Bridging the Gap
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ImpactFALL 2015 ISSUE NUMBER 24 Western Bridging the gap Alumna’s generosity key factor in equation for students’ success Impact Western 02 Celebrating the spirit Celebrating the of community 03 Ivey alumnus investing in students’ success Western spirit 04 Bridging the gap 06 Investing in the future n my role as president, I am fortunate Fricke. Each of them is on a very of health care to have the opportunity to meet many different path to success made 07 NHLPA gift to support Iextraordinary Western alumni, possible by the generosity of a Western game-changing research donors, faculty, students, staff and graduate. What they share, however, friends. Their generosity and is a gratitude to the donors whose 08 Quest for social justice commitment are a constant source of support helped make their dreams pride and inspiration. possible and a commitment to carry 10 Engineering implants for better health As I read the stories in this issue on the tradition of philanthropy as they of Impact Western, my belief in the move forward in their lives. 12 Developing the human potential dedication of our Western family is As a supporter of Western, you, reinforced. Alumni continuing the cycle too, are an invaluable part of this 14 Investing in Canada’s next of support and ‘paying it forward’ are philanthropic tradition. We could not generation of STEM leaders themes found not only on these pages, give our students the bright futures 15 Lending support to insolvency but in our exceptional community as they deserve if it wasn’t for you. law reform a whole. As we prepare to say goodbye to You will meet alumni such as Dr. another year and look forward to the 16 Thank you to our donors Vladimir Yakovishin, MD’68, whose festive season, I wish you and your bequest will support student bursaries family a wonderful holiday. Thank you 26 Campaign progress and research in ophthalmology, and for your generosity and for continuing Abudi Awaysheh, BSc’06, MSc’10, to be part of the Western family. who recently established an award in On the cover: Fourth-year students Tiffany honour of his mentor. Both of these Kralka and Helen Ngo, recipients remarkable donors were recipients of of the Jack Newbegin Award in financial support during their time as Music and the Barbara Newbegin Award in Mathematics. students and are determined to help Amit Chakma others achieve their goals. President & Photo by Geoff Robins, BA’98. You will also meet students like Vice-Chancellor Tiffany Kralka, Helen Ngo and Kyle Western University IMPACT WESTERN FALL 2015 ISSUE NUMBER 24 Editor: Crystal Lamb, BA’03, MA’06 Executive Editor: Diana Cunningham Publisher: Helen Connell, MBA’96 Contributors: Heather Bishop, BA’90; Amit Chakma; Susanna Eayrs; Tristan Joseph, BA’99; Crystal Lamb, President’s Holiday Reception BA’03, MA’06; Veronica Stoiber Design: Scott Woods President Amit Chakma & Mrs. Meena Chakma Impact Western is published by the Department of Communications & Public Affairs, in partnership with invite you to celebrate the season the Department of Alumni Relations & Development, to inform alumni, corporations, foundations and other December 1, 2015 - Toronto friends of Western about the donations, priorities and progress of the University’s current fundraising initiatives December 16, 2015 - London as well as the impact of gifts already in action. You are 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. receiving this publication because of your generous support of Western University. Thank you. For details contact: If you would like to receive this publication electronically, and/or you would like more information, please email [email protected] or [email protected] 519.661.2111 ext. 85400 02 | IMPACT WESTERN Ivey Business School Dean Robert (Bob) Kennedy and Donald Jackson, MBA’67, speak with incoming HBA students at an event announcing the new scholarships made possible by the Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation’s recent gift. onald Jackson, MBA’67, and his family are making it their HBA Community Service Award, the HBA Entrepreneurship business to help students in their pursuit of higher Award and the HBA Award, which are each valued at $5,000, Deducation. and two HBA Leaders Scholarships, each valued at $12,500. Concerned that students weren’t getting the financial support Each of the scholarships is renewable provided the recipient they needed to pursue postsecondary education, Mr. Jackson and maintains an average of 80 per cent or higher. the Donald K. Jackson Family Foundation, which includes family This year’s recipients of the HBA Leaders Scholarships, directors Andrea Jackson-Lev and Sara Jackson, recently gave a Tom Grainger and Karen Yu, say this support has already made generous $1-million donation to provide entrance scholarships to an incredible impact