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UNB Saint John s promise partnership garners Royal attention

Author: Communications

Posted on May 25, 2012

Category: UNB Saint John

On Monday, their Royal Highnesses, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, toured New Brunswick, stopping by a school in Saint John that UNB has been involved with through a program called the Promise Partnership. 

The Promise Partnership is a close collaboration between UNB Saint John students, faculty and staff as well as teachers and staff at Hazen White / St. Francis School. As part of the program, every student in the school is assigned a mentor from UNB Saint John. The mentors help students improve competencies in areas such as reading and mathematics. 

The promise partnership is one way that UNB is helping build a better province, while at the same time creating a better university for its students, faculty and staff through community involvement. 

The Royal Highnesses spent time touring the school and learning about the Promise Partnership as well as a other community partnerships. The Royals chatted with mentors, students and staff at the Promise Partnership in the UNB Associated Alumni Mentor Room. 

Before leaving, Prince Charles joined in a game of street hockey with students and surprised Jennifer Carhart with a Diamond Jubliee medal. 

"The kids were very excited to meet royalty," says Stephen Stone, a UNB Saint John student and a community liasion officer with the Promise Partnership. 

"They have been preparing for the visit for weeks now, decorating the school with diamond jubilee memorabilia to commemorate the event."

Stone noted that both Prince Charles and his wife Camilla showed a keen interest in the Promise Partnership

"They spent time talking to each mentor/mentee pair who were in the room during the visit.  The Duchess sat down with a couple of students to read with them, while the Prince joked with mentors and students and joined in on a game of Jenga!"

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