USask alumni support new business acumen scholarship to honour the legacy of Professor Bob Ogilvie

Bob Ogilvie (BE'61, BusAdmin'63) was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan. After his father passed away when he was young, Ogilvie was determined to pursue a university education. He started out by studying engineering at the Regina College campus of the University of Saskatchewan (USask). Despite receiving an engineering scholarship, Ogilvie contemplated switching to medicine after his first year of studies, but ultimately pursued specialization in chemical engineering at the Saskatoon USask campus. Upon graduation, Ogilvie and his friends, Mel Huszti (BE'61, BusAdmin'63) and Andy Szocs (BE'61) went on a seven-month European tour. The trio would go on to become lifelong friends.

When Ogilvie returned home, he took a job with the Consumers Cooperative Oil Refinery in Regina where he was tasked with designing a water filter. Despite his efforts, the equipment unfortunately failed to function as intended. He later left his job at the refinery and returned to the College of Commerce, USask campus to pursue a diploma in Business Administration. Wanting to advance his business education further, Ogilvie enrolled at the University of Washington for his MBA degree.

Coincidentally, while attending the University of Washington, Ogilvie connected with another Saskatchewan resident, Dr. Lloyd Barber, a former Dean from the College of Commerce who was pursuing a doctorate at the same institution. Following discussion with Barber, it was learned that a position was available at the College of Commerce. Ogilvie received an offer from the Assistant Dean and accepted it, beginning his career in 1964 at what is now the Edwards School of Business. Interestingly, the college is named after Murray Edwards, who was one of Ogilvie’s students who graduated in 1982.

Ogilvie enjoyed his teaching career, and he was known for developing the “Business Game,” a computer simulation exercise taught in his required Business Policy course from 1972 to 2000. In an early College of Commerce Newsletter, Ogilvie was described as one who does not coddle his students. The game was a challenge and required students to apply the concepts they had learned from their previous courses. The simulation was a way to explain how businesses worked in the real world where students get to work together and contemplate conflicts that can arise.

Ogilvie left a lasting impact on his students and the college community. Former students recounted the following anecdotes illustrating his impact:

Judy Yungwirth (BComm'83, MBA'92) recalled, “Commerce grads had to get through the infamous Business Game, and Bob was dedicated to getting us through it. Many lessons were learned in that class!”

Lou Hammond Ketilson (BA'75, MBA'81, PhD'88), a former MBA student and colleague reflected, “Bob was a wonderful colleague and an unforgettable teacher. I enjoyed working with him on the BAC Business Game—he was a mentor and a friend.”

Kevin Hope (BComm'79, LLB'80) shared, “I have fond memories of Bob from the Business Game (1976/77) and as "Legal Counsel" to the Game (1979/80). He was the best and had a lasting impact on so many—tough yet caring! I have never forgotten him and never will!”

After Ogilvie passed away in October 2023, Andy Szocs reached out to Mel Huszti to explore the idea of establishing a scholarship in Ogilvie’s honour, recognizing their lifelong friendship. Andy's foundation, the SZOCS Foundation, initiated The Professor Bob Ogilvie Award in Business Acumen scholarship at the Edwards School of Business. Together with family and friends of Bob Ogilvie, they will fund a new scholarship for Edwards students in their final year.

“As close classmates of the engineering class of 1961, it is truly an honor and privilege to express my gratitude in honoring Bob’s profound impact as an educator,” said Andy Szocs. “The scholarship honours our friendship and Bob’s legacy. Annually awarded to one deserving Edwards student, it will have a profound impact over the years, benefiting more than ten students by recognizing excellence and providing financial support.”

To be eligible for the Business Acumen scholarship, Edwards students must successfully complete courses that were similar in nature to the “Business Game.” These include COMM 401 and COMM 447. COMM 401 focuses on the concept of organizational strategy and how its formulated, developed and implemented in real life situations and COMM 447 deals with the business models and plans of businesses while improving student’s oral presentation skills and critical thinking skills using real-life situations. As mentioned earlier, like the courses Ogilvie taught, these upper year courses also help students transition the materials they have learned in the classroom to the real world.

As the inaugural recipient of the Business Acumen Scholarship, Theo Halyk exemplifies this connection. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce with a major in accounting and is currently pursuing a Master of Professional Accounting degree at Edwards, with the goal of obtaining his CPA designation.

“My father took third-year classes with Professor Ogilvie in the 1980s, and I’m incredibly grateful for the legacy he established in nurturing business professionals at the Edwards School of Business,” shared Halyk. “It is an honour to be recognized with a scholarship that carries such significant meaning in the Edwards community. I hope that in my future as a business professional and currently as an auditor, I can make ethical decisions that yield rewarding consequences for both myself and the businesses I engage with.”

The scholarship is a way of paying it forward. Eva, Bob’s wife, highlighted that Bob both benefited from and contributed to scholarships. Notably, in 2014, he established the Robert Ogilvie Business Communications Prize, which was awarded until 2018.

If you would like to contribute or create a scholarship benefitting Edwards students, please email Steph Bodnar, Development Officer. 

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