Faculty ties

For 40 years, Dr. Ernie Nicholls worked at the University of Regina, as a professor, coach and friend to his students.

"My time at the University was more than just a job, it was a life," he explains. "My wife and three children grew up there. The kids took their swimming lessons there, attended summer sports schools, and came to watch the wrestling matches, basketball games and other events. It was a part of their life too."

Although he retired last year, his ties to the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies and to his students remain strong.

"I worked there for 40 years, so I sat through 40 convocations – and that was just the spring convocations. As I watched the students walk out of there, I thought about how each one of them was valuable," he says. "It was a tremendously personal faculty and I loved walking down the hallways and just talking to the students, faculty and wonderful staff."

Nicholls chose to establish two scholarships at the University of Regina as his way of giving back to the institution which was such an important part of his life.

Finding enough seed money to ensure the scholarships are self-perpetuating has been a bit of a challenge, but he insists that leaving a legacy is possible for people who aren’t affluent. By working with the university, he has been able to set parameters that work best for his situation.

Nicholls’ generosity doesn’t surprise the people who knew him. "He was always available to offer advice and assistance. He was a great mentor because he was caring and willing to help," says Christine Malach, a former student. "He always made time to talk to me even if I had other things on the go. He is one of my most treasured friends."

Nicholls insists the scholarships are a way of expressing his gratitude for being given the opportunity to work in such a great place.

"I’m really doing this to pay back the broader family I had at the University. I know it’s not obligatory but it’s like the desire you feel to make your family’s lives better in whatever way you can."