An employee at Orillia’s Walmart is one of 73 recipients from stores across Canada to earn a $2,000 scholarship from the company.
Fouz Ul Mubeen, a student at Orillia Secondary School, was thrilled to get the happy news via email recently.
“I read the email with the announcement again and again to make sure I read it correctly,” he said, adding he “was very happy and grateful to have been selected” for the scholarship.
“I rushed downstairs and informed my parents right away. They were even happier than me,” he quipped.
The annual scholarship program awards $2,000 to stand-out Walmart associates or their dependents to put towards their first year of post-secondary education.
Ul Mubeen plans to study biotechnology at the University of Ottawa.
For the past 10 months, Ul Mubeen has been a pharmacy assistant at the Walmart store in Orillia.
“In my past year of work with Walmart Pharmacy, I have grown in many different ways,” he told OrilliaMatters.
“Working in a high-volume pharmacy has taught me to multitask and manage my time wisely. My data entry and computation skills have advanced,” he said.
“As well, I have learned to professionally communicate with customers and health-care experts.”
He said “these experiences will be very useful to me throughout my career.”
Ul Mubeen was also thankful for the help he has received along the way.
“I also received invaluable mentorship from my Pharmacy Manager and team, and I feel more convinced than ever to pursue a career in the science and health field.”
This year Walmart Canada is awarding a total of $146,000 in scholarships to 73 associates and their family members.
Since 1994, the company has sponsored more than 1,200 students, providing more than $2.5 million in scholarships.
All recipients were chosen based on their academic achievement, extracurricular activities, community involvement and financial need.
"We are elated to award the Walmart Associate Scholarship to a very diverse and deserving group of students, especially during these unique times," said Nabeela Ixtabalan, Executive Vice President, People and Corporate Affairs for Walmart Canada.
"We are so proud of these associates and their family members and were very impressed with all this year's applicants. Walmart takes great pride in supporting the future leaders of tomorrow."
