The Grande Prairie Public School Division is proud to announce local businessman and philanthropist Sean Sargent as this year’s nominee for the Alberta School Board Association’s Friends of Education Award.

The award recognizes organizations and individuals that have made a significant contribution to education in communities across Alberta.

With a history of providing contributions to public education dating back to the early 1990’s, Sean Sargent and the Sargent Family Foundation have supported local schools in a variety of ways. This includes active participation in the Junior Achievement Program where Sean Sargent would share his business and economic expertise with area schools as well as supporting students in grade 5 and 6 to develop their sense of community service through the Rotary Green-a-thon, a project Sargent played a leadership role in for over a decade.

Additionally, the Foundation has regularly supported school and community playground initiatives. Sean Sargent and the Sargent Family Foundation’s most recent and notable contribution to the education community has been their participation in the Annual Tim Hortons' Smile Cookie Program, an initiative that sees students and staff of every school in The City of Grande Prairie and surrounding communities receive a smile cookie, with 100% of the proceeds going to the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation. For 11 consecutive years, Sean Sargent, AKA “Cookie Monster”, has been delivering cookies out of his “A-Team” van and last year’s deliveries totaled almost 21 000 cookies. The result of these donations is tens of thousands of dollars for the GP Regional Hospital Foundation and many more smiles on the faces of students in our community.

With a history of service in time, expertise and funding, Sean Sargent and the Sargent Family Foundation embody community support and he is a very deserving nominee for the Alberta School Board Association’s Friends of Education Award.

“Sean Sargent has a history of involvement with the Grande Prairie Public School Division, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation Board, as well at the Community Foundation of Northwestern Alberta. Sean always gives of self and is willing to provide organizational and financial support to the community. Sean is a very valuable community supporter, and the students and citizens of Grande Prairie are fortunate to benefit from his time and generosity.” Sandy McDonald, Superintendent, Grande Prairie Public School Division