PDC & NBSPRN are Proud to Announce 27 Student Ambassadors for 2015-2016

October 14, 2015 | by: Heather Boyd-Kinnie

Press Release: October 8, 2015

The Pond-Deshpande Centre, in collaboration with the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network, is pleased to announce their 2015-2016 Student Ambassadors. Each academic year, based upon a competitive application process, a cohort of students is selected to represent post-secondary institutions across New Brunswick.

Successful applicants commit to the program for the academic year, and many choose to actively participate for two years and beyond.

The Student Ambassador Program provides a first-hand look into the world of entrepreneurship as a mindset, as an approach and as a potential career path. Through this experiential learning program, students gain valuable knowledge, build technical skills and also learn about social entrepreneurship, social innovation, social policy and triple bottom line companies.

On Oct 27th, The PDC and NBSPRN will officially kick off the 2015-2016 Student Ambassador Program, at a reception at Planet Hatch. Because of the high caliber of the applicants, we will increase our usual cohort of 25 students for this year and welcome 27 Ambassadors to our flagship program.

The Student Ambassador Experience encompasses:

Meeting a peer network of 25 like-minded individuals.

Boston Tour of entrepreneurial ecosystem including programming on social impact and social policy.

Leading and organizing the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (YES Atlantic).

Executing entrepreneurial campus projects with a team, mentors and funding. The focus is on inspiring the entrepreneurial mindset and high-impact entrepreneurship.

Receiving up to $1,000 to test an innovative idea.

Attending East Cost Startup Week and the Social Impact Dialogue

Opportunities to explore the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and other international opportunities

Over 45 opt-in opportunities such as GovMaker Conference, Ideas Festival, Pitch Competitions, Breakfast with NB Business Council, Startup Weekend and many more.

“This will be our 4th year of running this program, and it’s amazing to see such passion displayed from students who want to see change happen. The students we meet and interact with everyday aren’t content with sticking with the status quo. They believe that real social change can happen in New Brunswick and they want to be at the forefront of it, leading the charge. This year’s cohort has such a diverse group of students, from a wide range of disciplines, who are ready to collaborate and start tackling some of these issues together. We’re here to ensure that these students are equipped to be the changemakers they strive to be and guide them on their journey.” -Karina Leblanc, Executive Director, Pond-Deshpande Centre.

“We’re noticing that students in the province are eager to get involved in the community. They are starting initiatives, building websites, and seeking ways to raise awareness about everything from social to environmental issues. They want to have a seat at the table and be a part of the discussion on how they can help solve the current challenges we’re dealing with as a society and how we can all build a blueprint for the future.” – Joanna Nickerson, Social Innovation Manager, Pond- Deshpande Centre

Contacts for all media inquiries and student interviews:

Symone Jennings: Student Ambassador Program Coordinator, s.jennings@unb.ca 506.260.0048

Joanna Nickerson, Social Innovation Manager, jo.nickerson@unb.ca 506.260.0415

The Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick acts as a catalyst to grow and support a stronger culture of innovation and high-impact entrepreneurship in the province of New Brunswick. It was founded through the support of Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, President and Chairman of Sparta Group LLC, Jaishree Deshpande, Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC, and a founder of the Deshpande Foundation, and Gerry Pond, Chairman of Mariner Partners and CEO of East Valley Ventures. For more information, visit www.ponddeshpande.ca