Not every post-secondary journey follows a straight line. The Patrick Adams Memorial Scholarship, supported through the Patrick Adams Memorial Scholarship Fund at Calgary Foundation, was created to recognize students who took non-linear paths to graduate studies and were motivated by interdisciplinary inquiry and holistic problem solving.
Established in 2020 by Pat’s former classmates, the scholarship honoured Pat’s legacy as a leader, tenacious problem solver and mentor to friends, colleagues, and the professional staff he oversaw in his lifetime.
Awarded to students entering their first year of graduate studies in the University of Calgary’s School of Architecture, Planning, and Landscape, it carried forward the values that informed Pat’s education and guided his career.
“Pat came to architecture not on a direct route,” recalls Mary-Ellen Tyler, one of Pat’s friends and former classmates. Before earning his architecture degree, Pat served in the Canadian Navy, worked in the oil industry, and built a career through varied professional experiences. “He saw that the ability to make a place – to shape the world – had such a huge impact on people.”
The experiences that influenced Pat’s life guided the criteria of the scholarship created in his honour. As Frank Johnston, a longtime friend and fellow alumnus, says, “Supporting students in their success was important to us, and we hoped they would be inspired by the same qualities that defined Pat’s life and career.”
For recipients, the award affirmed their career choices and gave them an emotional boost. 2021 recipient Joshua Clarke said the award helped him realize that his path to architecture “was not a detour in my professional development, but rather life’s curriculum that prepared me to authentically and meaningfully engage with this discipline.”
2024 recipient Eric Cheung shared a similar experience:
“I came to architecture through fine arts, graphic design, interior design, hospitality, travel, and different international experiences, and for a long time these felt like separate parts of my life. I now see architecture as the field where those pieces can come together.”
For Mary-Ellen, one of the award’s greatest strengths was its recognition of students who charted their own path.
“We hoped this scholarship would validate that being different was okay. A non-traditional path, shaped by diverse experiences and perspectives, has value.”
The scholarship gave its creators and donors a way to honour someone who had a lasting impact on their lives and who was a great example of the interdisciplinary education they had all experienced. Dozens of former classmates who became long-term friends, colleagues, and faculty members contributed their time or financial support, showing the respect and affection they held for Pat.
Looking back on scholarship applications over the years, Frank was struck by how many recipients shared Pat’s desire to make a broader community contribution through their work.
“So many of them saw their professional work as having a greater purpose in addressing social, environmental, and planning issues.”
Frank and Mary-Ellen shared that the scholarship selection committee was delighted to support students whose unique backgrounds, curiosity, and problem-solving abilities would help them address complex challenges and contribute to their communities. It was exactly the result the Fund was established to encourage. They also noted that they were glad to provide financial support so recipients could focus on their studies.
Though the Patrick Adams Memorial Scholarship has retired and is no longer offered, it has made a difference in the education and career paths of the students it recognized, carrying forward Pat’s spirit of curiosity, service, and community building.
Learn more about Student Awards at Calgary Foundation: https://cf.fwc-staging.com/awards/