ULethbridge 2022-2023 Donor Impact Report

2022-2023

Your support gives students, researchers, faculty and staff the encouragement and the means to be innovators and entrepreneurs, advocates and problem-solvers, social justice warriors and team players. Your gifts inspire our community to push boundaries, defy odds and make meaningful change in communities around the world.

Thank you for sharing our vision.

This year’s Donor Impact Report features stories of support from across the ULethbridge community and highlights the impact of your generosity on students, research and the broader community. Through these stories, and many more, we see the incredible potential in what we can accomplish together: a future where even more students achieve their dreams.

As we look ahead, we know increased financial support is critical in ensuring a university education remains

an option for more students. The ULethbridge Board of Governors’ $10-million pledge in match funds for the establishment of new endowed student scholarships is already helping significantly increase the sustainability of our current awards program. In the following pages, you’ll meet some of our early supporters and learn how their gifts are making a difference, both now and for generations to come.

We look forward to working alongside you as we ensure even more students benefit from a ULethbridge education. On behalf of our students, alumni, faculty and staff, thank you for your continued support.

Kathy Greenwood Vice-President, External Relations University of Lethbridge

Thank you for your generous contributions to the University of Lethbridge.

Enhancing endowed support for students

Acknowledging that increased financial support is critical in ensuring a university education remains an option for more students, the University of Lethbridge Board of Governors pledged $10 million in match funds for the establishment of new endowed student scholarships in 2022.

The funds, which will be used to attract and inspire philanthropic support from the community for student awards and scholarships, will significantly increase the sustainability of the ULethbridge awards program and lay a strong foundation for the future.

“Our students are at the centre of everything we do here, and student support and the student experience have long been hallmarks of ULethbridge,” says Board of Governors Chair Dean Gallimore (BMgt ’84). “What is available to our students is an enriching experience across a breadth of programs and majors, and one that prepares them as critical thinkers and global citizens. We see this endowment of funds as a means to remove barriers and allow more students the opportunity to pursue their passions and realize success.”

By offering $10 million in match contributions, the University is aiming to build a significant base of support that will unlock opportunities for future generations of students. It will allow ULethbridge to further attract, retain and reward diverse and promising students now and for generations to come.

“I applaud the board for this substantial commitment, which will have both an immediate and everlasting impact on the University’s mission to educate students as adaptive learners and strong-minded community leaders,” says ULethbridge’s former president and vicechancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon.

“This pledge is a vote of confidence in what we do, who we are as a university and the future that is before us.”

Scholarships and awards play a key role in student success. For some, scholarships are the incentive and reward for hard work and dedication, community service or athletic excellence. For others, scholarships relieve the financial burden postsecondary education can place on themselves and their families, and in some cases, scholarship funds create access and make the dream of attending university possible.

“I have had the opportunity to speak to many of our students who have received scholarships over the years and the difference it makes in their lives is substantial,” says Mahon. “So many speak of how scholarship support allows them to focus on their studies, pursue their passions and really embrace the full university experience.”

Campaign Leadership

A distinguished group of alumni and community leaders are championing the student scholarship initiative and are helping to build a plan to move it forward.

Chancellor Emerita Dr. Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02, LLD ’21), Chancellor Terry Whitehead (BA ’94), Bernadine Boulet (BEd ’88) and Roland Labuhn (BMgt ’90) have all been selected as outstanding ambassadors for the University.

“These scholarships will help people who may be in a difficult situation get access to postsecondary education, or maybe they will be used to accelerate the path current students are already on. The beauty of this campaign is it can follow many channels — it’s all about helping students get to where they want to be.”

“I want to see this campaign improve accessibility so that more students get assistance with their education. People who make a donation, even a small donation, will see that gift grow and make a difference thanks to the match funds.”

“You can make a difference in a student’s life when they receive a scholarship, even if it’s not a big scholarship. That student will go on to have a positive impact in our community and our province in the future. By giving, you can inspire others to give too.”

“The need for student financial support is greater than ever. If an alumnus or a member of our community has never donated before, this is a wonderful time to make that first donation as it will be leveraged significantly.”

Dr. Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02, LLD ’21) Honorary Campaign Chair

Bernadine Boulet (BEd ’88) Campaign Chair

Roland Labuhn (BMgt ’90) Campaign Chair

Terry Whitehead (BA ’94) Campaign Chair

Hear from the Chairs in this video.

(L-R) Campaign Chairs Dr. Janice Varzari, Roland Labuhn, Terry Whitehead and Bernadine Boulet

Support for scholarships gains momentum and doubles impact

Community leaders are stepping forward to support ULethbridge students, and the impact of their giving is doubled with the ULethbridge Board of Governors’ $10-million pledge in matching funds to establish new endowed student awards. In addition to significantly increasing the sustainability of its student awards program, the current scholarship drive aims to build a base of support to remove barriers, increase accessibility and unlock opportunities for future generations of students.

Flexahopper Plastics supports ULethbridge students

Back in 2018, Flexahopper Plastics stepped forward to support research at ULethbridge to advance research to combat environmental pollution.

Now in 2023, Flexahopper has once again partnered with the University, this time directly supporting students through a $125,000 pledge to the central scholarship fund in support of both merit- and financial-needbased awards.

“Supporting the University of Lethbridge’s scholarship campaign was an easy decision for me,” says ULethbridge alumnus Bill Spenceley (BSc ’81), Flexahopper president and principal owner.

“Not only am I a proud ULethbridge alumnus, many of my current staff members

were educated at ULethbridge. With this donation, my goal is to help both undergraduate and graduate students with the costs of their post-secondary education and to recognize their achievements.”

