A Syncrude news and community update

Scholarships increase to $930,000 in 2007

A student in Environmental and Conservation Sciences at the University of Alberta, Brett Pagacz received a scholarship through Syncrude’s Aboriginal Education Awards Program.

Syncrude invests in research and development. It invests in technology. It invests in health, safety, the community, the environment, education and the arts.

Syncrude also invests in Brett Pagacz.

Brett is a bright young student at the University of Alberta with a brilliant career ahead of her in Environmental and Conservation Sciences. The Metis woman has lofty goals and aspirations to help protect the world that sustains us all.

“I view nature as the sole provider of everything we accumulate in life,” says Brett, who was born and raised in Fort McMurray and worked for Syncrude last summer. “It provides the raw materials for our basic needs and wants. So it’s absolutely imperative we conserve these resources for the well being of all humans.”

Syncrude wasn’t the only organization to recognize Brett’s potential. In addition to a scholarship from Syncrude, her academic achievements earned her a financial award through the university as well. “The Jason Lang Scholarship, along with the support of Syncrude, has made this year an enjoyable and rewarding year so far,” says Brett, the daughter of a Syncrude employee. “Because of these scholarships, I’m able to focus on my studies to a greater extent. The support is invaluable.”

Syncrude invests in thousands of students each year and each one has his or her own passions and plans, gifts and goals.

The Syncrude Higher Education Awards Program (SHEAP) distributed 395 scholarships to the dependents of Syncrude employees in 2007, representing an investment of about $930,000. In 2006, 369 awards were presented totalling about $858,000.

“We offer scholarships to the dependents of employees who attend schools across the country and even around the world,” says Marcia Perreira, team leader, Benefits.

Since 1989, an additional $343,000 has been awarded to Aboriginal students, including nine scholarships in 2007 of $2,000 each.

For students such as Brett, the scholarships buy some time to focus on their studies rather than on rising tuition costs, electric bills and bargain bins.

Right now, Brett has her eyes firmly fixed on her future where she hopes to one day apply her knowledge to assist African communities in managing their wildlife resources. She is also exploring career opportunities with the Community Based Natural Resource Management program at the Calgary Zoo and the federal government.

The return on Syncrude’s investment on Brett could pay dividends for all of us for the next 50 years or more.

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