Lakehead University welcomed elementary school students to campus through the Achievement Program
Tom Warden and Amanda Stefanile spoke to students about the Achievement Program while a special guest, Wolfie, snuck up behind them.
June 9, 2022 – Thunder Bay, Ont.
Lakehead University’s ActiveU staff hosted around 60 students from the Superior North Catholic District School Board and the Superior-Greenstone District School Board on Thursday, June 9 as part of the annual Achievement Program Day on Campus.
Lakehead started the Achievement Program in 2011 to help students obtain a post-secondary education.
The Achievement Program is Lakehead University’s commitment to supporting access to post-secondary education by providing an opportunity to potential future students who experience socioeconomic barriers to obtaining post-secondary education.
“This extremely important program helps open doors and remove barriers to deciding on a university degree,” said Tom Warden, Lakehead University’s Athletics Director.
“The program connects youth with athletics and recreation and provides a welcoming environment that allows youth to feel comfortable at Lakehead University.”
The Achievement Program offers children who might otherwise not have been able to attend University the opportunity to experience it. School boards choose eligible schools based on socioeconomic status and families self enrol.
Children in grades 4-12 participate in programming yearly in their school, community and at Lakehead University, and in return earn financial support for Lakehead University once they graduate high school.
On Thursday approximately 60 students visited campus from four different elementary schools.
“The Achievement Program at Lakehead University opens doors and creates opportunities for students that would otherwise not exist,” said Maria Vasanelli, Director of Education at the Superior North Catholic District School Board.
“It’s visionary and helps young students start on a track moving forward,” Vasanelli added.
Nicole Morden Cormier, Director of Education for Superior-Greenstone District School Board, said the school board values this partnership with Lakehead University.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to work with the Achievement Program to provide equity of access to post-secondary education and provide students with the skills needed to achieve academic success,” she said.
Amanda Stefanile, Achievement Program Coordinator, said she was happy to have students back on campus for the day.
“I'm so excited to host our students on campus this year,” Stefanile said.
“The smiles on the kids’ faces as they participate in recreational, educational and cultural programming is the highlight for me. I really want to thank Lakehead’s faculty and staff for their assistance in providing hands-on programming for our students.”
Achievement Program Day on Campus had students exploring campus through educational activities offered by ActiveU, the School of Kinesiology, Let’s Talk Science, and Indigenous Initiatives.
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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8010 ext. 8372 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2022 World Universities Rankings for the third consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 10,000 students in THE's 2022 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.