MRU welcomes its largest scholarship ever

The establishment of the Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship marks the introduction of the largest student award ever offered at Mount Royal University. In fall 2026, the scholarship will be awarded based on academic achievement and financial need to three students in their second, third and fourth year of studies. Each student will receive $25,000 to support them on their academic journey, and each is able to apply for renewed support in their subsequent years of study.

What does this mean for students?

The Dodd’s choice to support students at MRU comes from a deep care and respect for the future of Calgary and the surrounding areas. Married in 1959, Edwin and Jeannette Dodd are proud life-long Albertans with roots in Olds and Canmore. They each worked dedicated careers in the oil and gas sector before reaching retirement more than 40 years ago.

Edwin and Jeannette Dodd pose together for a photo, capturing a memorable moment.

The Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship will provide $25,000 each to three students in their second, third and fourth year of studies.

Financial support like this has the power to entirely transform a student’s experience, not only while at school but also as they start their career. On average, it takes 10 years for a new professional to repay the debt they incurred as a student. In 2024, Canadian national survey results revealed that the average student graduating with debt owed $28,000 dollars on completion of their program. New graduates carry that debt forward into the first years of their career.

“The Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship will make a profound impact on students’ lives,” said Phil Warsaba, vice-president, Students at MRU. “This award represents more than one-time financial assistance; it reflects the Dodd family’s belief in the ongoing potential of MRU’s students and their power to affect the future.”

In honour of that belief the Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Computer Lab (EB1007) has been established in MRU’s Bissett School of Business. This space, alongside students who will directly benefit from the scholarship, will carry forward the Dodds’ legacy of advancing community and student ambition.

“The impact of a gift like this is much bigger than supporting individual students,” says Kelly Williams-Whitt, PhD, dean of the Faculty of Business, Communication Studies and Aviation. “It creates the conditions for a virtuous cycle as future graduates consider the impact scholarships had on them and how they can pay that forward later in their lives.”

What does this mean for MRU?

As more occupations seek applicants with undergraduate degrees and the cost of post-secondary continues to rise, so does the risk of losing students to financial barriers. The Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship represents a doorway to fair opportunity.

“This kind of scholarship can be the difference between students continuing their studies or leaving because they simply cannot afford to pay tuition along with the cost of meeting basic needs,” Williams-Whitt says. “For MRU, it means we retain talented students who will have so much to contribute to society when they graduate.”

The Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship will be open to full-time students across multiple programs. This generous gift ensures students have the opportunity to pursue their passions with enough support to keep them thriving throughout their classes. Rather than struggling under the weight of financial burden, recipients will thrive, achieving what might otherwise be out of reach.

When asked how awards have impacted her life Nicole Darnayla, a fourth-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts — Psychology (Honours) says, “Donations do not only contribute to our educational growth as students, they also contribute to shaping who we are, how we see the world, and the actions we take in creating a future that makes MRU proud.”

Support from donors like the Dodds extends far beyond a student's time at MRU. This gift will prepare students to take on greater challenges, define the way they think about philanthropy and shape the first years of new graduates’ careers.

Are you an alumni, employee or community member interested in supporting student success? Learn more about philanthropy on campus through the Mount Royal University Foundation.

Are you a potential recipient for the Edwin and Jeannette Dodd Scholarship? Every year MRU offers nearly $6 million in scholarships and bursaries. Learn more about MRU’s student awards.