DEVELOPMENT
Leap of Faith When Edwards B.Comm. graduate Conrad Neufeldt came to the University of Saskatchewan in 2006, he didn’t feel that any of the student awards or bursaries applied to his situa on. “I was homeschooled from grade three on,” he says. “Ge ng into university was a huge hurdle for most because grades were difficult to validate back then. And then when I looked into applying for a bursary, I found there were many for different categories of students, but homeschooling wasn’t touched.” For Neufeldt, who has a strong philanthropic background and believes business should have social impact, the response was simple. He created his own. “I wanted to start a bursary that spoke to someone like me. Back then I didn’t have the financial means to do it, but now I have my foo ng.”
award to go to the person that
could have the largest impact on others going forward,” he explains. “I hope whoever wins this award someday becomes very successful and creates an award that’s personal to them.” Neufeldt says the $500 annual gi isn’t a huge commitment, but he believes if everyone gave just a small amount, the world would be a far be er place. “Let’s say you make $50,000 a year. A $500 bursary would only be one per cent of that wealth. That should be very manageable for most people,” he says. Neufeldt intends to build upon the bursary as he moves forward in his career. And he’s set even higher standards for himself when it comes to philanthropy. One of his goals is to influence and personally help one million people. “A bursary will help one person. It’s the con nua on of a long-term goal,” he says. To other alumni, Neufeldt says, “If you’ve already been thinking about giving back, stop thinking about it and do it. If you haven’t been thinking about it, start thinking. It doesn’t have to be big. Do what’s in your means and just do it.”
The Edwards School of Business advocates diversity in educa on and is pleased to announce that the inaugural Conrad Neufeldt Entrance Award for Homeschooled Students will be presented at the start of the 2014/15 academic year. With the guidance of the Development Officer Jan Kalinowski, Neufeldt created an award with terms he felt were important, such as financial need and a history of volunteering. “I want the
by Jessica Wallace
To learn more about star ng a student award or bursary, or suppor ng the Edwards School in other ways, contact Jan at 306.966.5347 or kalinowski@edwards.usask.ca.
PHOTO BY LARRY KWOK
“If you’ve already been thinking about giving back,
stop thinking about it and do it.
THRIVE
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