Stepping in and staying put

Gary Smith’s connection to Augustana began as a proud parent supporting his daughter, Hilary, ’19 BA. But, when he saw an opportunity to make a difference, he didn't just step in — he stayed, and what began as a simple family outing quickly blossomed into a deeper commitment to the institution as a whole.

“I began to attend the Vikings home games while my daughter was a student,” he says, reflecting on his early connection to Augustana athletics. “It gave me an insight on what the existing needs were that would help students, so I donated some money initially to go to the Augustana Vikings hockey team to help pay expenses.”

It was through this first contact that Smith met Bree Urkow in Augustana’s Advancement Office. “Bree asked if I could help at Augustana, and finding volunteers could be very difficult due to life and commitments. This became my mission — to be there to support students.”

Knowing of Smith’s passions and goals, Urkow would later invite him to redirect his monetary contributions to the Community Awards Program to more directly support the students. Smith would also later donate to the Augustana Students' Association’s food pantry, because, “if you’re hungry, you can’t study or focus on studies.”

“This lit the spark in my heart to help students however I can,” he says.

Over time, he expanded his giving to support students in the arts — specifically drama — and now funds two distinct Augustana awards: the Gary Smith Award in Drama (2024) and the Gary Smith Vikings Hockey Award (2015).

But, his contributions to Augustana go far beyond financial support. For a decade (so far!), Smith has volunteered with the Alumni Student Support and Engagement Team (ASSET). In this role, Smith supports the mental health of students by providing resources, supplies and encouragement at various campus events, from Chaplaincy Soup Suppers to Unwind Your Mind activities during exam periods.

“I got to meet with students during Augustana events, talking with them about their ambitions, their problems, their enthusiasm for life — and I found the students liked talking to the 'old man,' " he laughs.

Born and raised in rural Saskatchewan, Smith’s background as a nurse and paramedic taught him that compassion, reassurance and comfort are non-negotiable when supporting people through challenging moments. He brings that same care and dedication to Augustana’s students, blending a supportive environment with humour to help them thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

“My passion and purpose of my life is to bring to the students love, caring, compassion, humour, and to listen to their struggles to let them know they are valued and never alone.”

Smith has also been involved elsewhere on campus: For five years, he served as the first backstage volunteer technician for the Jeanne & Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre (established through a partnership between the U of A and the City of Camrose).

Now retired, Smith continues to stay engaged with the campus community whenever the opportunity arises, offering his time, attending events, providing support for various programs and initiatives, and being an advocate for the campus: “I talk to Camrose residents to encourage their children to enroll with U of A Augustana and to donate to the Community Awards program,” he says.

Though his Augustana journey didn’t begin as a student, Smith’s extraordinary support for the campus runs deep, and now extends to a generous legacy gift in his estate.

In recognition of his impact, Smith has received the 2026 Alumni Citation Award — a distinction reserved for non-alumni who have made significant contributions to the life of Augustana.

True to his character, he is quick to downplay the recognition. “I was overwhelmed and shocked,” he says. “Why me? I feel there are others that are more deserving of the award. I am a humble man, a person quietly volunteering without reward or recognition except by the students, but I am deeply honoured to be given this award, and to join other highly honoured recipients.”

In his retirement, Smith still carves out time to volunteer with local community organizations and, as it turns out, time isn't the only thing he's carving these days.

“For fun, I carve Métis and Cree symbols in rocks that tell a story,” he says, adding that he is Métis and his grandmother was Cree. “Also, fun for me is volunteering at Augustana!”

The Alumni Citation Award is presented to a non-Augustana alumnus/a in recognition of significant contributions to the life of Augustana.