Flexahopper Plastics, established in Lethbridge in 1967, is an international plastics processing company serving the aerospace, oil and gas, agricultural and food-processing industries. Spenceley’s longstanding connection to ULethbridge includes giving undergraduate lectures and becoming a donor in 1993. In addition, he was named Alumnus of the Year in 2018 by the University of

Lethbridge Alumni Association. Also in 2018, Flexahopper invested in the establishment of a Green Polymer and Technology Centre in conjunction with the University’s Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry. The collaboration helped secure a grant from the federal government to establish the University’s polymer characterization laboratory, with the eventual goal of reducing plastic waste and reliance on fossil fuels.

The University has recognized Flexahopper’s contributions with permanent signage at the entrance to a chemistry lab (SA7102) in Science Commons.

(L-R) Bill Spenceley, Flexahopper president, and Adriana Mercader, Flexahopper CEO

Varzari family establishes new bursary to help students in need

Not only are postsecondary students facing increased costs for their education, they’re also facing higher costs for food and housing.

Chancellor Emerita Dr. Janice Varzari (BN ’90, MEd ’02, LLD ’21) and her husband Glenn understand those challenges and have donated $50,000 to ULethbridge to create the Varzari Family Bursary Fund. The fund will support students in need with a variety of flexible bursaries.

“We know students face increased stress when they experience the financial challenges that come with today’s economy and inflation,” says Janice. “Our goal with this donation is to help alleviate some of that financial pressure so students can focus on their studies.”

As an honorary campaign chair of the University’s current campaign for student scholarships, Janice continues to be a steadfast supporter of students. During her time as chancellor from 2015 to 2019, Janice was a skillful ambassador for the University. She saw ULethbridge through its 50th anniversary celebrations as it ushered in a new era of growth and maturity and she took a personal approach to enhancing the ULethbridge

experience for all students. In 2021, she and Glenn backed the launch of the Student Wellness Ambassador Program to provide students with peer support. The Varzaris pledged to match money raised for the program up to $20,000.

Janice’s relationship to ULethbridge spans decades, and her and Glenn’s children are also part of the University family. Both daughters are ULethbridge graduates and Janice and one daughter both graduated in the spring of 2002. Janice continued to

support the University after completing her education. She was inducted into the Alumni Honour Society in 2008 and has remained active as a donor, as well as a senate and board member, before she became the first member of the ULethbridge alumni family to hold the chancellor position.

“As a proud alumna and longtime volunteer and supporter of the University of Lethbridge, I care deeply about our students and their experiences while studying at ULethbridge,” she says.

“Our goal with this donation is to help alleviate some of that financial pressure so students can focus on their studies.”

Dr. Janice Varzari Chancellor Emerita & Honorary Campaign Chair

(L-R) Glenn and Dr. Janice Varzari

advancing inclusion

“Thank you to the donors who have provided me with scholarships. As a student with ADHD and dyslexia, I have to put a lot of time into my school work. Scholarships enable me to focus on my studies and not have to worry about having a job to pay for rent and supplies. Thank you for allowing me to have an equal playing field.”

Ally DeJonge ULethbridge student

Hear more words of thanks from students

Donor gifts advance inclusion and diversity on campus

A post-secondary education turns dreams into reality and should be within reach for everyone.

Yet for some, a postsecondary education may appear to be an unattainable goal. With the rising cost of living, it’s becoming harder to make ends meet.

Many students struggle to manage the cost of returning to school when they have a family to support. Their circumstances may not allow for means of financial support beyond going into debt. For Indigenous and racialized communities, people with disabilities and 2SLGBTQ+ students, the social and financial barriers are often wider, and access to education is limited.

“Statistics show that there are significant gaps in the number of Indigenous students enrolling in university. There are also significant gaps for students with disabilities because they may not feel they can have a full experience on campus, and it’s important to create a safe space that serves as a home away from home for international students,” explains Martha MathurinMoe, vice-provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Lethbridge.

ULethbridge is committed to assisting all students, and potential students, by removing barriers so they may be successful in their studies and beyond. Increasing the number of targeted financial supports and incentives to meet the needs of our growing diverse student body is a central focus of the drive for new endowed student awards and scholarships.

“If we can be part of helping to remove barriers, and work with our donors to do that, that’s a true win for the University,” says Mathurin-Moe.

Targeted interventions and supports such as awards, creation of inclusive spaces and mentorship will allow students of all backgrounds to realize their goals.

“Ideally, we want postsecondary education to be accessible,” says Mathurin-Moe. “It’s about supporting the diverse student population and demonstrating that this is a place for all to learn, grow and thrive.”

Donors are stepping up in inspiring and unique ways to help improve inclusion and

accessibility at ULethbridge. Thanks to donor support students with disabilities are participating in paid work experiences that assist them in improving employment skills after graduation. Other donors are helping budding entrepreneurs and future engineers build new assistive and adaptive technologies that increase well-being and independence for people with disabilities.

“When donors contribute to the University, they not only make a difference in a student’s life, they are also investing in a more inclusive and welcoming campus for current and future generations,” says Mathurin-Moe.

“It’s about supporting the diverse student population and demonstrating that this is a place for all to learn, grow and thrive.”

Martha Mathurin-Moe

Vice-provost of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

The Picture Butte Lions Club establishes an award for visually impaired students

Post-secondary education can be challenging as it is, but imagine tackling the workload with a visual impairment.

The Picture Butte Lions Club is hoping its recent donation will provide new opportunities for students who dream of pursuing an education but might have more barriers to overcome than others.

In November 2022, the Picture Butte Lions Club provided a $50,000 gift to the University of Lethbridge to establish the Picture Butte Lions Club Award for Visually Impaired Students. It was the first donation to be matched by the University, following last October’s announcement the Board of Governors’ $10-million pledge in match funds for the establishment of new endowed student scholarships.

