2018 Dinner: Over $80,000 Raised
The University of Lethbridge Faculty of Arts & Science is pleased to announce that the inaugural Wine & Dine Arts & Science Scholarship Dinner has raised over $80,000 in support of student scholarships. We would like to thank all of our donors, including the Dua family for their generous donations.
October 18th, 2018 was a wonderful evening of great food, wine, and conversation in honour of Dean and Professor Emeritus, Dr. Bhagwan Dua. “This was a spectacular event”, states Dean Cooper, “the room had a vibrant energy, demonstrating the university community’s passion and dedication to making education accessible to students, and the value it places on empowering students to unlock their potential.”
The four-course meal was paired with exquisite wines from Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, and concluded with several warm tributes from family and friends of the Dua family. Sushree Mishra from the Sushree Dance & Music Academy in Calgary gave a special presentation of an ancient classical dance from India, the Odissi Dance Abhinaya – “Nava Durga”.
Raman Chohan, a student who was recruited by Dr. Dua on a trip to India, gave a moving speech about her U of L experience and about Dr. Dua. “He believed in education, and that all have a right to an education,“ says Chohan. “A scholarship honouring Uncle Dua is surely going to benefit continuing students and new students that come to the U of L. This is the best way to pay tribute to him and carry on his legacy, as he was a big believer that education can change your destiny. I am sure that he is looking down today, on this evening, and smiling.”
Close friend and colleague from the Department of Political Science, Dr. Peter McCormick paid tribute to Dr. Dua by fondly reminiscing about his warm personality, his passion and commitment to the university, and offered advice to future students. “There can be no more appropriate way to honour Dua than through a scholarship that is targeted on his beloved Faculty of Arts & Science, and there can be no better advice to the future recipients of this scholarship than to emulate his enthusiasm, his courtesy, and his deep dedication to this wonderful institution.”
Dr. Dua’s daughters, Mini and Manjula, gave thanks on behalf of the Dua family. “By establishing this scholarship in the name of Dr. Bhagwan Dua, you have made him a part of the University of Lethbridge forever. We, the Dua family, are very grateful for this immense honour and we know that Dad would have been very humbled by your generosity. We hope that the future recipients of this scholarship go on to great success in their chosen fields, and continue to serve their communities as Dad did.”
Thanks to the generous support of our donors, the Dr. Bhagwan Dua Memorial Scholarship has been endowed with enough funds to award two scholarships per year to students pursuing a degree from the Faculty of Arts & Science. One scholarship will be awarded to a first-year student while the other will be awarded to a continuing student. Full details of the scholarship will be released shortly.
Thanks & Acknowledgements
Thank you to our guest speakers and performers. The night would have been nothing without you.
Thank you to Brittany Lewis, for the beautiful portrait of Dr. Bhagwan Dua, that was presented to the Dua family.
We would also like to thank the event volunteers who generously donated their time – the team from the Career Bridge office at the U of L.
Thank you to the catering staff from Prime Catering, who kept us fed and cleaned up after us.
Thank you to Chris from COGO Productions for providing video support and to Steve from Lethbridge Audio Visual for providing sound and lighting.
Than you to all who attended this event and to those who donated to the scholarship fund. It is because of your generosity that we will be able to award two substantial scholarships each year to deserving students.
And most importantly, thank you to the Dua family for being part of our family and for sharing Bhagwan with us for so many years.
With special thanks to our sponsors:
Premiere Event Sponsor
University of Lethbridge, Office of the Vice-President (Academic)
University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Arts & Science
Décor Sponsor
University of Lethbridge, Office of the Vice-President (Finance & Admin)
Student Sponsor
University of Lethbridge, Student Affairs
Dinner Wine Sponsor
Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits
Venue Sponsor
Sandman Signature Lethbridge Lodge
Prime Catering
Italian Table
Floral Sponsor
Panda Flowers – New Hope YQL
Table Sponsors
Office of the President
Davidson & Williams LLP
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Health Sciences/Dhillon School of Business
Department of Geography
Department of Political Science
Michelle Helstein & Friends
John Eng & Friends
Kurt Klein & Friends
For more information, please contact:
Catharine Reader
Director, Marketing & Communications, Faculty of Arts & Science
403-382-7154
catharine.reader@uleth.ca
Dr. Craig Cooper
Dean, Faculty of Arts & Science
403-329-5101
craig.cooper@uleth.ca