A new post graduate scholarship, announced today by the PEI International Year of Older Persons Planning Committee will be a permanent legacy of this special year.
The new scholarship of $1000 annually to the University of Prince Edward Island will be awarded to a PEI student pursuing post graduate studies in gerontology, the study of aging.
Health and Social Services Minister Mildred Dover advised that the establishment of the scholarship is a very appropriate way to commemorate the International Year of Older Persons.
"The new scholarship will be an excellent incentive to encourage young people to consider a career in gerontology. This will become increasingly important in future as the number of older people in our population increases," she said.
Rick Moran, president of the PEI Gerontology Association said the need for practitioners in the field of gerontology will certainly increase as the population ages. "The scholarship is the first of its kind, and we hope the success of this project will encourage others to consider similar projects. Attracting more young people to careers in gerontology will clearly support our efforts to support healthy aging in our province," he said.
The International Year of Older Persons planning committee raised $25,000 for the scholarship over a four-month period from February to June, 1999 The $25,000 will remain in an endowment fund at the University of Prince Edward Island. The University will award an annual scholarship of $1000 using interest on the principal.
Claude Bell, chair of the Scholarship Committee and member of the PEI planning committee said he has been overwhelmed by the generosity of Islanders. "Through their outstanding support, Islanders have shown they are very interested in supporting such initiatives which help ensure a strong health care system for today and tomorrow," he said.
The International Year of Older Persons Legacy Scholarship is presently outlined in the University of Prince Edward Island calendar. The first scholarship will be awarded in the year 2000.