Lenovo Canada announces $2-million donation to boost opportunities for UOIT students

OSHAWA, Ont. - Lenovo Canada Inc. officials were at Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) today to announce a $2-million investment that will provide significant financial aid to students at the two post-secondary institutions and deliver $1 million in computer hardware.

Peter Mockler, president and chief executive officer of Lenovo Canada, a global leader in the personal computer market, made the announcement at the schools' Oshawa, Ontario campus. The Lenovo Canada Inc. Access Awards have been established to provide enhanced opportunities for post-secondary education to students requiring financial assistance, particularly those who are first-generation, post-secondary students and/or a single parent. The gift qualifies for the Government of Ontario's fund matching program, the Ontario Trust for Student Support, boosting the total endowment to $2 million.

"By establishing the Lenovo Canada Inc. Access Awards we hope to remove one of the barriers that students and potential students may face in their pursuit of a post-secondary education," said Mockler. "Through these awards, we hope we have opened the door to post-secondary education for those who may have believed that this was not an option they could pursue. At Lenovo, we strongly believe that if you provide people with the opportunity to succeed, they will."

The Lenovo Student Access Awards will support full-time students who meet the Ontario Student Assistance Program's (OSAP) Ontario residency requirements; demonstrate financial need; and are in good academic standing. In recognition of Canadian Equity and Diversity legislation and initiatives, special consideration will be made to students who are members of visible minorities; persons with disabilities; of aboriginal descent; and women studying for non-traditional careers.

"On behalf of Durham College, I would like to thank Lenovo for its generous support. This donation helps our students alleviate some of the financial challenges they face, and allows them to focus on developing their potential so they can pursue rewarding careers and make a difference in the world," said Leah Myers, president of Durham College. "Partnerships with leading businesses such as Lenovo help ensure that our students have a high-quality learning experience with the benefit of the latest technology."

In addition, the donation of $1 million in computer hardware will help renew computer resources and support academic programs for both Durham College and UOIT students.

"This remarkable announcement is truly appreciated by the students and faculty of UOIT," said Dr. Ronald Bordessa, president of UOIT. "Not only will Lenovo's contribution support students financially, but it will further strengthen UOIT's leading-edge learning environment, which allows students to connect with their professors and peers, any time and anywhere. By providing our students with the latest in technology and services, we continue to offer them every possible tool needed to succeed, putting them one step ahead upon graduation."

UOIT and Durham College are increasingly attracting the support of respected corporations such as Lenovo partly due to their reputation for being post-secondary visionaries in the use of technology and providing their students and professors with the high-tech tools and state-of-the-art facilities required to succeed in challenging, supportive, and inclusive environments.

Lenovo Canada is committed to being a responsible and active corporate citizen, consistently working to improve its business while contributing to the development of society. Lenovo believes that business is an integral part of society and it is dedicated to working together with its employees and local communities to improve the quality of life at work and at home.

-30-

About UOIT
As an innovative university, UOIT delivers a leading-edge learning environment that uniquely combines academic knowledge, research opportunities, hands-on skills and a vibrant student life. UOIT's 5,000 students are taught by professors who are experts in their fields from around the world. As Ontario's first laptop-based university, the university offers more than 30 challenging undergraduate and graduate degree programs in the fields of Business and Information Technology, Criminology, Justice and Policy Studies, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, and Sciences. UOIT's commitment to research excellence has resulted in millions of dollars in grants and awards, including five Canada Research Chairs. To find out more, visit www.uoit.ca or call 905.721.8668.

About Durham College
Durham College is the premier college in Canada for career-focused students who will succeed in a challenging, supporting and inclusive learning environment. Offering approximately 80 different full-time market-driven programs and hundreds of continuing education and part-time programs, the college has provided students with access to exceptional teachers with real-world experience for close to 40 years. With a graduate employment rate of over 90 per cent and employer satisfaction rate of close to 95 per cent, Durham College gives students everything they need to obtain great careers and make a difference in the world. The college has more than 6,100 full-time students, thousands of part-time students and almost 1,600 apprentices. For more information, visit www.durhamcollege.ca or call 905.721.2000.

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building the world's best engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centres in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information, see www.lenovo.com/ca.

For more information, contact:

About Ontario Tech University
A modern, forwarding-thinking university, Ontario Tech advances the discovery and application of knowledge to accelerate economic growth, regional development and social innovation. We inspire and equip our students and our graduates to make a positive impact in a tech-focused world. For us, it’s not only about developing the next tech breakthrough. Understanding and integrating the social and ethical implications of technology differentiates us as university. Learn more at ontariotechu.ca.

Media contact
Melissa Levy
Communications and Marketing
Ontario Tech University
905.721.8668 ext. 2513
melissa.levy@dc-uoit.ca