A legacy with impact

By Kate Davis

Not long after she finished high school, Erika Pochailo, BA’70, BEd’84, found herself divorced with a small son. “I knew if I wanted to succeed and have a better life, I needed further education.” So she headed to U of C, took out student loans and graduated with a BA in Economics.

The U of C continued to play a big role in Erika and her second husband’s life. They both received education degrees and went on to become teachers. When her husband, Maurice, died and she wanted to celebrate his memory, Pochailo took out a life insurance policy and named the U of C as beneficiary.

“I wanted my gift to be large enough to make an impact, I wanted it to be lasting, and most importantly I wanted the gift be in memory of Maurice.”

And she wanted the annual scholarship to go to a student who is also a single parent. “I understand how hard it is to attend university full-time, support a child alone and not rack up a huge debt. I want my gift to make it a little easier for another mom or dad. I also believe that a good education is extremely important in order to succeed, and I’m happy I can help others to achieve this.”

For more information on establishing a bequest at the U of C, please contact Anthony Salekin at asalekin [at] ucalgary [dot] ca or (403) 220-7852.