Helping students spread their wings

trevor.kenney — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 23:12:20 +0000

On behalf of the faculty and staff, we thank Linda Embury for her decades of service at the U of L, her bright smile and warm heart, and we wish her a very happy retirement.

Linda Embury is the first person you’ll meet when hired at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – and she’s the first to stand behind our students.

Over the last 24 years, Embury, who is now the assistant to the associate vice-president (HR and Administration), has made it her mission to create a helpful and welcoming work environment.

Linda Embury is not only a pride ambassador for the U of L, she's strong advocate for the Supporting Our Students campaign.

“I think people put my name to the department and know that I’m here to help,” she says. “I’m proud of the friendships I’ve made across campus and my dedication to this job.”

Not only does Embury have a role in hiring at the U of L, her name has become synonymous with one of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s most celebrated events. With enthusiasm and commitment, she has grown the annual Long Service Awards ceremony into an afternoon celebration attended by 400 people.

Needless to say, Embury has an incredible sense of pride in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. She has also come to feel a sense of family on campus. When she and her two sons fell on hard times, the U of L helped her through.

“My goal was to put my sons through university, and as a single mother I had to work three jobs to do it,” she recalls. “My family at the U of L was there for me during that difficult time.”

It was her experience struggling to make ends meet that inspired her to contribute to the Supporting Our Students (SOS) campaign.

“When SOS started, I thought there might be others in situations like the one my family and I were in,” she explains. “If I can help students stay in university and finish off their degrees, it can set them up for life.”

Embury is excited to share the message of SOS throughout the U of L community as Co-Chair of the 2013-2014 campaign. Since its inception in 2005, the annual fundraiser has seen more than 650 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ faculty, staff and retirees contribute more than $1.5 million towards student scholarships and bursaries.

“I am so honoured to be Co-Chair,” says Embury. “I want to be a role model to my colleagues. I believe we can all afford to give back; every little bit of money helps.”

Embury knows that with the financial challenges students face today, it’s more important than ever for the U of L community to support our students. She also knows first-hand the benefits of education and the importance of seeing a degree through to the end.

“When my sons graduated, I saw what education can do. It can open up the doors of the world,” she says. “I hope my gifts to SOS will help other students finish their education and spread their wings.”

For more information about Supporting Our Students, or to make your contribution today, visit www.uleth.ca/giving.

Awosoga finds a way to pay it forward

trevor.kenney — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 21:04:02 +0000

When Dr. Olu Awosoga moved from Nigeria to the United States to further his mathematical education, he had a lot more to get used to than just a cold climate.

Dr. Olu Awosoga began contributing to the Supporting Our students campaign immediately upon being hired because he understood students' needs.

With a family to support and a course of study that would require almost all of his time and attention (not to mention the challenges of culture shock), Awosoga understandably felt a bit overwhelmed by what he was facing on the road to a Masters and PhD. He knew he’d have to work while he studied – financially there was no other option, but even with a job funds would still be tight.

Awosoga first attended Central Michigan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, where he taught undergraduate classes while completing a Masters degree, and continued to teach after moving onto Western Michigan ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ (WMU) to earn a PhD. WMU came through with graduate scholarships which supplemented the income Awosoga earned teaching, and although he was run off his feet between work, studying and family life, Awosoga was grateful that he at least didn’t have to worry about money.

“It’s very difficult to focus on your studies when you have to think about how you’re going to pay rent,” says Awosoga. “I see it all the time with students – they have homework, they have research, they have classes, they have a job, they have a family – it’s a tremendous amount of pressure. I know the reality of the struggle. If I can help make it easier for someone, I’m happy to do that.”

Awosoga decided to pay his good fortune forward through the Supporting Our Students (SOS) program, making his first contribution almost immediately after joining the U of L’s Faculty of Health Sciences in 2009. He has doubled his contribution to the program every year since.

“The effects of the funding don’t just benefit students, they benefit everyone on campus,” says Awosoga. “If students are struggling they tend to miss classes. They’re stressed or even depressed. They don’t function well, which has negative effects for everyone from professors to cafeteria staff. SOS helps to put things on a positive cycle. It works in favour of everyone.”

With the cost of university education continually on the rise, Awosoga says that the need for programs such as SOS is greater than ever.

“��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is incredibly expensive, but think about the cost of not having it. We pay for it as a society if we restrict who is able to attend university or finish their studies because of financial struggle. Students need money. They need support. The government cannot do everything. We have to help fund our own future.”

The popularity of the program has grown since Awosoga first started donating – something the assistant professor is very happy about. Still, Awosoga believes support for SOS could be stronger.

“There should be one hundred percent participation among faculty and staff,” says Awosoga. “Everyone can donate something, no matter how small. Ten dollars, twenty dollars a month – that’s not much. But if we all gave that much it would be a lot. And it would make a big difference.”

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