Generous gift will support future engineering students

Al Schreiner (BE'63, pictured above) is a graduate of the college's mechanical engineering program. He and his wife, Gisele, have provided a donation that will support scholarships of at least $2,500 to a student in the college's professional development option and at least $2,500 to a student in the petroleum engineering option starting in 2014/15 and extending well into the future.

"It's something I've believed in for many years," Schreiner said in explaining the decision to make this gift. "For those of us lucky enough to have graduated from the U of S College of Engineering and go on to seek careers in the oil and gas industry—which has been very good to us—this is a way of giving back and helping students now going through their engineering education."

Schreiner, now retired, has also been giving back for many years as a supporter of volunteerism. His career was spent primarily in Calgary, where he continues to live, working in the oilfield service, supply and manufacturing industry. At the same time he was actively involved on a volunteer basis with various committees, boards and organizations both civic and industry related in the community

"Volunteerism allowed me to broaden my scope of experience with people from different fields of work," he explained. "It's a great way to network and meet people."

This included the Calgary U of S engineering alumni chapter and its associated committees. Over the years, he played a significant role in encouraging other alumni to get involved as volunteers. Today, as interim chair of the chapter, he continues to volunteer his time and encourage others to do the same.