News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government is providing $750,000 to the SHAD program during the next five years.

“Our government is committed to investing in our young people,” said Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Brian Kenny. “We are happy to support the work that SHAD is doing in New Brunswick as an outstanding Canadian non-profit organization that helps exceptional high school students recognize their full potential so they can become the leaders and change-makers of tomorrow.”

SHAD provides an intense summer enrichment program attracting the best and brightest high school students from around the country every July. The program is hosted at 12 universities, including the University of New Brunswick. It is built on an academic foundation of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, and it fosters entrepreneurship and innovation.

On completion of the program, the students become SHAD Fellows and join a powerful community of more than 15,500 alumni, including 30 Rhodes Scholars and leaders in various industries.

The announcement coincides with International Youth Day, Aug. 12, established in 1999 by the United Nations to draw attention to the issues youth face throughout the world.

“This investment will be used to operate SHAD in New Brunswick so that our students will have the opportunity to participate in this life-changing program,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault. “We must provide these types of opportunities to our young people so they can excel as future leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs.”

SHAD also recently announced the SHAD New Brunswick initiative, a unique pilot project, which will identify highly motivated high school students, engage the business community to hire these individuals and ensure participants remain connected to ongoing opportunities in New Brunswick including internships and mentoring.

“We thank the New Brunswick government for its long standing support of SHAD,” said Tim Jackson, president and CEO of the organization. “Today’s announcement ensures SHAD will be accessible to qualified New Brunswick high school students so they can achieve their untapped potential.”