UCalgary Law's first class honours 50 years of legacy by establishing a student bursary
The class of 1979 seeks to 'pay it forward' to future generations of lawyers.
Reflections (and a challenge) from Law’s inaugural class…
In September 1976, the Class of 1979 took their first steps into the UCalgary Law School, then housed in the unforgettable Bio-Sciences Building, with 50 of us ultimately graduating. Our class was interestingly and unusually diverse - with the percentage of women; students with rural upbringings, a wide range of ages and many with years of employment behind them.
During the next 50 years, our class members experienced numerous and varied successes not just as lawyers, but also as judges; mayor of a small town; international civil servant; actor; professor; business owners and entrepreneurs. Many of us are now retired. Sadly, a number have passed away.
Despite the passage of five decades, we all no doubt recall how stressful it was to be a law student – both from an academic perspective as well as financially. Tuition for our law school in 1976 was $500 per year (the equivalent of approx. $2700 today, adjusted for inflation). This cost has now soared to almost $19,000 per year for Canadian students – an amount that puts law school out of reach for many, thus reducing socio-economic diversity. Alternatively, it can burden a student with a very large debt at the end of their three years, causing them to make debt driven career choices to pursue jobs with higher incomes, rather than pursing less lucrative jobs in criminal law, family law, access to justice or in rural areas.
Paying it forward with a new student award celebrating 50 years of impact
Our view is that ideally attendance at law school should be related to achievement, with students drawn from a wide and diverse pool and, upon graduating, they can pursue a career based on interest.
To recognize our excellent (and interesting) legal education; to celebrate our last fifty years and to provide future law students with some financial assistance to pursue their own law school dream, we are asking our fellow 1979 graduates to consider a donation to a new bursary established on behalf of the Class of 1979, to be awarded annually and based primarily on financial need with a good academic standing.
An endowed award (i.e. invested permanently) requires a total contribution of at least $50,000 - ironically, the equivalent of $1,000 per year since we started. Thus, our goal is at least $50,000.
The endowed bursary will be funded through contributions from fellow graduates and requires a minimum total contribution of $50,000.
Please join us in contributing to the Class of 1979 50th anniversary bursary
To the Classes of 1980 and 1981, we also invite you (actually, we challenge you) to participate in this fundraising campaign by either donating to this bursary or setting up your own.
We also look forward to seeing all of you at the Law School’s 50-year celebrations scheduled over the coming months.
Gratefully,
Wendy Best, Linda Taylor, Judith Hanebury, Karen Jacobson (nee Herman); Bonnie Limpert and Barb Murray (nee Junker)
Faculty of Law Class of 1979
Donations can be made electronically by completing the form below, or by cheque and mailed to:
Gift Processing and Tax Receipting
University of Calgary
OVC131, 2500 University Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 1N4
Cheques should be made payable to the University of Calgary and reference the Faculty of Law Class of 1979 50th Anniversary Bursary clearly in the memo line.
Once contributions reach $50,000.00, the endowment will be established and an annual bursary will be granted in perpetuity. If the total amount received from all donors does not reach the minimum fundraising goal of $50,000.00 by December 31, 2027, the funds raised will be utilized to support an annually funded bursary or will be directed to the Faculty of Law General Scholarship Fund.