Support to Encourage Students to Stay in School: $2.5 million to create 1,125 scholarships for young Montréalers

Visit our library for the official artwork

MONTRÉAL, April 27, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - One in five young Montréalers drops out of school before obtaining their first diploma. To counteract this sad reality, the Board of Governors of the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375^th Anniversary has decided to establish a $2.5 million fund, in collaboration with Youth Fusion, which will award 375 scholarships annually over three years. The MTL Leaders scholarships will encourage students to stay in school, and recognize the advancement of Secondary 3, 4 and 5 students in five school boards on the Island of Montréal, as well as many Indigenous students at the CEGEP level.

In addition to the scholarship, which is in the form of an academic credit for post-secondary studies, the recipients will be supported by a mentor throughout the year as part of an educational project, whether in engineering, the arts, entrepreneurship or design. With this approach, the MTL Leaders scholarships celebrate student retention, creativity, civic engagement, problem solving, communication, emotional intelligence, and teamwork. They will serve to educate emerging leaders, while encouraging them to continue their post-secondary studies. A total of 1,125 young Montréalers from all backgrounds will benefit from this program.

Funded by a contribution from the Great Montréalers, the MTL Leaders scholarships will be awarded by an independent jury co-chaired by Monique F. Leroux and by France Chrétien-Desmarais. Teachers, professors and school administrations that work with Youth Fusion can now nominate candidates.

"Youth and the next generation must be top of mind for anyone with an interest in Montréal's future. By encouraging students to stay in school, we are supporting an entire generation of young leaders who will in turn contribute to our city's future," said Monique F. Leroux, Chair of the Board of Governors of the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375^th Anniversary.

"Every week, Youth Fusion works with more than 15,000 students. By providing support, we foster new relationships that will enrich their academic journey and enable them to develop transferable skills. This helping hand, which is both financial and human, can make all the difference," added Gabriel Bran Lopez, President and Founder of Youth Fusion.

For the occasion, YouTuber Émile Roy broadcast a video that features young Montréal leaders who stand out for their leadership and perseverance. The video is available on his YouTube channel.

About the Board of Governors of the Society for the Celebration of Montréal's 375^th Anniversary

The Board of Governors is a volunteer committee chaired by Monique F. Leroux. It brings together citizens, elected officials and business people driven by a desire to complete sustainable socio-economic projects. Its work forms part of the activities of the Society for the Celebrations of Montréal's 375^th Anniversary, whose President is France Chrétien Desmarais. The Board was created at the initiative of the mayor of Montréal, following the publication of the report A Prosperous and Inclusive Metropolis for Sustainable Development by the working committee on the status of Montréal.

About Youth Fusion

Youth Fusion is an award-winning charity that contributes to the perseverance, employability and civic engagement of youth by implementing innovative experiential learning projects that create ongoing links between school systems and the community. Every week, we work with 15,000 youths in over 250 schools in rural, urban and Indigenous communities.

SOURCE Société du 375e

Élise Daoust, 514 571-5191, [email protected]