“The original mandate of the Lions group is to help the visually impaired,” says Doug Jackson, Picture Butte Lions Club board member.

That mandate goes back to the early 1980s, when the Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides began providing trained guide dogs to Canadians with disabilities. With this recent donation to the University of Lethbridge, they will be making a difference for students with visual impairments with immediate and everlasting impact through endowed student scholarships. It is an important step in making the University more inclusive for all.

“University of Lethbridge students are here because they want to get ahead in their lives,” says Jackson. “The scholarship is to help give students who want to get ahead but might be held back because of disabilities a step up.”

Each year, the Picture Butte Lions Club Award for Visually Impaired Students will go to a continuing or entering undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in any degree program with a documented disability. The award will be given based on academic achievement, with preference given for financial need. The first award will be given out in the 2023/2024 academic year.

(L-R) Kathy Greenwood, vice-president, external relations; Doug Jackson, John Koenen, Don Vincent from the Picture Butte Lions Club; Martha Mathurin-Moe, vice-provost, equity, diversity and inclusion

CIBC helps students discover pathways to employment

The CIBC Navigator Program has improved employment competencies and expanded co-operative learning opportunities for students with disabilities.

Since its launch in Spring 2020, the CIBC Navigator Program has focused on expanding the inclusivity and accessibility of ULethbridge’s co-operative education program, which combines real-world work experience with academic studies. More likely to experience lower levels of success in obtaining and retaining employment and more likely to be underemployed in positions consistent with their education, students with disabilities have been able to realize positive outcomes and demonstrate achievement in meeting employment goals as a result of support from CIBC.

“The CIBC Navigator Program has helped enhance student success and provided opportunities for disabilityconfident and inclusive cooperative work placements,” says Stacey Gaudette-Sharp (BA ’03, MA ’06), academic director in the Career Bridge Centre for WorkIntegrated Learning and Career Development.

Supported by a $250,000 gift, the CIBC Navigator Program has helped students develop technical and work-ready skills, personal and professional

confidence, an understanding of how to effectively self-advocate, and important employment competencies. Additionally, the gift helped build quality employer partnerships and supported employer partners through wage subsidies and disability employment education.

“The CIBC Navigator co-op program truly opened doors and connected me to valuable work experiences,” says ULethbridge accounting student Venus Xiong, a Fall 2022 participant of the CIBC Navigator Program. “The excellent support and care, along with the help of the co-op coordinator, will help me become job ready upon graduation.”

The investment from CIBC highlights the corporation’s involvement in supporting students and promoting opportunities for them to thrive while working to achieve their academic goals.

“CIBC has a long-standing history of supporting our communities and the CIBC Navigator program aligns with our commitment to remove barriers to employment for underrepresented communities,” says Ronan Ryan,

Executive Director of CIBC Foundation. “We’re proud to support the Navigator program, which will increase social and community connections and help build a sense of belonging and future opportunities.”

In addition to fostering skill development such as interpersonal, planning, team and problem-solving skills, cooperative education experiences increase social and community connections for students and enhance a sense of belonging, self-identity, confidence and purpose. Many students with disabilities are hampered in accessing these benefits because the framework to help them into the workplace does not exist.

To date, eight students have been successfully placed in co-op work terms with local organizations in both Lethbridge and Calgary through the CIBC Navigator Program. In 2023-24, the program aims to place up to three more. Career Bridge is also developing an employer toolkit that reflects equity, diversity and inclusion awareness, understanding and integration.

Learn more about the development of the CIBC Navigator program.

Mrudula Morzaria Scholarship Fund for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities studying at the University of Lethbridge are now benefitting from a transformational investment from the Ambika Foundation.

In 2022, the Ambika Foundation made an endowed gift of $100,000 to establish the Mrudula Morzaria Scholarship Fund for Students with Disabilities at ULethbridge. This gift was matched by the University’s Board of Governors, which will assist more students with disabilities to access funding to support their educational pursuits. The endowment fund will permanently expand financial support for future ULethbridge students with disabilities including chronic medical conditions, physical, developmental and learning disabilities, vision and hearing impairment and neurological conditions.

The establishment of this award will fill a significant gap for students with disabilities, who may already face difficulties in finding gainful employment, maintaining living costs and participating in a full campus experience.

“Education is significant to achieving personal goals and future well-being. A student’s experience at University can have a major impact on self-image and self-esteem,” says Shilpa Stocker (BMgt ‘89), a representative of the Ambika Foundation. “A significant component of a good educational experience is equal access to opportunities, and it is our hope that whatever challenge a student with disabilities may face, whether physical, technological, or financial, this scholarship will open a multitude of doors leading to brighter futures.”

Makers Making

Change: Assistive and adaptive technologies being developed through Agility Innovation Zone

Creative minds are coming together in the Agility Innovation Zone to build adaptive and assistive tools that help remove barriers for people with disabilities.

These inventions can make a real difference in one’s quality of life, making tasks which may seem ordinary to some less challenging for those with disabilities.

Made possible in 2015 thanks to a philanthropic gift from the late Dr. Cor Van Raay (LLD ’15), Agility is an innovation and entrepreneurship program that is funded entirely through grants and generous donations. Through steady donor support, the Innovation Zone, which is a dedicated makerspace on campus that provides students access to equipment, technologies and resources to bring their innovative ideas to life, opened in 2019.

“Thanks to donor funding, the programs, events and supports offered through Agility are open to all students, faculty and staff at ULethbridge, at no cost,” says David Hinger (BFA ’03, MEd ’07), executive director, Teaching Centre & Agility.

