OTTAWA, November 17, 2004 -- Export Development Canada (EDC) today announced this year's recipients of its International Studies scholarships, valued at up to $14,000 each. "I am pleased to congratulate these students as they embark on an experience that will assist them in becoming Canada's future business leaders," said acting president Gilles Ross. "Working on the front-lines of international trade under the guidance of our seasoned experts will prepare them for the challenges they will face in the global business environment." The scholarships are awarded to top undergraduate students in business and economics, and to MBA students based on their demonstrated interest in finance and international business, as well as their leadership potential and academic achievement. In addition to a financial award of $3,000 for undergraduates and $5,000 for graduates, students are also offered a four-month work-term opportunity with EDC, bringing the total value of the award to about $14, 000. Scholarships were offered to 24 EDC partner universities this year. These partnerships are a key part of EDC's Education and Youth Employment (EYE) Strategy, which is designed to foster a trade culture in Canada. Through scholarships, guest lectures, case studies and participation in education and youth-related events, EDC is building awareness of the challenges and opportunities of international trade. Since 1999, more than 145 students have benefited from EDC scholarships and many have used the experience to pursue careers in international trade. University of Victoria MBA graduate Natasha Cappon says her participation in last year's program has "helped me to develop and polish skills I will use as I advance in my career. EDC gave me an opportunity to focus on interesting and complex projects, and the experience has been extremely valuable." The 25 undergraduate winners are: Name University Home Town Rana Ahmad University of Waterloo Richmond Hill, Ontario Tasha Balla-Boudreau McGill University Mackey, Ontario Cassandra Doreen Brown University of Alberta Calgary, Alberta Jeffrey William Crosier Carleton University Port Perry, Ontario Diane Dang York University Toronto, Ontario Sean Davey University of Toronto White Rock, British Columbia Marc Drolet University of Ottawa Québec, Quebec Jeffrey Fung University of British Columbia Markham, Ontario Geneviève Harvey Laval University Québec, Quebec Émilie Jean-Ruel HEC Montreal Lévis, Quebec Uliana Kojolianko Queen's University Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Marie-Chantal Lambert University of Quebec in Chicoutimi Massueville, Quebec Alexandre Lazarow University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba Christopher Joseph MacDonald Saint Mary's University Montague, Prince Edward Island Nathan Andrew Nelson University of Calgary Calgary, Alberta Feiber Omana University of New Brunswick Fredericton, New Brunswick Emily Kate Parker Dalhousie University Miramichi, New Brunswick Yves Plourde University of Quebec in Chicoutimi Jonquière, Quebec Raluca Petrescu Concordia University Montreal, Quebec Marie-Hélène Racine University of Sherbrooke Sherbrooke, Quebec Mélanie Rousseau University of Moncton Saint-Quentin, New Brunswick Zsuzsanna Szekely Ryerson University Ajax, Ontario Shona Sinclair University of Victoria Victoria, British Columbia Hesha Vaishnav Simon Fraser University Surrey, British Columbia Ashley E. Wakeham Memorial University of Newfoundland Goulds, Newfoundland The two MBA graduate winners are: Name University Home Town Laurie Gail Brucker University of British Columbia Penticton, British Columbia Edward Euan Whittingham York University Banff, AlbertaFor additional information about EDC's EYE Strategy and International Studies Scholarship, please visit: www.edc.ca/youth Backgrounder on EDC's EYE program. EDC provides trade finance and risk management services to Canadian exporters and investors in up to 200 markets. Founded in 1944, EDC is a Crown corporation that operates on commercial principles. -30- Media Contact: Glen NicholsPublic AffairsTel: (613) 598-2876glnichols@edc.caMarie-Claude April Director, EYE Strategy (613) 598-6846 mapril@edc.ca
