Simon Fraser University in British Columbia, Canada, has announced a C$34.1 million ($26.8 million) gift from alumnus Lance Uggla (BBA '85) and his family in support of student scholarships.

The largest gift of its kind ever to a Canadian university will establish the Uggla Family Scholarship for students who may not otherwise be able to afford a university education and will also address issues of social mobility, equity, diversity, and inclusion. With the first awards slated to be made ahead of the fall 2021 semester, the scholarships will support students in SFU's Beedie School of Business and the Faculty of Applied Sciences and eventually will be expanded to other schools.

Uggla, a graduate of SFU's Beedie Business School of Business, is chair and CEO of London-based IHS Markit. In addition to the gift to SFU, he and his family have committed £23.4 million for a similar initiative at the London School of Economics (LSE), where Uggla earned a master's degree.

"I feel fortunate every single day that I have benefited from an excellent university education, and by enabling these scholarships in perpetuity it is my way of saying thank you to Simon Fraser University and LSE for giving me such a strong foundation for my career," said Uggla. "I am a father of four amazing children who are all building their careers from a similarly strong foundation. The Uggla Family Scholars that this program will support, all from less advantaged backgrounds, will equally be given the opportunity to excel in the years ahead. I am excited to get started and help the first students begin their journeys."