Activities help to build a creative discovery atmosphere, where ideas can be explored

in a risk-free environment and students can develop an entrepreneurial mindset. The possibilities are endless with access to a wide variety of tools – from 3D printers to vinyl cutters to sewing machines, airbrush spray paint and more. The space has become a haven for those who want to design and build a new project, pursue a new hobby and/or create a new business.

Several collaborations have been born from the space, including partnerships with Alberta Health Services, Makers Making Change and local non-profits such as AdaptABLE Outdoors looking to enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities. Students are often brought into the design challenges through integrated coursework in partnership with several University departments.

“That’s when the students learn design thinking processes. They learn how to apply those skills or learn the different technology in the space and apply it to building adaptive technology,” says Layla Lahiji (BMgt ’19), Agility program coordinator.

These technological innovations have already been shared with various organizations to gather feedback from users on their functionality. If there is a flaw in the design, it comes back and then it’s time to try again. It’s all part of the entrepreneurial process,” says Kevin Roelofs, Agility Information Zone coordinator.

“If someone can make something in Agility that would help someone down the way … it could be huge,” says Roelofs. “It stands to benefit a lot of people and I’ve already seen that happen through the smallest system devices. Whether it’s getting them playing family game night together with a card holder or a dice roller or a small electronic controlling car, or something that could be used on a ski hill or in your kitchen, there are a lot of good ideas coming out of here.”

Through these opportunities, students are building real-world solutions that can generate a huge impact in their own career paths as well as the lives of others. “We have success in Agility with our entrepreneurship

programming, which is really focused on students creating businesses and I think that’s fantastic,” says Hinger. “But there’s also opportunity for our students who want to have a social impact and want to make the world a better place. And that’s really exciting for us.”

“If someone can make something in Agility that would help someone down the way…it could be huge.”

Kevin Roelofs Agility Information Zone Coordinator

Reducing Financial Stress

“As a single mother, scholarships have helped me focus on my studies and provided me with a bit of financial ease. There have been times when I was really struggling and it’s really saving to hear, ‘Congratulations, you’ve received this scholarship.’ The scholarships have brightened up my time as a student. There are no words that can express how truly grateful I am to the donors who make these scholarships possible.”

Larissa Smith ULethbridge graduate student

Hear more words of thanks from students

Ukrainian Emergency Bursary helps Pronghorns women’s basketball team welcome Ukrainian nationals

Sport vernacular is often filled with references to war as commentators seek to elevate the action they’re describing to engage viewers.

Teams enter into “battle” with one another; home run hitters, golfers and three-point shooters “hit bombs” and the ebb and flow of games is often described as “attacking and defending.” For University of Lethbridge Pronghorns basketball players Viktoriia Kovalevska and Vlada Hozalova, the terms and phrases ring hollow, because war is the reality from which they fled in Ukraine to continue to pursue their basketball dream.

“I was trapped in Berdyansk as, during the first week of the military conflict, Russian troops occupied the city,” says Hozalova. “I couldn’t leave my town because it was dangerous. Only a month later, I was able to leave the city after passing 20 Russian checkpoints.”

Kovalevska and her family lived in Rivne, in northwestern Ukraine. She, along with her mother and brother, moved to Poland a week after the start of the war — her parents feared their city would be attacked by Russia from the north. As the situation worsened in Ukraine and throughout Europe, they looked to escape altogether and took advantage of the opportunity to come to Canada. From there, they were placed with a family in Calgary.

“It was extremely difficult, as you do not realize when you will be able to see each other again,” says Kovalevska of leaving family and friends. “We are very worried and pray for their safety, and especially our two best friends who protect our territory in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

Dropped into a new country, living with a new family, learning the language and customs of Canadian society and thousands of miles from home, the friends had one constant to fall back on — basketball — and it served as the conduit to the next chapter of their lives. The pair of guards had been members of Ukraine’s U16, U18 and U20 national teams and teammates in the Ukraine Women’s Superleague, an eightteam professional circuit.

“They were getting out of Ukraine and basketball was going to be and has become the thing that’s helping them find their roots in this country,” says Pronghorns women’s basketball head coach Dave Waknuk, who was the first to express interest in the duo when it was clear they wanted to resume playing in their new country. “Basketball is a big part of their life, it’s their skill, it’s what they know and what they brought with them.”

Initial meetings took place over Skype and once the pair had settled in Canada, Waknuk was able to host them for workouts. He had spots to fill on his roster and adding players with a professional pedigree is always a bonus but for these two, it was more than a basketball decision.

“We were definitely interested from a basketball standpoint,” says Waknuk. U SPORTS rules allow for three international players per roster, while professional experience is allowed for women’s programs.

“The other side of it, you think about the positive impact their story can have upon our community and obviously the impact we can have with them and their lives. It just made sense and we said to ourselves, how can we not do it?”

Serendipitously, ULethbridge had just approved a new Ukrainian Emergency Bursary designed to assist current and new students whose parents, because of war, were no longer able to support their sons and daughters. A total of 10 two-semester bursaries were approved, providing students with full tuition and housing. Four current and four new students were able to take advantage of the support,

including Kovalevska and Hozalova.

“It’s something I felt deeply that we needed to do to support Ukrainian students,” says Paul Pan, director of International. “For the University, it’s a good thing and it’s something we are able to do. We’ve got some really good students here and they’re all working hard at making a

new life and it’s hard to even imagine what they are going through. This is what we can do to support them and help them along the way.”

Kovalevska (education/ pedagogy) and Hozalova (physical education), who are 24 and 25-years-old respectively, have both earned master’s degrees from Berdyansk State Pedagogical University in Ukraine. Kovalevska is studying business at ULethbridge and is entering her second season with the Pronghorns, while Hozalova completed the EAP (English for Academic Purposes) program, is also studying business and is now eligible to play for the Horns beginning this fall.

