UNews - donor

U of L network will only grow thanks to invested alumni

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 20:37:47 +0000

For James Bilcox (BMgt ’01), finding the right university was key to his academic and professional success.

Alumnus James Bilcox (BMgt '01) gives back to the U of L as a means to help the next generation of students.

Like most young people who begin university, Bilcox had high hopes for the experience. He was a good student, always had been, and had grown up in a household firmly rooted in academia. It was therefore a rather big surprise for Bilcox to discover that the institution where he got his start wasn’t right for him.

“It was a huge campus,” Bilcox recalls. “I felt lost there, and I wasn’t making the connections with peers or professors that I wanted to. When my grades started to suffer I knew I had to make a change. I transferred to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and finally had the kind of collegial experience I expected to have at university.”

Bilcox majored in finance and got a job with ATB Financial after graduating in 2001. He’s built a career as a certified financial planner, having earned a Certified Financial Planning designation through his second employer, RBC. Today, Bilcox works as a consultant with Sun Life Financial, and describes his role as a “catalyst for positive financial change to occur in the lives of others.” As it happens, helping clients reach their goals isn’t the only way that Bilcox assists others personally and financially.

After watching the U of L Alumni Association (ULAA) from afar for a while, Bilcox decided to get involved. He’s become an active member of the ULAA and made his first financial donation to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ early this year. Bilcox says that contributing to the U of L is rewarding in a way that is unique from many other investments.

“I always direct my resources intentionally,” says Bilcox. “I’m passionate about education and particularly the U of L. I got everything I needed and wanted there – the foundation to build a great career and a network of incredible professionals to collaborate with moving forward. The time I spent at the U of L still pays dividends; it’s still opening doors for me. I hope my contributions will somehow help others in the same way.”

In addition to contributing to the U of L, Bilcox also volunteers at Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Calgary, a charity that is particularly close to his heart. Bilcox also has a special interest in helping business owners, pre-retirees, young professional families and new Canadian immigrants.

“It feels great to help somebody out,” says Bilcox. “There are so many people who helped me along the way – who made a difference, who mentored me. I’m just passing that along. Where the U of L is concerned, giving back benefits all alumni. The more ambassadors we have for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, the better all U of L graduates will do professionally.”

Join James and support the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

Lifelong educator remains true to her roots

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 19:55:42 +0000

When Kaye Fisher (BEd ’71, BA ’77) began taking classes at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the university was sharing a campus with Lethbridge Junior College on the city’s south end. It was the late 1960s, early days for Alberta’s newest university, and the distinctive cement building nestled in the coulees was still years away from completion.

Alumna Kaye Fisher (BEd '71, BA '77) gives back to the U of L because she believes in the power of a good education.

Fisher was a mature student back then – married and in her late 30s with two school-aged children. She was working toward a bachelor of education, but already had several years of teaching experience under her belt.

“In those days we just had teaching certificates,” says Fisher, who taught full time basically right out of high school before getting married and starting a family in Claresholm, Alta. “I’ve always loved learning and I was getting back into the profession because my children were in school, so I thought why not go for my degree?”

Fisher’s introduction to the U of L was actually through night classes that the university was offering in Claresholm. Before long, Fisher was commuting to the Lethbridge campus. She earned her BEd and went on to earn a bachelor of arts as well. Thanks to a particularly fantastic U of L English professor, Fisher says she “fell in love” with children’s literature, and was compelled to pursue a master’s degree on the subject. She earned an MA in children’s literature through Simmons ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ in Boston in 1979.

Fisher’s extended education may have led her elsewhere, but she chooses to support the university where her degree path began. She’s made annual financial donations to the U of L since 1991, and says that a thriving university is essential to the vitality of southern Alberta.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge adds so much to the region,” says Fisher. “It’s a great university that continues to thrive, which brings a lot of attention and energy to the entire area. It’s essential to support that.”

At age 83, Fisher still lives in Claresholm and remains true to her academic roots. After more than 20 years of donations, she says she will continue to support the U of L as long as she can.

“I believe in education. I know the difference a good education can make in someone’s life, and if I can help create that difference for students at a university that I know and love, then I’m going to do that. Whether it goes to scholarships or helps the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to grow, donations are what make new things possible.”

Join Kaye and support the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge

Pride inspires alumna's donor spirit

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Oct 2014 18:15:44 +0000

When Shabana Manji (BA ’11) was ready to go to university, she knew exactly where she wanted to study. She applied only to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge – a gamble that Manji might not have taken, were it not for the strong first impression she had of the U of L after attending a recruitment presentation and taking a campus tour.

Shabana Manji worked briefly in the U of L Call Centre, where she made calls to alumni and donors – jobs that infused her with passion for the school.

“I was really impressed,” says Manji. “Choosing a university is an anxious time in anyone’s life. I got a lot of personalized attention from the recruitment officer. She was a U of L alumna too, and her enthusiasm for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ was contagious.”

Born and raised in Calgary, Manji liked the idea that her choice of university would allow her to move away from home and still make visits back easy. She settled into residence in 2006, and soon after began giving campus tours herself. She worked part time with the U of L recruitment team during her studies and worked briefly in the U of L Call Centre, where she made calls to alumni and donors – jobs that Manji says infused her with passion for the school.

“It sparked something in me larger than pride,” says Manji. “The work gave me tremendous knowledge about the U of L, and an appreciation for why financial donations are so important. The U of L excels on so many fronts. Financial donations keep things going and allow all the things that define the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ to thrive.”

