草莓污视频导航

Feb. 13, 2019

Prestigious scholarships unleash student potential and uplift families

Reach of philanthropic support from David Bissett extends beyond financial benefits. Just ask Mikala Dickson
First-year Werklund School of Education student Mikala Dickson is one of five recipients of the David Bissett Award of a $10,000 bursary.

First-year student Mikala Dickson is one of five recipients of the David Bissett Award of $10,000.

Development and Alumni Engagement

The odds of Mikala Dickson beginning her education degree at the 草莓污视频导航 last fall seemed, from the outside, abysmally stacked against her.

Starting in Grade 10, Dickson worked 25 hours a week at a dollar store near her home in Brandon, Man. Her dad, on extended medical leave for a heart condition, was unable to contribute to household finances and her mom, a dental assistant, needed consistent help with groceries and bills. Dickson鈥檚 younger brother, to whom she鈥檚 particularly close, struggled with debilitating anxiety and depression and, in 2016, her best friend committed suicide. They had planned to go to university together.

From a young age, Dickson had dreamed of becoming a teacher. Determined to succeed in spite of significant emotional and financial challenges, she graduated from high school in June 2018 with a 98-per-cent average. In August, she joined her older sister in Airdrie to begin her degree at the Werklund School of Education. Startlingly sunny and open, Dickson was, she says, 鈥渁bsolutely prepared to struggle.鈥 Little did she know help was just around the corner.

Longtime 草莓污视频导航 supporter David A. Bissett 鈥 member of the Order of Canada, recipient of the Alberta Order of Excellence, and the founder of one of Calgary鈥檚 most successful investment firms 鈥 recently made a gift to establish the prestigious David Bissett Award. The award consists of $10,000 bursaries for five first-year undergraduates, with preference given to supporting Indigenous students; the awards may be renewed in second, third, and fourth year. Through their philanthropic investment and involvement, David and his wife, Leslie, are committed to creating lasting positive change for students, families and the wider community in Calgary and beyond.

Two weeks before starting her courses, Dickson, who is听M茅tis, got the call that she鈥檇 won the award. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 speak, I just cried,鈥 she says. The scholarship will cover her tuition and fees, and contribute to her living expenses.

鈥淚 want Mr. Bissett to know how much this has helped me,鈥 says Dickson. 鈥淚t changed my outlook 鈥 things were very hard for a long time, and I learned to get through one day at a time.鈥 She says that knowing there was 鈥渟omeone out there who was willing help me to take this journey without financial burden鈥 has changed her life.

One of the best calls she鈥檚 ever made was to her mom to share the news.

鈥淪he actually dropped the phone and it hung up,鈥 says Dickson with a laugh. 鈥淪he couldn鈥檛 believe it 鈥 she鈥檇 been so worried about how I would manage, and this gave her so much reassurance.鈥

David Bissett鈥檚 gift contributes to 草莓污视频导航鈥檚听贰苍别谤驳颈锄别听campaign, which is more than 90 per cent of the way to its $1.3-billion goal. The third-largest fundraising initiative in Canadian university history, the campaign fuels excellence in students and research, and strengthens community ties.

The听Energizecampaign for the 草莓污视频导航 is a transformative fundraising initiative that fuels excellence in student experiences, research outcomes and community connections. Thanks to the generosity of 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 friends and supporters, we are igniting discovery, creativity and innovation to make lasting positive change at the 草莓污视频导航, in our city and beyond.听听 听 听听

The听贰苍别谤驳颈锄别听campaign is more than three-quarters to its overall goal of $1.3 billion.听

, the 草莓污视频导航鈥檚 Indigenous Strategy, is a commitment to deep evolutionary transformation by reimagining ways of knowing, doing, connecting and being. Walking parallel paths together, 鈥榠n a good way,鈥 草莓污视频导航 will move towards genuine reconciliation and Indigenization.