Maria Livingston always aspired to be a university graduate, but she wasn’t always certain a university education was in the cards for her – at least not until she discovered the First Nations Transition Program (FNTP) at the University of Lethbridge.
“I was out of high school for four years before I decided to look into university,” Livingston says. “It was intimidating. I wasn’t sure I’d be successful. FNTP helped me feel comfortable at the University, and gave me the foundation I needed to carry on and pursue a degree.”
U of L student Maria Livingston says the First Nations Transition Program opened doors for her
Now a third-year student majoring in Native American Studies, Livingston has gone on to mentor other FNTP students since successfully completing the program in 2011, and says the program helped facilitate a bright future for her and her young son.
“The program opened doors for me,” she says.
The FNTP recently received a significant boost that will help more students like Maria achieve their goals thanks to a generous contribution from U of L alumnus Richard Masson (BMgt ’87) and his family. The newly established Masson Family Endowment and Masson Family First Nations Transition Program Award will support FNTP as well as individual students in the program for many years to come.
A U of L Board of Governors member, Honour Society inductee, Power of 25 supporter and now a “U of L Dad,” Masson says the decision to give back to the U of L was easy to make, largely because he remembers what it’s like to be a struggling student.
The Msson family, including (back row L to R) Danny and Gordon, (front row L to R) Cathy and Richard.
“I started with pretty meager financial resources, so I’m a big believer in helping students out financially,” says Masson, who is now the Chief Executive Officer at the Alberta Petroleum Marketing Commission. “Thankfully, I’ve been very fortunate in my career, thanks in part to the start I got at the U of L.”
Working in the resource industry, Masson says he sees challenges between business, government and First Nations people in relation to the development of natural resources.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for First Nations students to become strong leaders in their communities. That’s something I want to support,” he says.
The Masson Family Endowment will award an annual scholarship for a promising student who has successfully completed the one-year transition program, and also help to fund various aspects of the FNTP, including a speaker series, workshops and materials such as laptop computers.
Dr. Michelle Hogue (MEd ’04), U of L professor and coordinator of the FNTP, says the endowment and award will promote post-secondary education among First Nations people, and ultimately help many FNMI students and communities.
“The award is a celebration of student success,” says Hogue. “It’s a tremendous honour to receive a scholarship for academic work, so not only will the award help students financially, it will help them believe in themselves as well. It will encourage retention, and foster mentors for new First Nations students down the line.”
The recipient of the first annual Masson Family First Nation’s Transition Program Award will be chosen in spring 2014, and be presented with it at the start of the fall term. Masson is looking forward to the occasion.
“We’re really excited and thankful to be able to help others find their path,” says Masson. "That’s what this is all about.”