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Student success initiatives set Keyano apart

When you register to become a student at Keyano, you become a part of the Keyano family. We take care of our students through a variety of student success initiatives including these ones offered by Counselling & Career Services. These programs are funded by generous private and corporate donors through financial gifts to the Keyano College Foundation.

Passport to Success:

Thanks to an Anonymous Donor Group, Keyano established this initiative which helps underemployed or unemployed single parent students attend post-secondary education. The Donor Group has pledged $120,000 over three years to help qualified students address their childcare, living expenses and tuition expenses. This year the Donor Group’s funding will enable three students to follow their dreams and attend Keyano College.

Jane Hubert Student Emergency Loan Fund:

Jane Hubert was a cashier in the Keyano Cafeteria during the 1980s and 90s. During this time she saved her tip money and used it to fund scholarships and awards for students in the Culinary Arts Program. When the Culinary Arts program was discontinued, her Culinary Tip Fund sat unused.

In 2005 the Keyano College Foundation created the Jane Hubert Student Emergency Loan Fund and transferred the remaining ‘tips’ to this new fund. Sitting idle and collecting interest, Jane’s tip fund had grown to $8,000. In keeping with Jane’s desire to support students, the loan program and hot lunch program was born.

A permanent program, the initiative is meant to help with emergency situations that students might encounter such as an out-of-town death in the family, a fire, or other similar problems. Eligibility is based on a case-by-case basis and students in need should talk immediately to staff in the Career & Counselling Services.

Jane Hubert’s legacy of giving continues as other donors step up to keep this incredible program available to students.

The Anonymous Donor Group has pledged $30,000 to the fund over the next three years and Nexen Inc. recently made a $50,000 donation to the fund. In addition, Shell Canada has pledged $3,500 per year to the fund for the next three years.

Kris Geekie, Director, Community Consultation & Relations, Nexen Inc. believes this program is ideally suited to address the immediate needs of students when they find themselves in an emergency situation.

"At Nexen, we want to reduce the barriers that keep students from being successful at school. Keyano’s Emergency Loan program allows us to get funding in the hands of students very quickly which takes a huge burden off their backs and allows them to quickly return to studies. We are very proud to be associated with Keyano College and were delighted to be asked to support the Jane Hubert Student Emergency Loan Fund."

Hot Lunch Program

Keyano College recognizes that many of our adult students live on a limited budget and often come to school hungry. The Hot Lunch Program is funded through the Jane Hubert Student Emergency Loan Fund and in collaboration with Ovation Catering will provide access to pre-paid hot lunch tickets for students. Grocery Store gift cards are also available and students need only meet with Counselling & Career Services staff to access this program.

Cindy Amerongen, Vice President, External Relations, Keyano College, says the Passport to Success, Emergency Student Loan and the Hot Lunch Program are only some of the programs available to enable students to have a quality educational experience. These particular programs are entirely funded by generous donors who understand the dynamic between appropriate funding and student success.

"Our students are very important to us. We have the very best intentions for them so we keep tuitions and housing rates low, provide strong academic supports and ensure access to scholarships, awards and special funded programs," Amerongen explains.

For more information, please contact: Kiran Malik-Khan Communications Coordinator Marketing & Communications Keyano College 780-791-8971