Maybe it's her background as a Pronghorns women's basketball player, but
Dr. Lorraine Beaudin (BEd '89, MEd' 98) likes to think of the University of Lethbridge community as a team.
"We all have a responsibility to the people around us," she explains, drawing experience from her time on the hardcourt. "We need to work together in order to be successful and that means giving of ourselves for the betterment of the group."
Currently the assistant dean of field experience in the U of L's Faculty of Education, Beaudin first started giving back to her university as an undergraduate student.
"I played basketball as a student and in my final year, I took on the role of assistant coach," says Beaudin, who was part of the team that won bronze at nationals one season. "Coaching was harder than playing in lots of ways but it allowed me to give back in a concrete way to something that was important to me."
The lesson stuck with her long after the basketball season ended and Beaudin has been a strong supporter of Pronghorns women's basketball ever since.
"My time as a student-athlete at the U of L had a huge impact on my life," says Beaudin, who still keeps in touch with many of her former teammates and stays connected to the program by volunteering at Pronghorns alumni events. "It created opportunities that I simply wouldn't have had otherwise."
She recognizes that not every student is given the same breaks she was.
"We sometimes assume that everyone in Alberta has the chance to earn a university education, but unfortunately that's not the case. My kids have friends who can't afford to go to university," she says, pointing out that many students who are fortunate enough to attend university depend on student loans and part-time jobs to make ends meet.
For Beaudin, these difficulties emphasize the importance of Supporting Our Students (SOS), an annual campaign that brings faculty, staff and retirees together to support student awards.
"It's fantastic that the University community comes together to support this cause," says Beaudin, who is a longtime SOS donor and an enthusiastic volunteer.
While Beaudin shows her support for Pronghorn Athletics, she emphasizes the importance of helping students from all walks of life and encourages all faculty and staff to give to an area that is important to them.
"Together, we are providing support for students who might not be here otherwise. As an educator, I can't think of a better gift than education," says Beaudin, who remains committed to creating opportunities for students both on and off the court.
For more information on SOS or to make your gift today, please visit www.uleth.ca/giving.
This story first appeared in the April 2013 edition of the Legend. For a look at the full issue in a flipbook format, follow this link.