STEAM Donor Spotlight

Celebrating those who give back

Name: Allan Hughson
Title: Owner/Manager Williams Funeral Home Ltd.

We were so grateful that Allan Hughson decided to reach out to MYFM and sponsor a STEAM Student to be showcased each month.  The Student’s are really appreciating the recognition.  We thought it was such a unique way to give back to a charity that we wanted to talk to Allan to find out what inspires him to get involved. 

What prompted you to make the decision to support in this way?
I think it is important to recognize leaders that are people who think outside the box. STEAM allows them to develop who they are rather than a set formula. The fact that these students go to the STEAM Centre shows that they can think outside the box. They are the leaders and designers and mathematicians of the future. STEAM builds students up rather than tearing them down. I’m a strong supporter of the arts and theatre and thinking outside the box. I think it is so important to think differently. Be who you are.  Don’t worry what the rest of the world thinks.

Why do you think it is important to celebrate students in STEAM?
It’s great to see the joy in the eyes of the students that are able to accomplish something. As a society we are now more open to so many things.  It’s a good time to be born! Girls for a while were told that they weren’t any good at math and yet some of the best mathematicians are women. If you tell someone enough that they aren’t going to be good at something then they won’t try. My brother was taught special ed by a teacher who said “you’re not stupid, you just have to think differently”.  It changed his perspective.  When you are smart you know that you don’t fit in. You’re not sitting down playing euchre with your friends.  You are sitting down and talking about the Pythagorean theorem. The worst thing in the world is to feel like you don’t fit in. When they go to the STEAM Centre you can see their joy and a place where they fit in. If I were young I would have wanted to be involved in these programs.

What STEAM skills would students need to do your job?
To do my job you need to 

• Be able to adapt quickly
• Be open minded
• Be flexible to work in a changing structure as each family’s needs are different

 There are constant adjustments in our roles. We definitely saw that this year during Covid and the changing frameworks. 

Why do you think STEAM is important?
STEAM teaches leaders not followers. I always told my kids failure is not about trying something that doesn’t work, failure is not doing anything. That person that developed the vaccine had to keep trying. Thomas Edison had many versions of the lightbulb before it was the final version. They were not failures, they were prototypes. STEAM teaches those skills. 

Why should more local businesses connect with and donate to local charities like STEAM
Because we need to support our local community.  We have the brains and the children out there and they just need an assist.  Bringing those people out  that want to contribute will end up helping the community as a whole. As a community we try to promote the citizens involved.  You feel good about it .  You can see the results as opposed to sending a donation away.  When you give locally, your children, your grandchildren and friends will see the results and the community will benefit as a whole. STEAM helps you channel a new path or way.

Giving back can be creative!  Let us know how you would like to get involved. 
​You can also donate to our educational programs at ​https://www.steameducation.ca/donate.html#/