Spring 2020 Volume 2 Issue 2 BURMAN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE First Nations Heritage Has Key Lessons for Burman “Shaping the World” Campaign: The Sankey Challenge | Burman Celebrates Excellence in Athletics | Professor Shares Camping Hacks Former Prime Minister to Speak at Herr Lecture Series | PAA and Burman Join Hands for Bahamian Disaster Relief & Parkview Adventist Academy News BURMANUNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 2 President’s Message VOLUME 2, NUMBER 2 3 The Sankey Challenge SPRING 2020 Ron Schafer’s 40 Years of Burman University is a Seventh-day Adventist 4 institution. Growing Burman Athletics EDITOR 11 Burman to Host Kim Campbell Renate Krause Annual YACC Showcases Young 12 WRITERS Musicians Shirley Freed Peka Maattanen Patti Smedley Glen Graham Louicius Michel Eduardo Sola Burman to Offer LIGHT Training Juilie Hodder Elaine Sankey 12 Kevin Kiers Ron Schafer in May 4 PHOTOGRAPHER School of Business Offers Summer 13 Christian Lintan Continuing Education Seminars 16 DESIGNER AND PHOTO EDITOR School of Business Advisory Board David J. Kinsey, Alexander & Sydney, UBA 14 Recommends New Initiatives Spring 2020 Volume 2 Issue 2 BURMAN UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE 15 Meet the Board First Nations 16 Lessons from Time Gone By bring exciting 18 Parkview Adventist Academy News new dimensions to the Burman (Top left and right) Doris Klam, age 89, demonstrates that seniors can be fit—with a little 20 Camping Hacks from Kevin Kiers curriculum! effort. (Bottom left) The Acronaire home show always draws a crowd. (Bottom right) Win or lose, the Burman team is a worthy opponent. 21 Alumni Profiles • Julie Hodder: Doing God’s Work First Nations Heritage Has • More Alumni Profiles Key Lessons for Burman Feature Stories “Shaping the World” Campaign: The Sankey Challenge | Shafer Celebrates 40 Year Anniversay in Athletics | Professor Shares Camping Hacks Former Prime Minister to Speak at Herr Lecture Series | PAA and Burman Join Hands for Bahamian Disaster Relief 21 ABOUT THE COVER 4 Ron Schafer’s 40 Years of 11 Herr Lecture Features Former Lessons learned over eons of history are now being Growing Burman Athletics Prime Minister Kevin Kiers’ camping shared with students in the School of Education. Over four decades Ron’s leadership The Honourable Kim Campbell will hacks appeal has had a positive and lasting discuss the security risks posed by the TO MAKE A GIFT to seasoned Gifts in support of Burman University may be made impact on both the campus and threat of global climate change. Ms. hikers and at www.burmanu.ca or phone 403.782.3381 x 4161 the Lacombe community. The Campbell was Canada’s first female novices comprehensive and high quality prime minister. She served as the VISIT US ONLINE AT alike. www.burmanu.ca program attracts thousands of users Founding Principal of the new Peter Facebook: Burman University each month. Lougheed Leadership College at the Instagram: @burmanuniversity University of Alberta. Twitter: @burmanuniv 20 Burman University Magazine is published 16 School of Education two times yearly by the Burman University, Collaborates with First Nations See the alumni profile pages Office of the President, 6730 University Drive, for many inspiring stories of Lacombe, Alberta T4L 2E5. An emphasis on reconciliation brings about program changes that prepare committed service and © Copyright 2019 Burman University students to anticipate, value, and professional accomplishment. Letters to the editor are welcome and may be considered for publication. They may be edited. respond to the diverse strengths and Email messages to [email protected] needs of all learners. 1 President’s Message Transformations These are just two reasons why we decided that a library hen Murray and Elaine (Babiuk) Sankey met at Burman, transformation is basic to our students’ entire university Wthey discovered they had much in common. Both “prairie Shaping experience here at Burman. And I am pleased that so many kids,” they joined Murray’s parents after graduating and grew Lately we’ve been talking a lot about transformation on this campus-spiritual, academic, Little Gem Ranches Ltd. near Veteran, AB, where they still live. physical, economic, and relational. Going beyond what is—going beyond the familiar of you have agreed. “form”—is never easy. To disrupt the status quo successfully requires exceptional clarity, the World They say, “Burman is a place that nurtures leadership and careful planning, meticulous attention, committed perseverance, and so much more. Over the past nine months, your gifts and pledges have relationship building—with each other, the community, and our taken us more than halfway to our $10 million goal. Being heavenly Father. We are excited to help foster the growth and development of an institution that we hold in high regard. This issue tells stories of remarkable transformations. Some are in a position to observe your generous responses daily is an to our athletic programs and facilities over the past 40 years. uplifting