Professor gives $250,000 for undergraduate support

With it, he created five scholarships for undergraduates studying structures in the civil engineering program.

As a graduate student, Pekau was awarded a fellowship to study in Great Britain. Yet previously, even as a top student who won many awards for academic achievement through his high school and undergraduate studies, none came with financial benefit.

“I remember how little money was available on the basis of performance,” he says of his own undergraduate years. “Graduate students have various sources of funding, but undergraduates don’t have much financial support available to them.”

That’s one reason he chose to give to undergraduate support. He has also noticed a need in his own students.

“In my classes over the years, there have been very good students who did not do well in a particular test or exam. I later found out they were working evenings and weekends to support themselves rather than being able focus on their studies.”

Pekau hopes his scholarships encourage these students and help support them financially.

“Such generosity coming from one of our own colleagues speaks volumes of the commitment and demonstrates to the larger community how strongly our faculty and staff members believe in the university,” says Amir Asif, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. “Professor Pekau is a true champion and a role model for all of us.”

After four decades working with students, researching and publishing, Pekau now teaches half time in what is today Concordia’s Department of Building, Civil and Environmental Engineering.

“I find it difficult to stop because the students are so enjoyable to be with. They really take an interest and express their appreciation — I find that so rewarding,” says Pekau.

“When I meet students outside the university years later, they tell me how much they appreciate what I taught them.” One student even emailed him 30 years after taking his course to let Pekau know the difference he’d made.

Pekau feels a strong community spirit at Concordia. During a recent stay in hospital, he explains, “I got visitors and phone calls all the time from concerned students and faculty wishing me well,” he says.

“Many things make me appreciate Concordia. I feel lucky. Concordia has been very good to me and I feel an obligation to give something back.”