2011-2012

News Release

REF NO.: 88

SUBJECT: BMO Financial Group to contribute $500,000 to support graduate student scholarships at Memorial University

DATE: December 1, 2011

            BMO Financial Group today announced the BMO Financial Group Graduate Scholarship in the Faculty of Business Administration at Memorial University of Newfoundland. This scholarship has been established by a contribution over seven years of $500,000 from BMO Financial Group.
            One or more scholarships may be awarded annually and eligibility will be based on academic standing. Scholarships will be available to full-time students enrolled in a PhD program in Memorial’s Faculty of Business Administration. These students must meet the minimum academic requirements for a scholarship as defined by the university.
            The BMO Financial Group Graduate Scholarship will be awarded by Memorial’s dean of the School of Graduate Studies upon recommendation by the dean of the Faculty of Business Administration.
            “Investing in higher education is a cornerstone of the BMO charitable giving program, as learning makes our lives richer, our society more successful and our future brighter,” said Jim Fallon, vice-president, Newfoundland and Labrador, BMO Bank of Montreal. “This $500,000 donation is BMO’s largest ever gift in the province, and we are proud to help Memorial position itself as a destination of choice for graduate business students.”
            “I thank BMO Financial Group for this significant contribution which will allow Memorial to continue to attract talented PhD students,” said Dr. Gary
Kachanoski, president and vice-chancellor, Memorial University. “Together with our generous private sector partners, such as BMO, we are committed to making serious investments in student scholarships and bursaries, therefore investing in student success and in our university.”
 
About BMO Financial Group
            Founded in 1817, BMO Bank of Montreal opened its first branch in Newfoundland in 1895 and now operates 22 full-service branches and two agencies in the province. BMO provides financing to more than 3,100 commercial entities in Newfoundland and Labrador for a total of nearly $800 million while supporting leading education, health-care, cultural and not-for-profit institutions through donations and sponsorships.
 
About Memorial University of Newfoundland
            Founded in 1925 as a memorial to Newfoundland’s war dead, Memorial University College was elevated to degree-granting status in 1949 as Memorial University of Newfoundland. Today, the university is the largest in Atlantic Canada, with about 18,000 students. Memorial provides excellent undergraduate, graduate and professional programs in virtually all disciplines. With locations in St. John’s and Corner Brook in Newfoundland, Happy Valley-Goose Bay in Labrador, the French-owned island of Saint-Pierre, and Harlow in England, Memorial is committed to experiential learning. The university's many interdisciplinary programs abound with opportunities for experiential learning, ranging from on-campus employment to work terms around the world.
            Outstanding research and scholarship, extraordinary teaching and a focus on community service are the university's hallmarks. Many teaching and research activities reflect our mid-North Atlantic locations; these unique settings and our cultural heritage have led to the creation of highly-regarded academic programs and specialized facilities in areas such as music, linguistics, folklore and human genetics, as well as earth sciences, cold-ocean engineering, rural health care and archaeology. For more information about Memorial University of Newfoundland, please go to www.mun.ca.   
 
About Dare To: The Campaign for Memorial University
            Memorial University of Newfoundland is undertaking a $50-million private-sector campaign as part of an overall redevelopment program. Dare To focuses on student financial support, academic excellence and physical infrastructure. Investment in these three key areas will position Memorial as a destination of choice for academics, students and staff from around the world. For more information on the campaign, please visit www.dareto.ca.   

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