NOVEMBER 2006 ISSUE
education foundation
Ten Years Old and Ready for Greater Things
BY ANDY GILLILAND, P.ENG.
Foundation President
We’re on the eve of a particularly significant anniversary for the APEGGA Education Foundation. On Dec. 13, 1996, the foundation was incorporated to support the activities of APEGGA in the development of engineers, geologists and geophysicists, and those who might enter these professions.
The creation of the foundation was the act of an enlightened Council, which recognized that professional engineers and geoscientists have a responsib-ility to demonstrate leadership in building and maintaining strong professions for the long-term benefit of Alberta and Canada. Council of the day showed leadership by establishing the foundation to provide financial assistance and awards, and work with the academic institutions and industry to assist in defining educational needs.
It is interesting to note that the issues which Council addressed in 1996 are very similar to those issues which exist today. Your foundation board of directors continues to strive to provide much needed support to very deserving students, and to maximize the impact of the resources which are available to it.
In another PEGG column it has been stated that the foundation exists only because APEGGA and its members have provided strong financial support each year for the 10 previous years. A wide range of scholarships and awards are sustained, ranging from entrance scholarships and transfer scholarships to undergraduate, graduate and teacher scholarships.
These are enhanced from the original awards, but still reflect an approach based on the needs in 1996, a position necessary to reflect careful stewardship of limited funds made available on essentially an annual basis. Individual donations to the foundation do not yet provide for full financial support for the awards and scholarships offered.
Using an APEGGA membership base of 40,000, the foundation contributes about
$2.25 per member to the awards activity, an amount underwritten by APEGGA each
year to sustain foundation funds.
Your foundation board, however, would like to increase the number of awards and
to enhance the value of each award. It is critical to the professions to assist
the next generation of engineers and geoscientists to undertake academic training.
It is also critical to encourage young people to embrace the engineering and geoscience professions, and by so doing support the continuing economic growth of this province. Those teachers of mathematics, physics and chemistry that we do recognize tell us that they value highly their contact with professionals and the recognition professionals give them. These excellent and motivated teachers are worthy of more support.
The foundation has recently enhanced its graduate scholarships to encourage more graduates to undertake post-graduate programs, but we want to do more in this area.
At the 2006 awards presentations held in Edmonton and Calgary in October and early November, your foundation recognized many individuals who have demonstrated excellence and commitment. It is apparent that we must work together to update and enhance our awards programs and to bring them into the world of 2006 and into the future.
Professionals of whatever discipline should be able to feel pride and satisfaction that APEGGA and the foundation represent them well. We are doing our best and will continue to do so, but members of APEGGA may wish to contemplate whether we are doing enough.
Is $2.25 per member an acceptable level of support? Your foundation board believes that amount is inadequate to respond to the needs of 2006 and later.
As we pass this 10-year milestone, we hope that APEGGA and its members will
agree to increase support to the foundation so current needs may be addressed.
We hope that all professional geoscientists and engineers will be proud that
their Association and the foundation together reflect a committed and generous
presence in support of our fine young people with compatible interests.
Later this year we will approach APEGGA permit holders and seek their support.
Members of APEGGA are asked to consider an increased or new contribution to the
foundation, and we seek the continued support and leadership from the current
Council.
May the next 10 years be a time of growth and increased relevance for both the foundation and APEGGA.