While taking a pottery class in 2014, Heike Juergens learned of a young woman with a physical challenge who needed, but could not afford, a mobility device. Juergens decided to organize a backyard pottery sale at her home to raise the money needed. Friends donated pottery and in one day they had raised more than enough money to buy the device.
"She is indeed the embodiment of extraordinary dedication and service," says John Paterson, '55 Dip(Ed), '56 BEd, '57 BA, Juergens' former PhD supervisor.
As a psychologist and tireless volunteer, Juergens leads with a caring heart, whether it's billeting international students, advocating for mental health services for students or introducing kids who would not necessarily be thinking about a university education to campus through the U of A's U School program.
"Her achievements have been masterfully guided with joyful commitment that, while seemingly effortless, has required nuanced energy, subtle compromise and consummate compassion," says Stephen Leppard, '86 BEd, '92 MEd, '03 EdD, a school administrator with Edmonton Public Schools and a University of Alberta Senate representative.
We at New Trail welcome your comments. Robust debate and criticism are encouraged, provided it is respectful. We reserve the right to reject comments, images or links that attack ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender or sexual orientation; that include offensive language, threats, spam; are fraudulent or defamatory; infringe on copyright or trademarks; and that just generally aren’t very nice. Discussion is monitored and violation of these guidelines will result in comments being disabled.