Future teacher scholarship fund established thanks to alumna Jean Wells' legacy gift

The impact of great teachers often reaches far beyond the classroom. The Egbert and Isabella Wells Memorial Scholarship will support future teachers — a fitting tribute to parents whose four children each became educators. Their daughter, Jean Wells (BEd ’73), chose to honour her parents with a deeply meaningful gift to the University of Lethbridge, carrying forward a shared legacy of learning and her own lifelong commitment to education. 

Jean was born in Calgary in 1928 and spent her early years on a homestead near Fort Macleod. The third of four children, Jean and her siblings had a love of learning instilled early on by their parents, Egbert and Isabella, with Isabella working as a teacher.

 That appreciation was evident in many areas of Jean’s life, including her collection of books. Her nephew, David Wells, says at the time of her passing in 2025 — just a month shy of her 97^th birthday — Jean owned thousands of well-read books. She also wrote a book, Morning Has Broken, filled with stories of her family’s time living in the West.

“Aunt Jean was extremely proud of the entire family,” David says. “Her parents faced challenges, including the Depression, and they persevered.”

That perseverance and resiliency were passed on to Jean in abundance — qualities that would shape both her life and her path to teaching.

“Aunt Jean relied on herself,” he says. “She was fiercely independent.”

At 39, Jean entered the teacher training program at the University of Lethbridge, graduating with her Bachelor of Education in 1973. She taught for 20 years, with stops in Lethbridge, Beaverlodge, Ryley and Edmonton before retiring in 1988. 

“The Faculty of Education, and the University overall, were crucial to Aunt Jean’s last 50-plus years of life — she appreciated them very much,” says David. 

That appreciation culminated in a $210,000 bequest gift from Jean to the Faculty of Education. Leaving a gift in her will to support future educators reflected Jean's deep belief in the power of learning and her lifelong connection to the profession.

Through the University’s Board of Governors’ matching initiative, her gift will be doubled, establishing an endowed scholarship to support aspiring teachers for generations to come. The fund will provide a minimum of $18,000 in awards each year to Faculty of Education students.  

“Jean Wells was an exceptional advocate for education throughout her career as a teacher. Her fierce independence and passion for education have created a legacy that will live on in students from the Faculty of Education,” says Dr. Lisa Starr, Dean of the Faculty of Education. 

“We are particularly grateful to Jean and the entire Wells family for their contributions to education and are proud to be able to shepherd a new generation of teachers through their support.”

The Egbert and Isabella Wells Memorial Scholarship stands as a lasting tribute to a family rooted in education and to Jean’s enduring commitment to learning. With each student it supports, her legacy — and the legacy of her parents — will live on in classrooms and communities.