on their lives. “Receiving this scholarship students seeking to attend the Ivey Business School. has been motivation to hold myself to a higher personal standard “Our family is proud to offer future business leaders this of achievement,” Tom says. “It’s difficult to put into words the financial assistance to enable them to attend Ivey and support significance of having someone believe in you so thoroughly that them on their journey to achieving their goals,” says Mr. they would offer such incredible support and ask for nothing in Jackson. “With these scholarships we are able to recognize return but your best effort.” and reward those students who excel in academics, give back Karen, whose dream has always been to become someone to their communities, and possess the leadership qualities and who influences others through inspiration and positivity, says entrepreneurial spirit to make a real difference in our society.” receiving support from an alumnus also has special meaning for Mr. Jackson is a graduate of the MBA program at Ivey and her. “As I continue on my path towards becoming a business leader, long-time former member of Ivey’s Advisory Board. He is the this gift has truly been a sign of encouragement and motivation. founder of Parkview Capital Partners, a private equity investor I will ensure that I will use my education to create value for the which has evolved into the Jackson Family Office. This office also companies I work for and the communities I live in.” supports the funding of scholarships and bursaries through a private investment in a company called Yconic. For more information about supporting the Ivey Business School’s The generous gift will support six scholarships and awards for campaign priorities, please contact Louise Spencer, Director of first-year HBA students at Ivey: the HBA International Award, the Development (519.661.4100, ext. 84100 or [email protected]). FALL 2015 ISSUE 24 | 03 Bridging the gap Alumna’s generosity key factor in equation for students’ success n first meeting them, Helen Ngo able to take a few more hours off of work to group, says receiving the Jack Newbegin and Tiffany Kralka don’t appear to focus on my school work and to not have to Award in Music helped make it possible Ohave much in common. worry as much,” says Helen. for her to attend a world-class music Ngo spends her days in the world of education conference in Chicago – a once- numbers, having accepted a position in-a-lifetime opportunity that will serve her as a data science and business well in her teaching career in the future. development analyst with a major “My experience in university has telecommunications company following been a little more challenging than I was graduation in April, 2016. expecting, but I’m so glad I came here,” Kralka is a talented pianist who has she says. “My knowledge has grown so wanted to be a high school music teacher much and I’ve learned a lot about teaching since the age of 12 and plans to attend that I will pass on to my future students, teacher’s college. along with my love of music.” Although their interests and paths Barbara Newbegin, BA’71, MA’72, the differ, these fourth-year students share donor who generously established these a passion for learning, a drive for success awards in 2013, says the degrees she and a gratitude to the same donor whose received from Western in mathematics two very different undergraduate awards set her up for success in her career in have helped them to pursue their dreams. government. She hopes earmarking an “Financial concerns were a major Barbara Newbegin, BA’71, MA’72. award for a female student in an honors consideration for me. I work part-time and mathematics program will encourage receiving the Barbara Newbegin Award in Tiffany, who works part-time as a piano more women to enter the currently male- Mathematics gave me the security of being teacher and volunteers with her local youth dominated field. 04 | IMPACT WESTERN Tiffany Kralka and Helen Ngo above. “Whatever stage of life you’re in, there is always a way to give back in some way, whether with your time or with financial support. There are probably a lot more students struggling than people know about.” Helen Ngo, BSc’16 Establishing the awards also support has had on their lives, Tiffany out of their Western experience. “I provided an opportunity to honour and Helen both hope to pay it forward in want young people to have access to her father’s memory and her family’s the future and continue to honour Miss quality education that will launch them commitment to giving back, she says. Newbegin’s family’s legacy of giving back. on a lifetime of self-directed learning in “When I was growing up, my parents “Whatever stage of life you’re in, there personal, professional and leadership were both involved in the community and is always a way to give back in some way, development.