SAINT JOHN, N.B. -- Irving Oil will be awarding the first ever Fueling the Future' Scholarships to two local high school students, valued at up to $28,000 each.
The scholarships are open to St. John the Baptist-King Edward (SJBKE) School alumni graduating from Saint John High School and St. Malachy's High School, with one scholarship going to a student from each school.
At up to $7,000 renewable each year for a maximum of four years, the scholarship will cover such expenses as tuition, books, transportation and other costs for [image-nocss] each student. The scholarship recognizes exceptional teamwork and community spirit, focusing on a candidate's well-rounded involvement in school citizenship and volunteerism, as well as academics.
Fueling the Future Scholarship winners will be announced during graduation ceremonies at St. Malachy's High School and Saint John High School, to be held June 22 and 25, respectively.
Each week, 90 Irving Oil employees and alumni volunteer to support the students and staff of SJBKE through one-on-one mentoring, classroom assistance and at the school's lunch program, the Chicken Noodle Club. Since 2002, Irving Oil has provided students with new computers, educational school trips, sports uniforms, a new sound system and other much needed supplies.
Also, Irving Oil will be providing funding for spaces in a variety of summer camps and programs for children attending SJBKE. The newly created Funshine Club will fund approximately 150 spaces at camps and activities offered through the YMCA-YWCA, the Interaction Theatre Co and P.R.O. Kids between July 3 and August 31.
And this track and field season, Irving Oil is supporting local athletics programs and events ranging from basic skills programs for grades 3 and up to the Canadian Masters Track and Field Championships for ages 30 and over. Over the summer months, the company will sponsor a program for South End youth called Run, Jump, Throw.
The program, to be offered locally at the South End Community Centre by the Saint John Track Club, was developed by Athletics Canada as a way to introduce elementary school-age children to the basic elements of movement and coordination needed to participate in physical activity, such as track and field. During the next school year, the program will also be offered to SJBKE students in grades 3 and up. The Saint John Track Club has previously offered this program in partnership with School Districts 6 and 8.
Irving Oil will also be the presenting sponsor for two national track and field events coming to New Brunswick this summer: the 2007 Canadian Masters Track and Field Championships to be held in Saint John during July and the 2007 Royal Canadian Legion Championships in Oromocto in August.
Irving's $20,000 contribution will cover the cost of equipment upgrades necessary to host these high-calibre events, with the upgraded equipment remaining at the Canada Games Stadium in Saint John for future use by local schools, youth groups and Athletics NB. The Canadian Masters event will showcase athletes from across North America, ranging in age from 30-80 years, while the Royal Canadian Legion Championships is a national competition for youth aged 14-17 years and is considered an important development step for future Canadian Olympians.
Finally, on June 7, approximately 500 employees from the Irving Oil refinery reported for duty as part of this year's Operation Clean-Up event. Workers volunteered their time to pick up litter around the refinery property and in the Champlain Heights, Loch Lomond Road, MacDonald Street, Grandview Avenue, Commerce/Consumers Drive, Mark Drive, and McAllister Drive areas. Irving volunteers will also be cleaning-up around the Little River Reservoir, where a local association plans to build a four-kilometre hiking trail.
The seventh-annual event coincides with Canadian Environment Week.
Saint John, N.B.-based Irving Oil is the regional refining and marketing company serving customers in Eastern Canada, Quebec and New England with a variety of finished energy products, including gasoline, diesel, home heating fuel, jet fuel and complementary products and services. The company's network of Bluecanoe and Mainway convenience stores throughout Eastern Canada and New England offers customers a variety of products and services, including grocery and snack items, bakeries and convenience items, in addition to fuel.
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