Manji graduated with a bachelor of arts in humanities in 2011, did post-secondary study at Royal Roads ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, and eventually landed as a public affairs assistant for the Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) in the summer of 2014. As one of more than 30 agencies worldwide, the AKFC (located in Ottawa) strives to improve living conditions for impoverished people around the globe, and addresses the social, economic and cultural elements of development.

“The work the AKFC does is inspiring in so many ways,” she says. “To be involved in humanitarian efforts around the globe is incredibly rewarding.”

In addition to doing support work for public engagements and public learning projects with AKFC, Manji plans and supports various events and conferences, including the Canadian Humanitarian Conference. Despite the fact that her career was just getting off the ground, Manji began making financial donations to U of L in 2013.

“The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge is a great school with even greater potential,” Manji says. “It invests in wonderful professors and researchers, the administrative staff is amazing, the programming, the clubs, the residences – all these things take money. If my donation helps a bit, I feel good about that.”

Manji feels that giving back to the U of L is something all alumni should consider, not only to benefit future generations of students, but also for the betterment of the U of L as a whole.

“Great universities have a great alumni body,” says Manji. “There are a lot of very successful U of L grads doing a lot of amazing things. If we all stood together, showed our pride and gave back a little, the effects would be huge.”

Pereira to headline inaugural Edmonton Alumni & Friends Dinner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:48:34 +0000

Silicon Valley entrepreneur and ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge alumnus Anil Pereira (BMgt ’87) will serve as the guest speaker for the inaugural 2014 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Edmonton Alumni & Friends Dinner on Wednesday, March 19 at the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald.

Anil Pereira is an entrepreneur and marketing executive with more than 20 years of hands-on experience at both start-up companies and global corporations.

Pereira is an entrepreneur and marketing executive with more than 20 years of hands-on experience at both start-up companies and global corporations. The founder and executive chairman of Verious, the world’s first code recommendation engine for software developers, Pereira is also the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty of Management’s first Executive in Residence.

“We’ve established this dinner as a means to bring alumni together in fellowship and to offer attendees compelling and engaging speakers who reflect the values and goals of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge,” says President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Mike Mahon. “Anil epitomizes those attributes. Our 2000 U of L Alumnus of the Year, he is a dynamic, successful and influential entrepreneur who has made the most of his U of L education. That he aspires to serve as a role model for future generations of students is exemplary.”

Pereira is known as a tireless worker, serving as an advisor to numerous start-up and established businesses in Silicon Valley and around the world, among them a startup that teaches children how to code, a company that provides retailers with “intelligent CRM” and a cloud computing security company.

Pereira’s presentation at the Faculty of Management-sponsored Edmonton Alumni & Friends Dinner is the highlight of an extremely busy week. Pereira will spend time at each of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s three campuses, giving a number of presentations to students and alumni and even participating in a student vs. staff/faculty ball hockey game.

“We occupy a unique place among Western Canadian business schools in that we ensure our students get a significant amount of in-class and beyond-the-classroom learning experiences,” Faculty of Management Dean, Dr. Bob Ellis, says. “We know that learning from successful leaders like Anil – who have also had the U of L experience – will help to motivate students as they navigate the complex and dynamic environment in which business operates.”

Individual tickets for the 2014 Edmonton Alumni & Friends Dinner are priced at $50 each, with a table of 10 for $500. Tickets are available online at ulethadvancement.universitytickets.com/dinner.

For more information on the Faculty of Management and its programs, visit www.ulethbridge.ca/management.

Williams says support offers a brighter big picture

david.kirby — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:03:59 +0000

In the 20-plus years that Lorne Williams has worked and studied at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, he’s seen some significant changes. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ has grown, introduced new programs and Faculties, expanded to Alberta’s two largest cities, and become renowned as one of the top-research universities in the country. But for all the positive changes that have occurred, Williams says there is one particular thing close to his heart that requires our collective attention – the stress level of many students on campus.

“Having worked every day with student residents in the past, teaching in the classroom and having lived the university experience myself, I know how difficult student life can be,” says Williams. “It’s more expensive than ever to attend university and students today are under more conflicting demands than ever before. A little bit of assistance goes a long way, and the benefits are something we reap as a society.”

Williams is a long-time monthly contributor to the U of L’s Supporting Our Student (SOS) fund – a cause he feels so passionate about he is the co-Chair of the 2013/14 SOS campaign.

Lorne Williams and Linda Embury are co-Chairs of the Supporting Our Students campaign.

“Students are the reason we’re here,” says Williams about U of L faculty and staff. “Our job as instructors and administrators is to facilitate student success, and that goal has to reach beyond the classroom. In giving to SOS we help students go forward and become positive forces in the external community.”

As assistant dean of northern campuses, a position he accepted after more than a decade as a director, instructor and coordinator at the U of L Calgary campus, Williams has a unique perspective on student life. He says the realities of achieving a post-secondary education are especially diverse and complicated for students.

“There is a huge non-traditional student base today. Many students work full time while pursuing their education, out of sheer necessity in a lot of cases. They have families and other major responsibilities on top of their course work. It’s a lot to juggle, and students struggle because of it. Anything we can do to help alleviate some of that pressure is important and worthwhile, and contributing to SOS does that.”

Having earned four degrees, including a Bachelor of Management and Master of Education from the U of L, a Bachelor of Arts from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and a Master of Arts from Royal Roads ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, all while balancing a professional career and family, Williams personally empathizes with students and sees his contributions to SOS as a small part of a bigger picture.

“��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ education is meant for everyone. We have a role to fulfill, an obligation to society – we exist to make communities better,” he says. “The lifeblood of any community is the people who live there, and the U of L is a community filled with citizens who take what they learn here out to the world. We have a responsibility to foster our people. Contributing to SOS, in large or small ways, is a fantastic way of doing that.”

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