SACKVILLE, NB — Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport today introduced the Rob Robichaud Vantage Airport Group Scholarship in Aviation. The new scholarship offers $9,000 to an international student to attend Mount Allison University and enter the Bachelor of Science (Aviation) program — a unique undergraduate program that pairs a degree with pilot training — offered by the university in partnership with Moncton Flight College.

“On behalf of the airport and Vantage Airport Group, we are very excited to launch this scholarship and further invest in our community in recognition of our past CEO Rob Robichaud,” said Bernard LeBlanc, President and CEO of the airport. “Through this scholarship, we are investing in our community and giving a deserving student an opportunity for a Canadian learning experience, while strengthening connections across Vantage’s global network.”

Vantage manages both Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International (YQM) and Lynden Pindling International in Nassau, The Bahamas. The scholarship is named in honour of the late Edgar (Rob) Robichaud, past CEO of the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport, retired RCAF lieutenant-colonel, well-known community leader and past board member for several Moncton-area organizations.

“We are delighted that the Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International Airport and Vantage Airport Group have chosen to establish this new scholarship in honour of Mr. Robichaud,” says Robert Campbell, President and Vice-Chancellor of Mount Allison University. “At a time when there is a demand for trained pilots in the workforce, support for our aviation students is essential. We thank them for this consequential gift.”

The Rob Robichaud Vantage Airport Group Scholarship in Aviation will be awarded for the first time in 2018-2019 and will be available to a full-time international student in, or entering, the Bachelor of Science (Aviation) degree program, with preference to students from The Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Caribbean. The scholarship will be awarded to one student per year at a value of $9,000, unless there are two equally ideal and qualified students, in which case two scholarships will be awarded at a value of $4,500 each.

“International students make a great contribution to our community, and we are so pleased to help attract them to our region and facilitate their education,” said LeBlanc. “Students from The Bahamas and their families will travel to Greater Moncton to experience our city and our leading university. This is another benefit to having a well-connected international airport within our community, backed by Vantage and its global network.”

Established in 2008, Mount Allison’s Aviation program is offered in partnership with the Moncton Flight College. The Bachelor of Science degree program is one of only a few in Canada that allows students to earn an undergraduate degree that incorporates flight and ground school training. Students focus on subjects relevant to aviation such as geography, mathematics, and physics at Mount Allison; complete ground school training at the Moncton Flight College; and complete more than 200 hours of flight training. Graduates have a high level of employment immediately following their degree (mta.ca/aviation).

The University has one comprehensive application for admissions and scholarships. Interested applicants can apply to Mount Allison at mta.ca/apply indicating their interest in the BSc in Aviation to be considered.

Photo captions: Mount Allison Bachelor of Aviation students in training at the Moncton Flight College

(Left to right): Bernard LeBlanc, President and CEO of Greater Moncton Roméo LeBlanc International (YQM) Airport and Jeff Wright, Director of Development at Mount Allison University