Betty and Gilbert Kennedy Scholarship

 

Elizabeth (Betty) and Gilbert Kennedy had  impressive careers which included a variety of contributions within the academic world and in the community at large.
 
Betty Kennedy was born in Victoria, BC, and grew up in Burnaby, BC. Earning an honours BA in mathematics from UBC in 1943, Betty began teaching as a lecturer of mathematics at UBC in 1944. Returning to Victoria in 1957, Betty taught at Victoria College in the department of mathematics until the College was named the University of Victoria.  She remained teaching at UVic for another 22 years.

Betty’s husband, Gilbert Kennedy, completed a doctorate of law at Harvard University in 1956, was a law professor at UBC and served from 1957 to 1972 as the Deputy Attorney General for the Province.  Gilbert remained in the Attorney General Department until 1982.   Betty and Gilbert adopted three daughters.

In addition to teaching, Betty Kennedy chaired the Canadian Junior Mathematic Competition for BC, was a founding secretary for the BC College and University Program in Mathematics Group, and chaired the Canadian Mathematic Olympiad.  She chaired and participated in numerous University committees.

Betty, active in the community since an early age when she began teaching Sunday school at age 13, held many positions with the Girl Guides of Canada.  She was the recipient of the Girl Guides Medal of Merit.  Betty is currently actively involved with UVic’s Finnerty Gardens Advisory Committee and has received a honorary law degree from UVic.

When asked why she endowed an entrance scholarship in each of engineering, law, math and music, Betty replied “I love music, I taught mathematics, my husband was a lawyer and my father was an engineer”.