“The bursary is very helpful; when we first came to Canada it really helped us a lot because it’s hard to balance between school, basketball and working a job,” says Hozalova.

And to the donors who made the bursary possible, Kovalevska expresses deep gratitude.

“We are so thankful. All the support everyone has given us helps provide the opportunity for a future. Thank you.”

“We are so thankful and we really appreciate all the support everyone has given us.”

Viktoriia Kovalevska

Photo above: Viktoriia Kovalevska. Photo left: Vlada Hozalova

Bob McKay Memorial Bursary

During his nearly 40-year career at the University of Lethbridge, Bob McKay was often moved by the tenacity shown by many of his students who had to work at extra jobs to fund their education.

After Bob passed away in 2022, his family honoured his memory by establishing a bursary to support students majoring in chemistry or biochemistry who are facing financial adversity.

Bob, who worked as a chemistry instructor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, taught thousands of students over the years.

“One of our frequent conversations was how lucky we both were to have parents who paid for our university education and how difficult it is for university students who have to pay for their university education with little or no support,” says Sandra McKay, Bob’s widow. “Bob was deeply concerned about how hard it is for kids today who have to work more than one job and who have to rely on student loans and bursaries to get through their university education, leaving them with debts that need to be paid once they graduate.”

Sandra had planned on starting a special bursary in his name at the University as a surprise gift for his birthday.

“Unfortunately, Bob didn’t live to enjoy this gift, but I wanted to have him remembered for his love of the University and his care for his students,” she says. “I felt a bursary in his name was the way to achieve this.”

Bob joined the University when it was in its infancy and located at Lethbridge College, then called Lethbridge Junior College. Setting up the department labs came with its own brand of chaos. The result of all that

scrambling was the creation of a lab manual that Bob revised year after year throughout his career. He was also a constant champion for students, both in the department and across the University.

Following his retirement from the University, he served on the ULethbridge Senate from 2013 to 2019 and was a member and past president of the Lethbridge Shrine Club. In 2016, the club established five bursaries for ULethbridge students in financial need. In addition, he served two terms as president of the Lethbridge YMCA.

Colleagues in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry describe Bob as someone who consistently displayed a studentcentred focus.

“Bob would be pretty proud of having a bursary set up in his honour to support future generations of students,” says Wayne Lippa, chemistry & biochemistry instructor. “He was a founding member of the department and enjoyed teaching for 37 years. This bursary will continue Bob’s legacy of helping students.”

Thanks to the support of family and friends, an endowment of $50,000 has been established in Bob’s name, ensuring two awards valued at a minimum of $1,000 can be distributed in perpetuity starting in the fall of 2023. If you would like to contribute to the bursary, you can do so online at Bob McKay Memorial Bursary.

University of Lethbridge retiree creates legacy of supporting students

During her 20-year career at the University of Lethbridge, the late Mary Wood helped many students who came through the doors of the Scholarships and Student Finance office.

By all accounts, she loved working with students and, after her retirement, was delighted when they recognized and greeted her when they saw her on the street.

Wood passed away in April of 2021, and part of her legacy was a bequest of more than $33,500 to the central scholarship fund as part of the University’s current drive for student scholarships. The University’s

Board of Governors will match the donation from Wood’s estate as part of its $10-million pledge in matching funds to establish new endowed student awards.

Born in Edinburgh, Wood had a great sense of adventure and loved to travel. She visited London, went backpacking through Europe and visited New Zealand and Australia before moving to Canada. Her coworkers recall Wood was both dedicated to her job and a joy to work with.

“Mary was a sweet and kind person,” says Heather Anderson, a former colleague. “She was dedicated in helping the many students who came through the doors. Working at the University, our offices were side by side

and we shared the lunch room. We all enjoyed each other’s company and had many laughs. I consider myself fortunate to have known her.”

“Mary and I shared the same office years ago at the University. Students were her biggest priority and she was always kind and helpful,” says Chris Lastuka. “She always had a smile on her face and would break into uncontrollable giggles at the drop of a hat. She was one of a kind and our loss is heaven’s gain.”

Outside of her work at the University, Wood was an active soldier in the Salvation Army Community Church who was involved in the youth ministry and a member of the Songsters. There she got to know Marcella Klein, who eventually became a lifelong friend. In her later years, when it became apparent she had difficulty managing her own affairs, Klein stepped in and made sure she was well taken care of.

“Mary was someone who was so well loved by the people she met,” says Klein. “She was a fun-loving person who tried to bring joy to so many people. I think she was able to do that through her volunteer work at St. Michael’s Health Care Centre, the Canadian Cancer Society and with Cub Scouts. She was a treasure.”

“Mary was dedicated in helping the many students who came through the doors.”

Heather Anderson Former Colleague

Rugby Day of Giving

Pronghorns Rugby fans step up with nearly $17,000 in support to send the Rugby 7s team to the National Championships in Montreal, QC.

The inaugural Day of Giving campaign was run by student athletes and bolstered by the support of 109 donors, which came largely from alumni and community support.

“The trip to Montreal where Horns Rugby finished sixth in the nation was made possible by the support garnered during the Day of Giving,” says head coach Graeme Moffat. “The student athletes demonstrated outstanding teamwork and selflessness throughout the campaign. All athletes participated in calling alumni and supporters, even those who were not members of the 7s roster. The impact of alumni support cannot go unnoticed, as the donations received allowed for Pronghorn Athletics to compete with the best in the nation.”

The success of the Horns Rugby Day of Giving campaign set the model for the upcoming Days of Giving for each Pronghorn team in the 2023-24 season.

Improving Career Outcomes

“As a student, the scholarships have really validated what I’m doing here. They make me feel like the research I’m doing is important. Thank you for giving opportunities to students.”

