OTTAWA, Feb. 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT), one of the world’s largest and most innovative satellite operators, today announced the launch of an expanded 2022 Women in STEM national scholarship program, as well as the winners of the company’s inaugural program in 2021.
The scholarship program focuses on closing the gender gap in the sectors of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and helps to inspire, prepare and enable more women to join these important and fast-growing fields.
Now open for submissions, the Telesat’s Women in STEM 2022 scholarship program aims to continue inspiring the next generation of female innovators and leaders. It will provide eight (8) full-time students with a scholarship of $5,000 each. New for 2022, the program will accept applicants from all years of an undergraduate program.
Scholarship applications are being accepted until 1 p.m. ET on March 15, 2022. Telesat intends for this program to reflect Canada’s broad diversity and we strongly encourage Indigenous and visible minority students to apply. Scholarship Partners Canada (SPC), a division of Universities Canada, administers the scholarship program on behalf of Telesat. For more information on the scholarship program, eligibility, and application, visit https://www.telesat.com/scholarships.
“We all benefit when women choose careers in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Marci Ien, Canada’s Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth. “My cabinet colleagues and I are committed to leveling the playing field and delivering on the promise of improving access to training and education in these sought-after fields. I would like to congratulate the impressive 2021 winners and applaud Telesat’s leadership in showing the next generation of women and girls that a career in STEM is more than possible.”
As part of Telesat’s inaugural 2021 program, eight (8) inspiring women from all corners of Canada who were in their third or fourth year of a bachelor’s program in a STEM field were each awarded $5,000 scholarships.
“I’m grateful for this opportunity provided by Telesat, and I’m proud to stand as a female scientist and engineer,” said Lauren Healy, a third-year student studying biochemistry and chemical engineering and a 2021 scholarship winner. “Most importantly, I am so excited about encouraging other highly capable women to pursue degrees in science and engineering.”
To view biographies of the 2021 Women in STEM scholarship winners, visit https://www.telesat.com/scholarships.
“Attracting more women to STEM, where they account for only about a quarter of those employed in those fields, is a key initiative for Telesat, and should be for other organizations in Canada and beyond,” said Telesat’s Michele Beck, Senior Vice President, Canadian Sales and a graduate of the University of Ottawa with a BaSc degree in Electrical Engineering. “Leveraging Canada’s rich diversity and encouraging and supporting those who are underrepresented in STEM programs will be pivotal for our company’s – and the nation’s - long-term success.”
About Telesat
Backed by a legacy of engineering excellence, reliability and industry-leading customer service, Telesat (NASDAQ and TSX: TSAT) is one of the largest and most successful global satellite operators. Telesat works collaboratively with its customers to deliver critical connectivity solutions that tackle the world’s most complex communications challenges, providing powerful advantages that improve their operations and drive profitable growth.
Continuously innovating to meet the connectivity demands of the future, Telesat Lightspeed, the company’s Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite network, will be the first and only LEO network optimized to meet the rigorous requirements of telecom, government, maritime and aeronautical customers. Operating under its international priority Ka-band spectrum rights, Telesat Lightspeed will redefine global satellite connectivity with ubiquitous, affordable, high-capacity links with fibre-like speeds. For updates on Telesat, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, or visit www.telesat.com.
Media Contact:
Gregory FCA for Telesat
Charity Lacey
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Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
This news release contains statements that are not based on historical fact and are “forward-looking statements’’ within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Canadian securities laws. When used herein, statements which are not historical in nature, or which contain the words “will,” “can,” or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
These forward-looking statements are based on Telesat’s current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond Telesat’s control, are difficult to predict, and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements. Known risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: risks associated with operating satellites and providing satellite services, including satellite construction or launch delays, launch failures, in-orbit failures or impaired satellite performance; the impact of COVID-19 on Telesat’s business and the economic environment; the ability to deploy successfully an advanced global Low Earth Orbit (“LEO”) satellite constellation, and the timing of any such deployment; the availability of government and/or other funding for the LEO satellite constellation; the receipt of proceeds in relation to the re-allocation of C-band spectrum; volatility in exchange rates; the ability to expand Telesat’s existing satellite utilization; and risks associated with domestic and foreign government regulation. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Investors should review the other risk factors discussed in the non-offering prospectus of Telesat Corporation and Telesat Partnership dated November 16, 2021 on the website maintained by the Canadian securities regulatory authorities at the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval at www.sedar.com.
Telesat believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Furthermore, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Additional risks are detailed in the non-offering prospectus, including, without limitation, those described under “Risk factors.” Except as may be required by applicable law, Telesat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.
