U of A alumnus creates first-ever award for Executive MBA students

Every Christmas and birthday growing up, Sheldon Hudson opened a card from his grandparents containing the same two things: a little cash and clear instructions to deposit the money into a savings account for his education after grade 12.  

“Grandpa was a successful rancher north of Sundre,” says Hudson (P.Eng., MBA), fondly reflecting on his grandfather’s many contributions to his family and community in Mountain View County, Alberta. “And while he was short on schooling, he always saw value in it.”

By the time he graduated high school, Hudson had saved roughly $1,500 toward his first year of civil engineering at the University of Alberta. 

“It was a small token… but it was his way of saying education is important,” says Hudson, now the president and CEO of Al-Terra, an Alberta-based professional services firm focused on civil engineering, landscape architecture, geomatics and planning. “And it’s a big reason why I’m giving back today.”

This year, Hudson is continuing his grandfather’s legacy by establishing the Sheldon Hudson Graduate Award in Business, a $2,500 annual scholarship for one Alberta School of Business Executive MBA (EMBA) program student. 

“I had such a wonderful experience in the EMBA program,” he says. “And I want to be a part of helping pass that on to others.”

After joining Al-Terra as a U of A engineering co-op student in 1993, Hudson diligently worked up the ranks for over two decades when he decided to pursue his EMBA in 2014.  

“From the start, I always wanted the chair I'm sitting in right now,” he says. “As I was progressing in my career, I realized my engineering education was great for the technical work I was doing, but if I wanted to run the company one day, I’d need something more.”

While Hudson was initially drawn to the Alberta EMBA due to the proximity of Al-Terra, he believes the program’s work experience prerequisite — a minimum of 15 years of progression in managerial and supervisory roles on average — was pivotal to his holistic learning experience.

“If I did an MBA straight out of my engineering undergrad, I'm not sure it would have had the same impact,” he says. “Having at least 10 years of industry experience is worthwhile — you get to apply your practical knowledge in the classroom and see the theories you learn play out in your everyday business.”

As Hudson reflects on his EMBA journey, he also cherishes the many relationships he gained during the intensive 22-month degree program. 

“I don’t think I fully understood the benefit at the time, but the connections I made within Alberta — and specifically Edmonton — really did come to fruition,” he says. “I’m still in touch with many of them today.”

He adds that the program's cohort structure created a strong sense of comradery among classmates during all the highs (the remarkable trip we took to China with Dr. Wong!) and lows (thinking we all failed that dreaded stats exam!).

“We were in it together: all working full-time jobs, raising families, doing the same program in the same classes for two years,” says Hudson. “And I wouldn’t change it for the world.”

The first Sheldon Hudson Graduate Award in Business recipient will be determined in 2025 by the MBA office based on academic achievement and demonstrated leadership, community engagement and/or volunteerism.