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When Dr. Stephen King met Brad Hornung, there was limited extensive accommodations for students with disabilities at the University of Regina.
Now, the university is renaming a new Accommodations Test Centre located in the Research and Innovation Building after Hornung.
“I think that’s one thing (Hornung) would say: If his experience here helped even one student who came after him to have a smoother, more successful or more enriching experience at university, he would be happy,” King said.
King, now a senior researcher in the U of R’s office of the president, met Hornung in the early 1990s while studying at the University of Regina.
King was Hornung’s note-taker for one of the classes they shared. Hornung was one of the first students to receive extensive accommodations at the university, and he and King soon became close friends.
Hornung suffered a spinal cord injury in a WHL game between his Regina Pats and the Moose Jaw Warriors in 1987. The injury left him a quadriplegic.
“The people that know Brad know he had an amazing sense of humour, and very sharp sense of humour,” said King. “You could never get the best of him. He was going to get the best of you, regardless.”
King said there was lots of labour for Hornung to even take notes for his classes. Once King had transcribed the notes, Hornung would take them back to his home and use Sip and Puff Technology to transcribe them.
The new facility will provide students with accessibility accommodations on campus. There will be 58 workstations, 11 private exam rooms, and 11 shared exam rooms for students. Each will be equipped with dual monitors, as well as scribes and readers as needed.
King explained the centre provides “consistency” for students to have a place to learn and access additional support. Many students can be stuck at home doing their work, which can be distracting.
King said he was approached by a student who was happy they can now write exams at the centre rather than writing exams in their professor’s office.
King said naming the centre after Hornung is one of the most wonderful things the university could have done.
“He was the most inspiring person I think I’ve ever met in my in my life,” said King.
Hornung graduated from Campion College with a bachelor of arts in history in 1996. In 2018, Hornung’s courage and perseverance were recognized when the university awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws Degree.
Hornung died of cancer in February of this year. He was 52.
“I think I got more out of my friendship with Brad than he could ever have gotten out of friendship with me,” King said.
Additionally, the Hornung family, through the Brad Hornung Legacy Fund, has created two scholarships of $1,500 for one player on each of the U of R Cougars men’s and women’s hockey teams.
King will continue to remember the quick wit and intelligence of his friend.
“Brad really was the strongest and most inspiring person I ever met,” King said. “He gave me many gifts, I think, of advice and insight, and I think he gave those gifts to many other people here. It’s really nice to see him recognized.”