David Witten (BSc ’21) ULethbridge graduate student

Hear more words of thanks from students

Mirroring

Pre-service teachers in the Faculty of Education spend 27 weeks out in the field, but during their time as students at the University of Lethbridge they also spend a lot of time in Turcotte Hall.

As classes began for the Fall 2023 term, a pair of busy classrooms in the building will have received a significant makeover, aimed at better preparing student teachers for what they will step into in the field.

“We’ve been talking about doing room renovations in Turcotte Hall since 2017. We want to make sure our teaching spaces are consistent and congruent with what’s in schools and that we’re leaders in terms of new technologies and new pedagogies,” says Dr. Robin Bright (BA ’79, BEd ’82, MEd ’88),

who recently concluded her terms as interim dean for the Faculty of Education. “Now this work has taken place thanks to the support of alumni.”

The furniture in the classrooms has been a main focus of the renovations, and Bright says mobility was key in the final choices.

“Learning space design has a direct impact on creative pedagogy to meet the needs of all learners, not only here at the university, but in K-12 classrooms,” she says. “We

“We want to make sure our teaching spaces are consistent and congruent with what’s in schools. Now this work is taking place thanks to the support of alumni.”

Dr. Robin Bright Faculty of Education

know that classroom design is paramount to advance student learning in schools. Our student teachers and our instructors will have the opportunity to not only experience, but also practice, effective use of space, furniture and technology to stimulate creative thinking and address the unique needs of learners.” For instructors like Dr. Doug Checkley (BSc/BEd ’05, MEd ’10, PhD ’20), the newly renovated rooms will provide the opportunity to see classrooms in a new way.

“I’m excited to have the ability to show students how just changing the makeup of the classroom can really change the feeling of what you’re doing,” Checkley says. “My hope would be, throughout a course, to have it set up different every time they

modern classrooms: Faculty of Education alumni support creation of learning spaces to better prepare students for the field

(L-R) Dr. Robin Bright and Dr. Doug Checkley

come in, so they can start to visualize what kind of classroom they would want to have and what kind of setup they would like and appreciate.”

Cutting down on the paper used within the Faculty of Education was another a goal of the renovations, with whiteboard space abundant throughout the rooms. Bright says sustainability is a focus of both ULethbridge and the Association of Canadian Deans of Education.

“We think that it will cut down our costs of paper considerably,” Bright says. “And from a teaching perspective, having a lot of wall space covered in whiteboards really encourages a lot of participation, too. These classrooms will give instructors that opportunity to get back to a style of teaching that’s really interactive and where everyone participates; it’s the difference between passive learning and active learning, and that space really does contribute to that.”

Bright says the long overdue upgrades were made possible thanks to the generous donations made by alumni, who have contributed regularly over the past several years to the Faculty of Education’s Annual Fund for projects like this.

“We are incredibly thankful for all the donor support that has made these room renovations a reality,” she says. “When donors prioritize education, there is a lasting impact for ongoing learning for our student teachers, and also for students in schools and communities.”

Students to benefit from new TECTERRA bursaries

Two new annual bursaries worth $10,000 each will give ULethbridge students studying remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) or geography a financial boost for the next five years thanks to a donation from TECTERRA, an Alberta-focused, non-profit organization dedicated to the development of geospatial technology.

“We are very grateful to TECTERRA for establishing these bursaries as they will help multiple senior undergraduate students pay for their education and allow them to devote more time to their studies and career paths,” says Dr. Derek Peddle, a ULethbridge professor of geography and environment and director of the Alberta Terrestrial Imaging Centre (ATIC), with expertise in remote sensing, GIS, spatial analysis software development and applications.

Since its inception in 2009, TECTERRA has supported hundreds of emerging technology startups and subject matter experts with

financial support, expertise and coaching — and helped diversify Canada’s economy in the process.

“Ensuring the industry is equipped with a workforce is part of our mission to grow the geospatial industry. We are excited that our contribution can help support this by giving students a little extra for their efforts. Our hope is that these students will end up leading the industry someday,” says Jonathan Neufeld, CEO of TECTERRA INC.

The bursaries will go to full-time undergraduate students enrolled in remote sensing, computer science with GIS or geography. Students intending to pursue a career in GIS, remote sensing, land surveying, software development, spatial modelling, mapping or cartography, and those with experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, will be given preference. The awards will be given to students based on the number of credit hours they’ve completed and financial need.

Crooks’ gift helps prepare students for the world of work

The University of Lethbridge is committed to providing students practical hands-on experiences to develop their professional skills and better prepare them to enter the work world after graduation.

Thanks to a generous endowment from Art and Mary Jane Crooks and family, the Crooks WorkIntegrated-Learning Program in Liberal Education supports opportunities for students to analyze and apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom in a more applied setting.

The Crooks WIL program supports opportunities for students to analyze and apply the knowledge they have gained in the classroom in a community setting. The program provides paid internships for several students per year to work on research, teaching or community projects. Students undertaking these

Alieza Cyr, Dhillon School of Business Student

internships are supervised by a ULethbridge professor and/ or a business or community supervisor and can earn course credits through an independent or applied study, or a co-op work term.

“These internships offer students the chance to do paid work that involves the skills they’re learning in the classroom,” says Dr. Shelly Wismath, who was the dean of the School of Liberal Education when the program was established. “Students who have learned theory and developed skills get to analyze and apply them outside the classroom.”

What’s unique about the Crooks WIL program is that it provides career-related, resume-building employment opportunities for students across the University. The program also gives community organizations, especially non-profits, the chance to hire a student to work on a project they might not otherwise be able to launch on their own.

