September 2005 ISSUE
education
huge u of c donation boosts faculty
Ontario Philanthropist Donates $25 Million to U of C, Province Comes Through with $25 Million More
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BY MARK SKOVMOSE
University of Calgary
Student Contributor
(Engineering)
Editor’s Note: Mark Skovmose, studying third-year electrical engineering
at the U of C, is a new student contributor to The PEGG. Mark is the president
of the U of C Engineering Students’ Society. He enjoys photography, travelling
and outdoor sports — “when I don’t live at the university.”
Engineering students and faculty at the University of Calgary rejoiced June 22, over a record donation of $50 million. Seymour Schulich, an Ontario philanthropist and mining baron, and the Alberta Government each contributed $25 million of funding, focused heavily on engineering undergraduates and student clubs.
The generous donation brings a new brand to the faculty, now named the Schulich School of Engineering.
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A Beetle for Your Bucks |
A crowd of nearly 1,000 people, including many media represen-tatives, spilled from the large lecture hall. Premier Ralph Klein, the Hon. Dave Hancock, Minister of Advanced Education, and Mr. Schulich lined the table. Many of the improvements that lie ahead will be because of the actions of these three dignitaries, and my thanks can’t be expressed in mere words.
I had the chance to meet Mr. Schulich and see the informal side of the business tycoon. He is easy to converse with and his attitude is intriguing – he’s genuinely concerned with student achievement. Though his donation is towards education, I have the distinct feeling he is fueling the means to help make students better professionals.
The gift spreads into more than 100 scholarships, funding for clubs and conferences, and three new research chairs. Particularly emphasized are student conferences and events, allowing an opportunity for inter-school networking for students who may not been able to afford to attend.
As well, scholarships specifically for students from outside of Calgary will help bring a more diverse population to campus.
Let the Sun Fuel Your Car
The North American Solar Challenge brought thousands of spectators to the streets of Calgary in July to watch the 28, student-engineered cars compete. The U of C entry, Soleon, crossed the home turf finish line after an impressive 4,000 km trek from Austin, Tex.
Calgary was chosen the end-point before the university had a car or even a team to build a one. Dr. Joshua Leon, P.Eng., the engineering professor overseeing the endeavor, encouraged Rashaad Sadar, project leader, to build the car in the nine months prior to the race.
With the help of as many as 100 business, kinesiology, computer science and engineering students, 12,000 hours were logged to design, plan and construct the car.
The first-time entry, competing against some cars with 15-year tenure, raced well. The team considers its 13th-place finish an engineering success for the U of C.