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For Scot Lorenson, all the world is a stage — literally through his storied connection to theatre and figuratively in the many roles he plays in life to make the world a genuinely better place.

An accountant by day, Lorenson, ’00 BCom, has spent several years acting in, directing and stage-managing numerous theatrical productions within ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ through the Churchmice Players in Camrose and the Manluk Theatre in Wetaskiwin. 

The heart of his passion for theatre is its accepting environment that doesn’t discriminate based on things like socioeconomic background or age. In this spirit of care, he instituted the Scot Lorenson Scholarship, awarded annually to an undergraduate student in Drama or Music at Augustana Campus.

“It’s a very supportive environment for young adults trying to find where they fit,” he says. “You can have productions with people of varying ages, different walks of life, or different life experiences, and all are accepted for who they are as an individual with no judgment; they can be their authentic selves.”

This support of others fits with Lorenson’s modus operandi for life: he contributes extensively to his community as president of the Wetaskiwin Music Festival Association, vice-chair of the Bethany Group, and financial administrator and piano player for Camrose’s St. Francis Xavier Parish. He was also past treasurer for the Wetaskiwin Theatre Society, Wetaskiwin Chamber of Commerce and Wetaskiwin Curling Association.

Lorenson’s generosity also reflects the heart of Shape the Future, a fundraising campaign dedicated to student success by enhancing financial support for access and affordability, experiential learning and student spaces, opening doors for them to become great leaders and innovators.

“I created the scholarship at Augustana to give back to the community in which I work and live. I hope the scholarship I’ve established will help ease the financial burden for students and provide them with the ability to pursue the opportunities presented to them,” he says. 

Not only does Lorenson contribute monthly to support his scholarship – ““Rather than having to make a single monetary contribution, it’s spread over time and doesn’t feel onerous,” he says – he has also established an estate gift to endow it in the future.

“Granted, I could wait until the end of my life and have my estate make the [full] contribution, but I feel that loses some of the intrinsic benefit of donating now. I’ve been lucky in my life and feel I should share that with others.”

Sami Al-Khalili, recipient of the 2024 Scot Lorenson Scholarship, says the award has made an indelible impact on his life. 

“I want Scot to know he is helping more than just a student. He is empowering a future teacher, artist and leader,” says Al-Khalili, an Augustana Bachelor of Music student specializing in vocal performance. He describes himself as a singer-songwriter passionate about music education, community building, writing poetry and storytelling through song. 

“[It’s] not just an investment in tuition; it’s a vote of confidence, a moment of belief, and a tangible act of support that ripples outward into the community,” Al-Khalili says. “It means someone sees potential in my voice, my path and the work I hope to do with and for others.”

“Thank you for helping young artists like me continue to believe in our dreams. It reminds me I’m not walking this journey alone.”