UNews - Courtney Atkinson

Atkinson gift presents opportunity

trevor.kenney — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 15:43:35 +0000

After finishing his MBA, Courtney Atkinson came to Lethbridge in 2003 to interview for a position with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge. At the time, he had never even heard of the city until shortly beforehand. But, as he recalls, after accepting a job in the registrar's office and moving across the country, it took only a short period of time for Lethbridge to feel like home.

"One of the great things I quickly came to appreciate about the U of L was the sense of community. Being a Maritimer, I hold that near and dear to my heart. To me the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ felt like a big family who gave a lot back to the community, students and ultimately our society," says Atkinson.

After working for the U of L for six years in various managerial positions in the registrar's office and later HR, Atkinson felt it was time for a change. He shifted gears and started a completely new personal venture in real estate. Now, four years later, Atkinson has not only found his passion, but is also a successful businessperson, something he largely credits to his education and the time he spent working for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

"I started the most significant part of my professional career at the U of L and spent some pretty formative years there. It was a period of time where I really had the opportunity to grow and figure out who I was and what I wanted to do," says Atkinson. "I feel deeply indebted to the institution for what it has given me in terms of personal growth, training and professional opportunities."

As a way to express his gratitude, Atkinson made a $25,000 gift to a fund that supports professional development and training for staff, and provides start-up research funds for faculty.

"My vision is to give back to the university community in a way that helps others accomplish their professional goals," he says.

In thinking about the future, Atkinson also established the U of L as the beneficiary to one of his life insurance policies. This will eventually be added to the fund and enable the U of L to further his vision when he is no longer here.

"In my journey, I've really come to value education and how institutions of higher learning impact people's lives," says Atkinson. "The U of L has had such a positive impact on my life. This was an opportunity for me to say thanks to the institution and the people who helped me get to where I am while also helping others accomplish their goals."

This story first appeared in the November 2012 issue of the Legend. To view the full issue online, follow this link.

Preparing for tomorrow today

trevor.kenney — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:29:01 +0000