In its first year of operation, the Crooks WIL Program funded fulltime summer internships with two organizations — Volunteer Lethbridge and the Lethbridge School Division.

Alieza Cyr, a Dhillon School of Business student, was the first student to do a summer position

in the human resources office of the Lethbridge School Division.

“I was able to try a wide range of activities, including helping with the hiring process the school division does every May/ June for the next fall term,” says Cyr. “I helped sort applications, contacted those who would be moving through the interview process and scheduling when successful candidates were able to sign their contracts. I also helped sort HR records and assisted with recognition events for staff.”

As a student studying human resources, the internship gave Cyr an inside look at how a human resources office operates day-to-day.

“The biggest thing I’m taking away from the position is how a large HR office can be run with efficiency and kindness,” she says. “I was able to find out more about what it is like to work in an HR office and if I really like talent acquisition and recruitment, which I did.”

This year’s Crooks WIL program is underway with six funded employment options available for students, including with the on-campus radio station CKXU, the Lethbridge Public Interest Group’s Fresh Food Box program and the Lethbridge Historical Society.

The Crooks family previously established the Evelyn Hamilton Chair in Liberal Education. In September 2022, Dr. Miranda Leibel was appointed the inaugural Evelyn Hamilton Chair in Liberal Education. The Chair was established in 2021 following a $2-million donation from Art and Mary Jane Crooks, and named in honour of Art’s mother, Evelyn Hamilton. This appointment highlights the importance of liberal education in fostering a culture of lifelong learning, collaboration across diverse disciplines and preparing students for a changing world.

“The ability to think critically, to spot a weak or specious argument, to express, to persuade, and to argue effectively, to be an informed, engaged and ethical citizen – these are the most important skills that a person can possess,” says Hew Crooks. “Our hope is that the Chair serves as a platform to support the University’s core mission to develop thoughtful and engaged undergraduates who are strengthened by an institution that allows a diversity of opinion and thoughtful discussion and who are then unleashed on a world that sorely needs more Evelyn Hamiltons.”

This year’s Crooks WIL program is underway with six funded employment options available for students.

Play Right Prize helps students launch careers

The true impact of student awards and scholarships can sometimes be measured through the success of students in their respective fields.

For University of Lethbridge alumnus James Wade (BFA ’11), winning the Play Right Prize in 2010 and 2011 set the foundation for his career as an award-winning playwright, screenwriter and illustrator.

Generously supported by alumnus Terry Whitehead (BA ’94), who is now ULethbridge’s 15th chancellor, the Play Right Prize has been awarded to more than 40 students since its creation in 2008, amounting to $38,000 in financial support. The Play Right Prize provides students with a stipend and support to inspire and motivate young playwrights to pursue the written craft. The winning play is read before a live audience, and the winner and finalists also receive dramaturgical support, a vital step in the development of a new play.

“After graduating, I kept writing and produced several independent productions of my plays, in Calgary and at various Canadian Fringe Festivals,” Wade says. “I continued my training via workshops, groups and classes and in 2014 my play, Helmut’s Big

as script writers

Day, was awarded APN’s Grand Prize for the Alberta Playwriting Competition.”

Continuing his upswing, Wade completed an MFA at the University of Calgary, creating another award-winning play and interning at a theatre in New York City. He was then invited to be a Visiting Artist at ULethbridge, developing a play that would have closed the 2019-2020 Mainstage season, but was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Wade is now back in Alberta and producing plays for independent theatres, festivals, high schools and universities across North America, including a new play with support from the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. He says the Play Right Prize gave him validation at the time he most needed it.

“It allowed me to be seen in a new way by my peers and make valuable connections I otherwise would not have made. I have interacted with several recipients of the Play Right Prize in subsequent years and can attest to the fact that the prize carried similar importance to each of them.”

Chelsea Woolley (BA/BEd ’14), a Toronto-based playwright, echoes Wade’s sentiments. She received the Prize three times during her time as a student— second place in 2012, and second and third place in 2014.

Since graduating from the National Theatre School of Canada five years ago, Woolley has been living and working in Toronto. Her play, Paint Me This House of Love, recently premiered at the Tarragon Theatre. Woolley also recently opened her play, Enormity, Girl, and the Earthquake in Her Lungs, at Toronto Metropolitan University, and said working with keen students has been a full circle moment.

Winning the Play Right Prize set Woolley on the journey to where she is today. “It remains to this day, with no exaggeration, the most meaningful recognition of my writing that I have ever received,” she says.

Woolley praises the culture at ULethbridge, noting that it fosters excellence in its students due to opportunities like the Play Right Prize. For Whitehead,

Chelsea Woolley

2010 Play Right Prize recipient

supporting the prize and seeing the success of its recipients is an inspiration to him, both for current and future students who share the same dream.

“The intent of the Play Right Prize is to provide students who aspire to become playwrights an opportunity to pursue that dream,” he says. “The personal and professional stories of Chelsea and James, and those of other past winners, are very gratifying. To learn that the Play Right Prize gave them confidence at that early stage in their career is rewarding.”

“Beyond setting up a rare financial incentive for student creators, Terry has also

fostered an opportunity for people like me, who would never have had the confidence to own themselves as playwrights, to be recognized as exactly that, and dare to live up to the title,” Woolley adds.

Whitehead says it’s a true team effort that has made the prize such a success over the past 16 years.

“The Play Right Prize competition owes much of its success to the dedicated faculty and staff in Theatre and Fine Arts who promote and run the competition and provide additional mentorship and support to the students. From Ron Chambers to Shelley Scott (BA ’86) and Justin Blum, our faculty have really embraced this opportunity for students and made the experience more meaningful,” he concludes.

“The Play Right Prize allowed me to be seen in a new way by my peers and make valuable connections.”

