high-tech tools and state-of-the-art facilities required to succeed in challenging, supportive, and inclusive environments.
"By establishing the Lenovo Canada Inc. Access Awards we hope to remove one of the barriers that students and potential students may face in their pursuit of a post-secondary education," said Mockler. "Through these awards, we hope we have opened the door to post-secondary education for those who may have believed that this was not an option they could pursue. At Lenovo, we strongly believe that if you provide people with the opportunity to succeed, they will."