A Family Tradition

Class of 1947 Entrance Scholarship

Mary and Lloyd Rogers always encouraged their children to finish what they started, and instilled in them the belief that “they were as smart as the next guy.” Perhaps that’s why ten of their fourteen children obtained at least one degree from UBC.

“Education was important to my mother,” Ron Rogers says. “Even though she never received the opportunity to go to university, she helped us make it through.”

His dad, Lloyd, led by example, graduating from UBC with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1947 and a Bachelor of Education degree in 1948. As a veteran, he chose free tuition over land enrichment, and after graduation, he worked as a high school teacher, also teaching night school and summer school to support his growing family. When his children reached university age, he told them that they could live rent-free at the family’s Point Grey home – as long as they were taking classes at UBC.

“The domino effect was in play,” says Jim Rogers. “One of us went to UBC, so the next guy figured he could too. And after all, we had a model in our dad.”

In 2007 the class of 1947 established the Class of 1947 Entrance Scholarship at UBC in celebration of its sixtieth anniversary. This award will assist a deserving student with their education. Lloyd supported the scholarship fund with a $10,000 gift – $1,000 in honour of each of his ten children who graduated from UBC. He felt it was important to recognize that UBC helped them achieve success.

“We’ve all benefited from our UBC education,” Ron confirms, adding that many of the next generation – Lloyd and Mary’s grandchildren – have also attended UBC. “A $10,000 donation may not be a million dollars but it adds a lot to someone’s life.”

Lloyd Rogers passed away on March 26, 2008, before the completion of the 2008 Report on Giving where this story was originally published. UBC would like to extend our sympathy and gratitude to the Rogers family.