King’s College is delighted to announce that Canadian philanthropist, Donald R Sobey (DCL ’13), has made a gift of $2 million to establish the Donald R Sobey Scholarships at the college. This is the largest gift ever made by an individual to King’s College, Canada’s oldest chartered university, and it arrives as the college prepares for its 225 year anniversary. Donald Sobey’s son, Rob Sobey, made the announcement at King’s to a packed lecture hall and a standing ovation on 5 December.
“Don Sobey’s magnificent gift to King’s honours our reason for being: our students,” says King’s president, Dr George Cooper. “We already attract some of the best liberal arts and journalism students in Canada, and the Donald R. Sobey Scholarships will ensure that we continue to do so. Everyone at King’s – faculty, alumni and especially students – is thrilled with this strong vote of confidence from one of Canada’s leading business people”.
“I wanted to make a gift that would have a transformative impact on King’s fundraising capacity, particularly for this upcoming historic anniversary year,” Donald Sobey says. Starting in 2014, the scholarship fund will initially provide for three scholarships of a minimum of $10,000.
The scholarships will be open to Canadian students, with an emphasis on those from Atlantic Canada, who will be entering a full-time undergraduate program at King’s. To qualify, candidates must demonstrate a record of academic excellence and provide evidence of proven leadership skills and involvement in school and/or community activities.
“King’s has championed the study of the liberal arts in Canada for over two centuries,” says Mr Sobey. “I am delighted to be able to support and strengthen that mission. In every field of endeavour today – business, medicine, law, government, education – success depends on people who understand the achievements and failures of our past and have the intellectual flexibility to deal with the unknown challenges of our future. The study of the liberal arts produces such people.”
Chair of the King’s board of governors Dale Godsoe, says, “Exceptional students from across the country have always been drawn to King’s. This visionary gift will strengthen our position and help us to continue to attract the best. We are tremendously grateful to Mr Sobey for his endorsement of the work we do at King’s.”
Donald Sobey is a dedicated supporter of post-secondary education and the arts.
If you could not be there for the announcement you can watch it online now. We regret that our video clip does not capture the moment when Anna Dubinski, president of the King’s Students’ Union, thanked Rob Sobey and presented him with a King’s ball cap – which he promptly put on to a loud cheer – because our camera was blocked by the standing ovation.
All photos by Kerry DeLorey (BJH ’80)
