UNews - Campaign for Students

Alumni donors establish first-of-its-kind endowment fund to support 2SLGBTQ+ students

trevor.kenney — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:41:13 +0000

A first-of-its-kind endowment fund for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge will provide support for 2SLGBTQ+ students and those who advance equity and inclusion, thanks to a generous donation from two ULethbridge alumni.

Kurt Schlachter (BSc ’00) and Jason VandenHoek (BMgt ’05) have established the VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Fund. Announced during ULethbridge’s Progress Pride flag raising ceremony, the $200,000 endowment fund will support a suite of awards aimed at reducing barriers for 2SLGBTQ+ students.

Jason VandenHoek, left, and Kurt Schlachter at the ULethbridge Pride Flag Raising Ceremony.

“With some of the incredibly high rates of addiction, homelessness and suicide among 2SLGBTQ+ youth, we wanted to support students from this community by providing access to education that they may not otherwise have, especially those who don't come from supportive families like we do or who may have financial barriers,” says Schlachter. “It was clear to us there is a gap for this segment of the student population. We also felt it was really important for us to support students who are demonstrating leadership and allyship for the 2SLGBTQ+ community.”

The awards will celebrate academic achievement, remove financial barriers to education and recognize exceptional contributions to advancing equity and inclusion for the 2SLGBTQ+ community, both on campus and beyond. While a first for ULethbridge, it is also among only a handful of post-secondary institutions across Canada to offer awards for 2SLGBTQ+ students.

“These awards will provide much-needed support for 2SLGBTQ+ students at ULethbridge, and it is a great honour to announce them as we celebrate Pride Month under this year’s theme of Solidarity, Strength and Community,” says Martha Mathurin-Moe, vice-provost, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. “As we work to build a more inclusive and welcoming campus, this significant gift sends a powerful message to our students and the broader community that by working together, we can create the culture shift we all seek – a truly safe and welcoming campus space for everyone.”

Schlachter and VandenHoek are notable in the community for their volunteerism and philanthropy. Schlachter is a Lethbridge-based lawyer, who served as Chair of the ULethbridge Board of Governors from 2016 to 2022. He is currently the chief executive officer of Stringam LLP, a regional law firm in Western Canada, and was appointed as Queen’s Counsel (now King’s Counsel) last year. VandenHoek spent over a decade as executive director of the Chinook Regional Hospital Foundation before becoming the chief operating officer of the pair’s real estate holding company. Both are former ULethbridge Senators.

While they had been considering ways to support ULethbridge for several years, Schlachter says the announcement of The Campaign for Students, with $10-million in matching funds pledged by ULethbridge’s Board of Governors, confirmed that the timing was right to create an even bigger impact.

“It resonated with us deeply that this was the right time, and that we could leverage our gift to have double the impact — it just really, really brought it home for us,” says Schlachter. “We consider our time at ULethbridge to be a huge part of our lives and we’ve continued to stay very connected. We both recognize that our lives would be totally different if we had not had the opportunity to obtain a university education.”

Schlachter and VandenHoek both grew up in small rural southern Alberta communities. While grateful for their agricultural upbringing and supportive families, Schlachter recognizes the challenges for those who cannot access vital supports or have limited opportunities to grow in a diverse environment. A portion of the endowment fund will provide support for students growing up in rural communities to allow them to experience something different.

“While there has been some progress, there are still significant barriers to accessing resources and support for 2SLGBTQ+ students,” says Schlachter. “With a smaller population, these students are less likely to be exposed to diversity of perspective, thought and individual circumstances in the same way as when you can come to a larger centre, and especially to a university campus. It opens your eyes in different ways. It’s important for students to see themselves represented and to feel that they are not alone.”

For VandenHoek and Schlachter, the power of representation is critical to building confidence on the pathway to success, especially for 2SLGBTQ+ students.

“For those with similar backgrounds to us to see that they too can achieve success and reach their dreams if they work hard and focus is essential,” says Schlachter. “In some cases, they may need more support to get there. So, we're hoping to provide that to them.”

The first award from the VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Fund will be presented in June 2024.

VandenHoek and Schlachter are challenging their fellow ULethbridge alumni to make a donation to this fund or to any of the other student funds that have been established so far, or to explore establishing a fund that supports future ULethbridge students in a way that aligns with their personal values, by taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in The Campaign for Students.

Those interested in donating can give by visiting the VandenHoek Schlachter Pride Fund webpage. All donations will be matched 1:1.

