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A new scholarship opportunity will now be available to student athletes in the University of New Brunswick’s (UNB) REDS Track and Field Program thanks to a $200,000 leadership gift from The Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation.

The $4,000 Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Track and Field Scholarship will be bestowed upon one member of the REDS women's track and field team and one member of the REDS men's track and field team each year. Students on both the Fredericton and Saint John campuses are eligible to seek these awards.

UNB’s Provost and Vice-President Academic, Dr. Petra Hauf, praised The Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation for providing student athletes additional support to pursue excellence in sport.

“Track and Field is one of the most demanding student sports,” says Hauf. “We are very grateful to Arthur and Sandra Irving and The Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation for their generous gift of this scholarship, which will give students more time to focus on their training and their studies.”

The Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation supports numerous scholarships in Canada, the U.S. and Ireland. This scholarship is unique in that it focuses on financial assistance for hardworking athletes.

“It is our hope this scholarship helps attract more students and provides them an opportunity to train at a world-class facility right here in Saint John, the Irving Oil Field House, while pursuing their athletic and educational goals at a top academic institution in UNB,” says Arthur L. Irving.

Director of REDS Athletics Jeff Speedy says the Arthur L. Irving Family Foundation Track and Field Scholarship will help UNB to attract promising student athletes from New Brunswick and across Canada.

“Students come to UNB to train and compete because they know we’re looking out for them,” Speedy says. “A gift like this tells students that at UNB, they will have the support of the entire community.”

Jill Langille became the first UNB REDS athlete to win an event at Boston University, placing first in the 200-metre sprint with a personal best time of 25.15 seconds at the Sharon Colyear-Danvile season opener in December. She says having the community behind you is a strong motivator.

“It feels good to be part of a community that believes in what we do and that has invested in helping us become who we want to become,“ Langille says. “I’d like to thank Arthur and Sandra Irving for all that they have done and continue to do for us. When we run, when we win, when we grow – you're right there with us.”

Saint John Track & Field Club and The Greater Saint John Field House President Bill MacMackin says this gift sends an important message to the community.

“It tells other prospective team sponsors and scholarship donors that we, as a community, believe in our student athletes and in their capacity to achieve greatness on and off the track,” says MacMackin.

“The REDS program is strong. We have a great facility in the Irving Oil Field House, and with scholarships like this, we can retain and recruit competitive athletes. It is my hope that this is the first of many investments that local businesses and foundations will make in our track and field team.”

The REDS Track and Field program is UNB’s only bi-campus team. The program brings athletes in Fredericton and Saint John together to train at Saint John’s Irving Oil Field House.

Photo caption (left to right): Jeff Speedy, Ben Perrett, Jillian Langille , Dr. Petra Hauf, Alex Coffin, Bill MacMackin and Julia Akinson.

Media contact: Kathleen McLaughlin, Media Relations Strategist at talktous@unb.ca.