International Women's Day - Fondation Desjardins pays tribute to the outstanding women who received $520,000 in scholarships and grants in 2011

MONTREAL, March 7, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Fondation Desjardins is very pleased to be paying tribute on the eve of International Women's Day to the 211 outstanding women to whom it awarded $520,000 in scholarships and grants in 2011.

Among the university students who received a scholarship of up to $25,000 were 110 women studying at the bachelor's level, 18 at the master's level and 12 at the doctoral level.

At the doctoral level, Geneviève Nadeau, a political science student at the University of Ottawa, was given $25,000 to support her research work in environmental hypersensitivity. Maude Benoit, who is studying for a joint PhD degree from Université Laval in Quebec City and Montpellier 1 in France, received $15,000 to carry out research on the public right of action and the multifunctionality of agriculture.

The other doctoral-level recipients were: Marjolaine Gauthier, an economics student at Princeton University; Isabelle Labrecque and Elaine Bouchard, studying mental health and sustainable development respectively at Université Laval; Karine Delage, Marie-Hélène Guay and Julie Migner-Laurin, studying contemporary religious phenomena, reading difficulties and psychology respectively at Université du Québec à Montréal;. Dima Safi, who is conducting research on functional cerebral imaging at Université Laval; Karine Lavertu and Jocelyne Racine-Champagne, who are researching mechanical engineering and the management of cooperatives respectively at Université de Sherbrooke.

Marie-Hélène Hamel of Université Laval and Samia Lamkida of Université du Québec à Montréal were the recipients of the Women in Finance scholarship.

Fondation Desjardins also awarded scholarships to 66 female students to support them in achieving a personal project, such as pursuing technical training or additional training, purchasing educational material or even going back to school (at the secondary, vocational or college level). As well, five other women were recognized for their commitment to volunteer work during the presentation of the Desjardins Annual Prizes and the Prix reconnaissance Jeunes dirigeants Desjardins.

About Fondation Desjardins

Fondation Desjardins has been fulfilling its mission to provide educational support for the past 41 years. In Québec, Fondation Desjardins is well known for distributing more university bursaries than any other private foundation. It encourages research, training, acquiring skills and employability. The Fondation rewards cooperative spirit, volunteerism and entrepreneurship. As a component of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada, the Fondation Desjardins and the caisses distributed more than $2.7 million in bursaries in 2011. Over the last four decades, it has granted nearly $13 million in bursaries to more than 9,600 people. To find out more, consult www.desjardins.com/en/fondation.

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Francine BlackBurn
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