Donors ensure financial barriers “bar none” from university

The U of A Agriculture Club gathers in the Quad during the Bar None parade, a long-running ALES tradition rooted in generosity and student support. (Photo: Supplied)

Created by the University of Alberta’s agriculture class of 1950, the Bar None Endowment Fund was meant to do just that: bar no one from being able to afford a university education. Now, thanks to the ongoing generosity of alumni and other donors, the fund is proudly marking 25 years of helping students not just attend, but thrive during their time in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.

“The ALES community is enriched by students from different backgrounds and perspectives, but not everyone has equal opportunity to participate in university,” says Rickey Yada, dean of ALES.

“It’s inspiring that our alumni were so transformed by their student experience that they want to help other students participate.”

Established in 2000 by alumni from that long-ago class, the Bar None fund has been paying it forward ever since, aiding many students like Hafsa Zaman and Kahlie Vaandrager, with the enduring support of more than 1,600 donors who have raised over $3.25 million.

For Zaman (pictured right), receiving a Bar None Undergraduate Leadership Award was not only a financial boost after being unable to find a summer job, but also a warm welcome as she transferred to the U of A from another institution to pursue a BSc in nutrition and food science.

After putting in long hours of coursework to earn entry to ALES, the second-year student was gratified to receive the award from the long-standing endowment.

“It gave me feelings of encouragement, belonging and a sense of connection to my faculty, and it motivates me to continue working as hard as I did to receive this award,” says Zaman, who plans to become a pediatric and sports dietitian.

Originally established to assist students — particularly from rural backgrounds where the cost of attending university in Edmonton was high — the Bar None fund has helped do just that for Vaandrager (pictured below), a Lacombe-area resident who transferred from a Red Deer institution to pursue a BSc in agriculture, majoring in animal science.

“It’s helped with some of the major costs to live away from home, like rent and travel, especially since I’ve also chosen not to take out student loans,” she says.

Now in her final year of studies, Vaandrager also appreciates the Bar None Transfer Leadership Award she received, for its nod to her academic achievements and commitment to volunteering on campus.

“It was really nice to have my efforts recognized in both those aspects of student life, and the acknowledgement that it can be difficult to balance them.”

The award gave her enough flexibility in her busy schedule to join the U of A Agriculture Club and help with its yearly Bar None concert, from which the endowment fund draws its name.

The longest-running social gathering on campus, the student-run event is presented at the Butterdome on U of A North Campus each year. First held in 1948, it mirrors the giving philosophy of the fund, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to STARS Air Ambulance over the years. Vaandrager started volunteering at the event two years ago and felt it was rewarding to be part of something so beneficial.

“It’s great to see just what a group of students can accomplish.”

With the breathing room the financial support from her award provides, Zaman also hopes to volunteer her time in ways that support her ultimate career goal, possibly by helping with research related to health and well-being.

“It really allows me to dedicate more time to gain academic and practical experience,” she says.

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Both Vaandrager and Zaman felt that the award’s agricultural roots held a special legacy.

Growing up in a farming community, Vaandrager knew she wanted to contribute to the agricultural industry through her degree, “by serving farmers who serve us with efficient and environmentally conscious food production. So it was very meaningful to receive an award that comes from that background.”

And because her degree program will eventually include a rural placement, Zaman feels that learning experience reflects the diverse facets of agriculture the Bar None fund honours.

“It really highlights how nutrition, our food systems and agriculture are all interconnected; one can’t function without the others.”

Continued donor support for the Bar None fund is vital for students like them, they add.

“It’s a privilege to have received my award, and I hope many students for years to come receive it,” Vaandrager says. “It’s a worthy cause to support students pursuing agriculture-related degrees who are also willing to take that leap into volunteer as well as academic activities.”

Receiving her award was “motivating,” Zaman adds.

“You feel validated and recognized … just knowing it’s been 25 years that Bar None has been investing in the success of future students and professionals really reinforces that belief of community at the U of A.”