and faith-affirming experience. Our gratitude for Burman is especially blessed to have Ron Schafer shepherd your support and God’s blessings is boundless. The Sankey Challenge these transformations throughout his tenure. Groundbreakers “We have committed matching funds toward the Another story is of the redemptive transformational work Julie ‘Shaping the World’ campaign that will modernize and Hodder and her team are doing for the children enrolled in For those of you who have not yet made a commitment expand the Burman University library. This bold and the Journeys Learning Regional Program for Central Alberta. to our goal of transforming education at Burman, I urgent project has significant future benefits for every University department! Refusing to accept that some challenges are simply too great, invite you to be part of a new phase in the campaign: the Groundbreakers phase. Julie is intent on restoration and rehabilitation, transforming “We are extending an the lives of students and their families, as well. invitation for others Because we don’t want to incur debt even as we know to join us in honoring You will find other accounts of transformation in the Alumni how important the planned transformations are, we former president Profile section. Our graduates are transforming the world with urge you to consider joining the Groundbreakers. If Victor Fitch and his commitment to their professions, churches, and communities. 200 people would commit to $5,000 for each of three family by naming the upper commons in Mark Trenchard summarizes the influence of our schools years, we could start construction in the confidence the library the ‘Fitch when he writes, “I take what I learned at PAA with me every that we will avoid debt. Commons.’ day: the integrity and character, the curiosity of learning, and the commitment to excellence that were forged there.” Transformation is never easy. But together we can “Respond by calling continue in our mission to shape the world with lives President Agrey or Shaping the World: Lives of Service Begin Here of service that begin at Burman University. Eric Rajah [contact information below]. Our challenge doubles We are now engaged in a campus transformation. At the Loren Agrey the value of your Homecoming 2019 banquet, I asked everyone to prayerfully gift and honours the consider participation in our $10 million “Shaping the World” many contributions campaign. This campaign will impact the entire university: of the Fitch family!” additional scholarship funds, physical accessibility to classrooms and other facilities, opportunities for more service learning As a Groundbreaker, you will have the experiences, enhanced academics, strengthened faculty research, opportunity to pick up a shovel and take and enriched teaching skills. The largest share of the campaign part in the groundbreaking ceremony. is allocated to transforming the library into a place for discovery, The vision of a transformed library can learning, collaboration, and research. start to become a reality in 2020. While our librarians have optimized the resources available in our age of information technology, we know that information by itself is not enough. Students must learn how to find and evaluate what they require. The transformed library will include the spaces and technology for such learning to take place. A vast bison herd keeps the Sankeys busy year round on their ranch in east central Alberta. It will also provide spaces for collaboration. Many of the employment opportunities waiting for today’s graduates require being able to work in teams and partnerships. Part of our Many gifting opportunities are available • President Loren Agrey: (403) 782-3381, responsibility to students is to help them develop and hone skills in effective collaboration. for those who wish to participate in the ext. 4147. Email: [email protected] Sankeys’ matching gift challenge. We • Eric Rajah: (403) 782-3381, ext. 4161. welcome your call to explore details. Email: [email protected] 2 3 Physical activity, vigorously promoted since the Ron Schafer: Athlete, Teacher, Coach, administration allocated only $2,000 for a public Fundraiser relations tour. The school’s concern was that one beginning of education on “the hilltop,” took the of the members of The Olympix had been recently injured. shape of walks to town on alternate days for men and Ever since he was a youngster growing up in the hamlet While the allocated funds stretched much further than women, “marches” (they have a very loose relationship of Tees, just east of the college, Ron’s life revolved around what they would now, 40 years later, it was still only a small baseball, football, hockey—sports in general. As often as fraction of the $40,000 the team needed. to square dances) and skating for Saturday night possible, he talked his dad into taking him to the campus entertainment, season-appropriate team sports, to watch the casual “pick-up” games and more organized Together with Darrell Gabrys, the team’s assistant coach, and, of course, physical education classes.