Mary Bland recently retired after 29 years working with students in the Faculty of Engineering. From supporting the growth of a student run business to managing finances and running events, Mary was a source of continuity and leadership for the Waterloo Engineering Society (EngSoc) and the student community at large. Now, a new award is being established in recognition of her contributions, The Mary Bland Engineering Award. A goal has been set to reach a minimum of $40,000 in order to create an endowment which will allow the award to be made permanent, representing a lasting legacy for Mary Bland. Several donors, including Wehuns Tan (BASc ’04, computer engineering), James Kunz (BASc ’04, computer engineering) and Sarah Kunz (BASc ’05, civil engineering) are matching donations up to $40,000. With support from donors the new award will ensure that future generations of Waterloo Engineering students are recognized and encouraged to continue making positive impacts on their community.
Change and continuity
“Every sixteen months, there’s a new team coming in,” says Dylan Ellingson, who worked with Mary as Engineering Society President from May 2023 to August 2024. “So, it's really important to have someone with institutional knowledge.” Dylan describes Mary as the “glue” who kept everything together as the society transitioned from one cohort of student leaders to the next. Initially employed at the newly established C&D (coffee and donut) shop Mary’s role grew over the years. She retired as Business Manager for EngSoc, providing essential support for all activities carried out by the organization. A constant presence in the EngSoc office, Mary’s can-do attitude and knowledge ensured that individuals like Ellingson were in a position to make a difference for students in the Faculty.
Mary’s guiding hand led to significant wins for the student community. The C&D expanded to an additional locations, providing a much-needed hub (and source of caffeine) for busy students, staff and faculty. She also provided administrative support and financial advice for student-run clubs, a cornerstone of community-building.
Mary Bland in the Engineering Society office
Another important contribution was maintaining continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. For Alumni Michael Seliske (BASc ’13, computer engineering) Mary’s work during this time underlined her commitment to Waterloo Engineering students. “When COVID hit there was a complete reset for the leadership of the Engineering Society,” says Seliske. “Mary chose not to retire at that point, instead she worked hard to bring the Society back to life.” The insights and connection with history provided by Mary played an important role in resurrecting student organizations and restoring the in-person community of Waterloo Engineering.
A positive presence
James Kunz (BASc ’04, computer engineering) and his wife Sarah (BASc ’05, civil engineering) are among the alumni who have chosen to donate to the Mary Bland Award. “She was always our biggest cheerleader,” says James, reflecting on his time working with Mary. “But she was also happy to get involved and do whatever needed doing to make an event or initiative successful.” The positivity and kindness that Mary brought to her role was vital given some of the pressures associated with pursuing an engineering education. “An engineering degree is a marathon, and the student community is what makes it a good experience,” says James. “For me, Mary played a big part in enabling a community that made it worth it.”
The positive impact that Mary had across cohorts of engineering students was evident in the response to her retirement. Over 270 students and alumni joined a Facebook group to organize a card to recognize her contribution, and individuals travelled from across the province and internationally to attend an impromptu get together with Mary as guest of honour.
A fitting tribute
The new award will acknowledge and celebrate the unique career and lasting influence of Mary Bland. Working with EngSoc and President Dylan Ellingson, Mary determined the direction of the award, choosing to uplift students who have demonstrated kindness and leadership beyond academics. “If Mary helped establish the criteria for this award, then it's going to the right place,” says Michael Seliske.
For Mary herself the award is a validation of her work and the collective achievement of building Waterloo Engineering Society into what it is today. “This award means so much to me, but it isn't just for me, it's for all the students who impacted my time at the university,” she says. “It is due to the mutual respect, love and wonderful times that we shared that made the engineering society a dynamic place to work. Over the years we became a family so thank you to all the students who are a part of this honour.”
Mary Bland with Dylan Ellingson and Dean Mary Wells
By contributing to the Mary Bland Engineering Award, you can help ensure that her legacy of kindness and leadership continues to inspire and uplift future generations of Waterloo Engineering students.
Your support will make a lasting difference.
Find out more about The Mary Bland Engineering Award and donate today.