James Wade

James Wade (BFA ’11)

Photo above: Play Right Prize announcement 2010

Photo right: Recent photo

Jarislowsky Foundation and Scotiabank invest in future leaders

Against the backdrop of a partisan and confrontational political landscape and a lack of trust in public institutions, finding the next generation of Canadian politicians and public sector leaders is more important now than ever.

The University of Lethbridge aims to tackle these complex issues with the establishment of an innovative, cross-country, collaborative post-secondary program and support from the Jarislowsky Foundation and Scotiabank.

In June 2022, the University of Lethbridge announced a $2-million community investment from the Jarislowsky Foundation to support the development of a collaborative program with four other universities. The Jarislowsky Foundation was founded in 1991 by Stephen Jarislowsky, a prominent Canadian philanthropist and business leader, with a mission to

promote, support and foster excellence and ethics in education, medicine, the arts, and the environment and climate change. The Jarislowsky Foundation now contributes approximately $10 million per year in community investment globally.

The endowed chair supporting the education of future

leaders in government, politics and the public service, also received a significant boost from Scotiabank. The $375,000 community investment reflects Scotiabank’s commitment to fostering strong leadership, governance and trust within its own operations and for supporting the same with clients and business across Canada.

Dr. Susan Dieleman, Inaugural Jarislowsky Foundation Chair

This support, combined with the original investment from the Jarislowsky Foundation, led to a worldwide search for the inaugural chair.

The appointment of Dr. Susan Dieleman from Southern Illinois University was announced this spring, and she’s excited about the opportunities the program will provide students at ULethbridge.

“As a philosopher working in the humanities, I have a deep appreciation for the skills, knowledge and values you learn through liberal education. These skills are essential in establishing trust among fellow citizens who are engaged in a common project,” she says. “Whether you are across the aisle from someone or on the so-called other side, it’s imperative we find a way to build community, including across our differences.”

The essence of the program is to create opportunities to learn across the partner universities through a combination of foundational and experiential

learning courses that bring together students from across the country. Partner institutions include Acadia University, l’Université du Québec à Trois Rivières (in collaboration with l’École Nationale d’Administration Publique), Trent University, ULethbridge and Vancouver Island University.

“This program is an outstanding complement to the interdisciplinary, liberal education focus of our institution,” says Dr. Mike Mahon, former president and vicechancellor.

“Our students are taught to view the world through a critical eye, utilizing a breadth of experience to assess problems and find solutions. This concentration on the ethics of politics, its systems and structures will help create the responsible leaders of

tomorrow. I want to thank Mr. Jarislowsky for entrusting us to advance his vision for greater truth, integrity and trust in political life and public service.”

Given today’s political landscape, Dieleman says it’s never been more important to develop strong critical thinking skills with a focus on relationship building.

“I was a first-generation postsecondary student and there were opportunities that I didn’t know existed when I was in school that I wished I had, such as exchanges, travel and co-op placements,” says Dieleman.

“I want to make sure future leaders have access to those opportunities. This program will provide the kinds of experiences that can be lifechanging for students.”

“This program will provide the kinds of experiences that can be life-changing for students.”

Dr. Susan Dieleman

Supporting the next generation of Pronghorns through the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award

Over the last 13 years, Dr. Mike Mahon helped establish the University of Lethbridge as one of the country’s leading research-intensive universities, and it has been an era of growth, innovation and partnerships in the University’s history.

At the end of June 2023, he concluded his term as ULethbridge’s sixth president and vice-chancellor, and to recognize and celebrate Dr. Mahon’s leadership, the University is endowing the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award.

Dr. Mahon and his wife Maureen established the award to recognize an athlete in each Pronghorn varsity sport, rewarding athletic proficiency, outstanding leadership and academic achievement amongst Pronghorn student athletes.

“The award reflects our family’s personal commitment to sport and wellness, and reinforces the important role athletics plays in the student experience,” they say.

Since 2016, 52 individual student athletes have benefitted from the award, including Pronghorn Track and Field student-athlete, Xavier Crosby (BA ’23), who graduated at the Spring 2023 Convocation.

“Receiving the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award was deeply moving,” says Crosby. “To know that the president of our university believe so strongly in what we were striving to achieve as Pronghorns that he and his family would offer financial support, is a feeling of belonging and support that very few student-athletes around this country and around the world ever have the privilege of experiencing.”

The University has set a fundraising goal of $150,000 to ensure the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award can be distributed to nine students each year in perpetuity. To help reach this target, the University is matching all contributions, thanks to the Board of Governors’ $10-million pledge in match funds for the establishment of new endowed student scholarships.

Since 2016, 52 individual student athletes have benefitted from the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award.

Support the Mahon Family Student Athlete Award

By recognizing Dr. Mahon with a gift to the award in his name, you are supporting the drive for student scholarships and ensuring more students have the opportunity to benefit from a ULethbridge education. Visit go.uleth.ca/MahonFamilyAward or scan the QR code to make your gift. For more information, please contact External Relations at 1-866-552-2582 or email development@uleth.ca.

THANK YOU

The Northern Lights made a spectacular display over southern Alberta this winter, serendipitously during the night of the 2023 Donor Celebration.

The words in John Wort Hannam’s timeless song, Let It Shine On, written for the University’s 50th anniversary in 2017, rang especially true that evening.

To all the donors who support the University, our students, programs and research, thank you for being bright lights who help make dreams come true. Let it shine on.

Watch the Let It Shine On music video

“I’ve seen the Northern Lights on the Prairies. A billion stars and the heavens above. The brightest light is one we can’t see. It’s the light dreams are made of. Let it shine on.”

John Wort Hannam (BA/BEd ’96) Let It Shine On, 2017

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