Boulet gift establishes permanent endowment for Ric Suggitt Women's Rugby Memorial Award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 25 May 2023 17:32:16 +0000

The Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award has received a gift of $20,000 from Bernadine (Bernie) (BEd ’88) and Toby Boulet (BEd ’89, MEd ’04), establishing a permanent endowment and ensuring future generations of student-athletes will receive this meaningful support in perpetuity. Much more than a monetary scholarship given annually to a women’s rugby player at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, the original award is a tribute to former Horns rugby coach Ric Suggitt and his legacy of selflessness and contributing to a better society.

Toby and Bernadine Boulet

Ric Suggitt coached just two years with the Horns (2015-2016) before his tragic passing in June 2017, and while his time as head of the program was short, the impact he made on campus, throughout Pronghorn Athletics and in the community was massive. His sphere of influence was wide and extended far beyond the rugby world — something that would become evident following his untimely death and the chain of tragic events that ensued.

“Ric was very special to our son Logan, and he offered to train Logan and his three buddies,” says Toby of his hockey-playing son. “He did a great job with them just out of the kindness of his heart and Logan really took to that — Ric was a larger-than-life personality.”

Suggitt was an organ donor and upon his passing, a tragedy turned into a miracle for those transplant recipients who benefitted from his ultimate gift. That last act of selflessness and giving resonated with Logan and he told his family he was signing up as an organ donor as well. What seemed like a symbolic gesture at the time eventually proved prescient, as Logan was one of the 16 people who died in the April 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash.

As the story emerged that Logan was able to save six lives through the donation of his organs, The Logan Boulet Effect was born, with hundreds of thousands of people signing up to be organ donors. The genesis of it all was Suggitt and his relationship with Logan, thereby making it easy for Bernie and Toby to choose to support the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award and continue to tell their story.

“You can never talk enough about a child who has passed away, and then it gives us a chance to talk about Ric and Ric’s influence on Logan and how he inspired him to become an organ donor,” says Toby.

Bernie echoes that sentiment and, as a co-chair of the Campaign for Students, encourages others to find an award that resonates with them if they are considering donating.

“I was never that person who would go out and ask for donations and then I thought back to when I was a student here and how fortunate I was to get scholarships and not have to worry about having to work while I was playing soccer and taking a full course load,” she says. “Those scholarships made a huge difference for me and when I took on this role, I thought about how hard it has been for students the last few years. It hasn’t been an easy road for them, and I see this campaign as an opportunity to build some positive connections again for our students to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ and our community.”

Any donations to the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award, or any other new endowed student scholarship, will be matched by the ULethbridge Board of Governors as part of their $10-million pledge to student awards.

Keegan Brantner (BA ’21), a previous recipient of the award, which was established in 2017, says the scholarship was invaluable in helping her maintain focus on her schooling and her sport, rather than worrying about financial issues.

“Receiving the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award was a tremendous honor,” says Brantner. “The financial assistance is greatly appreciated but the meaning and legacy behind the award is what matters most to me. This award continues to honor Ric and his legacy as well as the values of selflessness, kindness, community and giving, which is what makes receiving this award so special.”

That the award bears Ric Suggitt’s name and will forever be connected to Ric, Logan and the Boulet family is heartening to Neil Langevin (BA/BEd ’91, MEd ’10), executive director of Pronghorn Athletics.

“This award isn’t just about the money, which of course is important and can be life changing for a student-athlete, it also speaks to everything we value in Pronghorn Athletics,” says Langevin. “The story behind this award and why it came to be is about making the world around you better, about impacting people’s lives and creating a legacy of giving and community. Each scholarship recipient will know that story and the responsibility that comes with this award and that’s a powerful lesson to learn. We couldn’t be more appreciative of the Boulet family and all the donors to this award who have made this happen.”

Those interested in donating, can give by visiting the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award webpage. To give to any other student scholarship, visit Campaign for Students.

Varzari family establishes new bursary to help students in need

caroline.zentner — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:10:35 +0000

Not only are post-secondary 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 the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge 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 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s current Campaign for Students, 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 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. 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.

“Bursaries like this greatly enhance the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s ability to support students who might not otherwise have the opportunity to pursue post-secondary education,” says Kathy Greenwood, vice-president external relations. “I want to thank the Varzari family for their gift, which will ensure a positive, well-rounded experience for more ULethbridge students. Their support sends a powerful message to students who are facing financial hardships.”

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Board of Governors will match the donation to establish the Varzari Family Bursary Fund as part of its $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.

Visit the Campaign for Students for more information.

UNews - Campaign for Students

Alumni donors establish first-of-its-kind endowment fund to support 2SLGBTQ+ students

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Boulet gift establishes permanent endowment for Ric Suggitt Women's Rugby Memorial Award

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Varzari family establishes new bursary to help students in need

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