A legacy of giving back: Jack Neumann's Walter Murray Scholarship

After university, Neumann worked in the oil and gas industry before following his passion for sports. Following a 34-year career at the University of Calgary, he became known as a trailblazer in Canadian university athletics and a champion of the sports information profession. To date, he is the only Canadian member of the College Sports Communicators Hall of Fame, in addition to many other honours.

Over the years, Neumann has been a recipient of guidance from key figures throughout his time at Walter Murray Collegiate and the University of Saskatchewan. It is because of this that he has chosen to honour their influence by creating the Walter Murray Scholarship. His hope is that future students will receive the same kind of support that helped shape his own journey.

Neumann credits much of his learnings and success to teachers and mentors who left a lasting mark on his life.

"There were three individuals at Walter Murray who had a great influence on me," he shares. "One of them, Gwynn Williams, was my teacher in grades 11 and 12. She was an amazing woman and played a huge role in shaping my mindset. Sadly, she has passed away, but I’ll always carry her lessons with me." Two others, his physical education teacher John Mooney and Dr. Ken Sauer, also played a key role in his involvement, encouraging him to engage actively in school activities while fostering a strong sense of purpose and work ethic.

At the University of Saskatchewan, Neumann found new mentors. Professors Jack Vicq and Georgia "Dodie" Goodspeed, whom he describes as ahead of their time, were critical in guiding him through his Commerce degree.

“She gave me some much-needed tough love, and it really pushed me in the right direction.”

As a proud alumnus, Neumann has always felt it was important to give back to the institutions that played such a key role in his success. Inspired by the people who helped him along the way, he established the Walter Murray Scholarship to support students from his high school alma mater.

“I was an average student, but I was involved in extracurriculars, and that made all the difference,” Neumann explains. “I want this scholarship to go to someone like me—a well-rounded person who’s involved outside of school, maybe working part-time to get through university.”

The scholarship, now in its first year, is awarded to a student from Walter Murray Collegiate who is enrolled in the Edwards School of Business at the University of Saskatchewan. The student must also demonstrate involvement in extracurricular activities and come from a middle-income family, just like Neumann did.

“It’s modeled after my own journey,” Neumann says. “I worked part-time while attending university, and that experience shaped who I am today.”

When asked about the process of setting up the scholarship, Jack is quick to credit the team that helped bring his vision to life.

"It’s been a team effort from start to finish," he says, naming Dean Keith Willoughby, Steph Bodnar, Megan Cantwell and President Peter Stoicheff from the University of Saskatchewan as key contributors. "It’s been in the works for about three years, and I’m grateful to have had such great leadership and support."

For Neumann, the most gratifying part of establishing the scholarship has been seeing it in action.

"I received a lovely note from the first recipient, Abdulrazik Benguzzi, which meant so much to me. I had the pleasure of meeting him over the summer.” Benguzzi, who is set to graduate in 2024 with a Bachelor of Commerce, embodies the values that Neumann holds dear: a passion for learning, a dedication to extracurriculars, and a desire to give back to his community.

“The financial assistance from the scholarship has allowed me to focus on my studies and my role in Enactus,” Benguzzi shared. “It’s a blessing, and I’m so thankful for the support.”

Beyond financial aid, the scholarship offers students like Benguzzi the chance to follow their passions while receiving a comprehensive education. As President of Enactus at the University of Saskatchewan, he has honed his leadership skills while making a positive impact on the local community.

Neumann hopes his scholarship will serve as a model for others, inspiring future donors to establish similar awards for students in need.

“I’d love to see others step forward and do what I did—whether for another high school or in a different college. It would be a great legacy.”

Neumann's philosophy on giving back is simple yet powerful: “Don’t forget where you came from and remember the people who helped you along the way.” Through the Walter Murray Scholarship, Jack Neumann is doing exactly that—honouring his past while shaping the future for students.

If you are interested in setting up a scholarship of your own, contact the Edwards Advancement Team here.

Article originally published at https://www.edwards.usask.ca