CAMPAIGN EVENTS

Stan-pede Celebration  - July 5, 2011

by Eric Rosenbaum

YEE-HAW sums up the atmosphere on campus when a huge standing-room-only group of staff, students, executive and supporters joined friends and family to celebrate a donation of $7 million to SAIT Polytechnic from Stan and Jane Grad.

The Grads are leaders in both the energy and ranching industries so a foot stompin’ Stampede-style shindig was in order. The event, dubbed “Stan-Pede” included western style line dancers, stick-to-your-ribs gourmet grub and a country band featuring Alberta’s Tim Hus.  

The generous gift from the Grads to the Promising Futures TM Campaign supports the construction of the new Trades and Technology Complex. In recognition, the Heart Building will be renamed the Stan Grad Centre.  

“We are extremely thankful for this generous legacy gift from the Grad family,” says Irene Lewis, SAIT President and CEO. “Throughout Stan’s career he has kept SAIT in his heart and renaming the Heart building after this fine SAIT ambassador is most fitting.”

“My time on this campus – the hands-on education I received and the mentor I found was the catalyst I needed to move forward with my aspirations,” says Grad. “It was during my time at SAIT where I gained confidence in myself and in my abilities.”

Grad has many fond memories of his time at SAIT, especially of his former instructor and lifelong mentor, Reg Erhardt. When Grad was a Petroleum Technology student, he nearly gave up on his education at SAIT. Erhardt urged him to stay and finish. In recognition of the impact Erhardt has had on Grad’s life, the family asked to have the library named the Reg Erhardt Library.

Erhardt, who rose through the ranks from instructor all the way to president in 1990-91, said he was humbled by the gesture.

“The Grads’ gift is a huge boost for SAIT,” says Keith MacPhail, Chairman of the Promising Futures TM Campaign. “The $7 million gift from the Grads marks a milestone for the Campaign. It put us over the top of our $75 million target, but we’re not stopping there. We will be continuing to raise money for new equipment, for programs and scholarships and bursaries.” 

Stan is a Petroleum Technology ’67 graduate and SAIT’s 1995 Distinguished Alumnus.