Press Release
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Samuel LeGresley is the Recipient of the Bourse Roméo-LeBlanc pour la poursuite de l’excellence en journalisme / Roméo-LeBlanc Scholarship for the Advancement of Excellence in Journalism
The scholarship is worth $30,000, or $15,000 per year for the third and fourth years of studies. It is intended for third-year students of the Information-Communication program pursuing studies in journalism.
During the past two years, Samuel LeGresley has held several positions. He was vice-chair and a reporter at the student newspaper Le Front and president, web designer and promotional graphic artist for Médias Acadiens Universitaires. He was a host and columnist for the Université de Moncton’s student and community radio station CKUM 93.5 FM. He is a high school graduate from L’Odyssée, of Moncton.
“I salute Brunswick News for its generosity that allowed the creation of this important scholarship fund. It is an exemplary gesture that supports emerging Acadian journalists. I also want to congratulate the first recipient of the scholarship, Samuel LeGresley. He already stands out among his peers as a promising young leader,” said president and vice-chancellor Raymond Théberge.
The creation of the scholarship fund was made possible thanks to a $1 million donation made by Brunswick News to the Excellence campaign in 2005 to create the Roméo LeBlanc Chair in Journalism. At the donor’s request, the Chair was terminated earlier this year in order to create the scholarship fund, which is intended to provide direct assistance to New Brunswick students who wish to pursue excellence in journalism.
The first recipient of this new scholarship fund demonstrates all of the qualities needed to attain excellence in the field of journalism, which is the main objective of the scholarship fund, said Sylvain Montreuil, editor of l’Etoile, on behalf of Brunswick News. “Samuel is dynamic, professional, and thrives to achieve success in every project in which he is involved. He has already accomplished a great deal at a young age at the local, provincial and national level”.
“This scholarship is an excellent way for Brunswick News to continue to honour the late Right Honourable Romeo LeBlanc”, Montreuil said. LeBlanc, who died in 2009, always maintained close ties with the Université de Moncton. A graduate of the Université Saint-Joseph, he started his career as a history professor at the Collège Saint-Louis in Edmundston. From 1971 to 1972, he was vice-president of the institution and responsible for public relations. He served as chancellor from 2001 to 2004.
“I want to thank Brunswick News for honouring my father's memory”, said Mr. LeBlanc’s son Dominic LeBlanc.“He also worked as a reporter during his career. I am delighted that such a prestigious scholarship will support and inspire la relève in journalism in New Brunswick. This includes Samuel Legresley, its first recipient. My father, who served as chancellor of the Université de Moncton, would have been very happy.”
Applicants for the scholarship must have graduated from high school in New Brunswick and be enrolled as full-time, third-year students in the Bachelor of Arts (information-communication program) in the journalism track. They must be in good academic standing and should have demonstrated leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities, including involvement in media or communications.
The Fonds de bourses Roméo-LeBlanc pour la poursuite de l’excellence en journalisme / Roméo-LeBlanc Scholarship Fund for the Advancement of Excellence in Journalism is one of the largest scholarship funds to have been created by donors at the Université de Moncton. Its current market value is assessed at $1,328,497.53. The new scholarship is the largest available at the undergraduate level.
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