For Immediate Release October 19th, 2016 The 2016-2017 Student Ambassadors are gearing-up for their year-long adventure Fredericton, NB - The Pond-Deshpande Centre and the New Brunswick Social Policy and Research Network are pleased to announce their 2015-2016 cohort of Student Ambassadors. Each academic year, based upon a competitive application process, a cohort of students is selected from across New Brunswick. The Student Ambassador Program (SAP) provides a first-hand look into the world of entrepreneurship as a mindset, as an approach and as a potential career path. Throughout this experiential learning program, students build technical skills and learn about opportunities in social entrepreneurship, social innovation, and beyond. On Oct 22nd, The Pond-Deshpande Centre and the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network will officially kick off the 2016-2017 Student Ambassador Program. The participants of the program are 15 passionate students selected from post-secondary institutions throughout New Brunswick. Five program alumni will also be joining as active leaders and mentors to the incoming cohort of Ambassadors. The Student Ambassador Experience encompasses:

• Building a peer-network of like-minded individuals. • Boston Tour of entrepreneurial ecosystem including programming on social impact and social policy. • A grant up to $1,000 cash to test an innovative idea with a team, mentors, and funding. • Attending East Cost Startup Week • Leading and organizing the Youth Entrepreneurship Summit (YES Atlantic). • Opportunities to explore the social entrepreneurial ecosystem in India and other international opportunities • More than 45 opt-in opportunities including the GovMaker Conference, Ideas Festival, Pitch Competitions,

Breakfast with NB Business Council, Startup Weekend and many more. “This will be our 5th year of running this program – already half a decade! – and we are amazed by what our SAP alumni have achieved, and are incredibly excited for this cohort to join this community of changemakers and leaders. SAP students believe that deep change can happen in New Brunswick and they want to be at the forefront of it, leading the charge. The PDC and NBSPRN are working together to ensure that these students are equipped to be the leaders and innovators they strive to be, and support and guide them on their journey in any way we can.” - Karina Leblanc, Executive Director, Pond-Deshpande Centre. “These are exciting times for New Brunswick and for the young leaders that live and study here. NB-SPRN is thrilled to be part of developing a network of resilient, socially-minded leaders. Investing in the development of our future social entrepreneurs and public innovators means investing in our young people. This group of students will play a leading role in creating a desirable future for their home campuses, our province, and our country, and will be powerful allies for addressing our most complex challenges.”

- Nick Scott, Executive Director, New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network

Contact for all media inquiries and student interviews: Symone Jennings: Student Ambassador Program Coordinator, Pond-Deshpande Centre, e-mail: s.jennings@unb.ca, phone: 506-260-0048 Bethany Deshpande: Community Engagement Coordinator, New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network, e-mail: bethany@rrps-nb-sprn.ca, phone: 418-570-2197 The Pond-Deshpande Centre at the University of New Brunswick acts as a catalyst to grow and support a stronger culture of innovation and high-impact entrepreneurship in the province of New Brunswick. It was founded through the support of Gururaj “Desh” Deshpande, President and Chairman of Sparta Group LLC, Jaishree Deshpande, Treasurer of Sparta Group LLC, and a founder of the Deshpande Foundation, and Gerry Pond, Chairman of Mariner Partners and CEO of East Valley Ventures. For more information, visit www.ponddeshpande.ca For a complete list of 2015-2016 Student Ambassadors, please see the following page.  

                                                                                                       

Student Name Educational institution Major or focus of studies

Amber Weekes UNB Business Administration

Eke Kalu UNB Biology- Chemistry

Hayley Marion McLean RC Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership

Hannah Fournier RC Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership

Ines Hamam UDEM Electrical Engineering

Jacob Dicks RC Bachelor of Philosophy in Interdisciplinary Leadership

Jameson Cunningham UNB Bsc in Civil Engineering

Jules César Katagurutse UDEM Law

Kayla Johnson UNB SJ Bachelor of Business Administration

Matthew Sampson UNB Electrical Engineering

Ninh Khuong MTA Biochemistry

Phil McDonald NBCC-Moncton Marketing

Serena Smith UNB Law

Thiago Monteiro Barbosa NBCC-Moncton Web and Mobile Development

Tiziana Zevallos STU Journalism and Political Science