Meghan Grant, a gold medal-winning member of Canada’s national cycling team, is the special guest at this year’s fundraising breakfast.
UBC hosts Meghan Grant at annual fundraising event
A national cyclist, former candidate in Canada’s astronaut program, and medical doctor is the keynote speaker at this year’s UBC Okanagan Heat Athletic Scholarship Breakfast, presented by RBC.
Meghan Grant, a gold medal-winning member of Canada’s national cycling team, will be the special guest at the annual fundraising breakfast. This year’s event takes place Friday, April 5 at the Coast Capri Hotel, with doors opening at 6:45 a.m.
Grant discovered cycling only a few years ago and she will share her journey from unhealthy medical resident to one of Canada’s top athletes. Along with being an emergency room doctor in Vancouver, she is also an advocate for holistic health and wellness. And she made it to the semi-final round in Canada’s latest search for astronauts.
Each spring, UBC’s Okanagan campus hosts the breakfast, which raises funds for the Athletic Scholarship Endowment. Through the endowment fund, UBC is able to recruit and retain high-achieving students to the Okanagan campus, explains Tom Huisman, director of Athletics and Recreation.
“We have student-athletes who dedicate countless hours in training and competition. These student-athletes go above and beyond their academic load and represent the university in the community, the province and throughout Canada,” says Huisman. “Athletic scholarship support is a key component to building an outstanding varsity athletics program and another example of how we support our athletes every way we can.”
Since 2006, the funds raised at the Athletics Scholarship Breakfast have supported more than 200 student-athletes in achieving their academic and athletic goals.
Pat Kennedy, managing director of the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame, will host an interview-style conversation with Grant at the event. The program also features remarks by student-athlete Jordan Korol a fourth-year co-captain of the women’s basketball team. Korol, an Academic All-Canadian, won on- and off-the-court this year, taking home the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service award. A cancer survivor, Korol volunteers with the BC Cancer Society in her spare time.
UBC matches the proceeds of the RBC/UBC Okanagan Athletics Breakfast. So far, more than $920,000 has been raised for the Athletics Scholarship Endowment. As a result, $33,000 is available to student-athletes scholarships this year.
“We recognize that we are a community of support that helps UBC Okanagan student-athletes realize their dreams,” adds Huisman. “We appreciate everyone who contributes to building a varsity athletics program that strives to reflect and complement the world-class learning and research reputation of our campus.”
The 14th Annual UBCO Athletic Scholarship Breakfast, presented by RBC, takes place on Friday, April 5 at the Coast Capri Hotel. People can purchase individual tickets, a partial table, or book an entire table for 10 guests. Tickets are on sale and available at: goheat.ca/breakfast
About UBC’s Okanagan campus
UBC’s Okanagan campus is an innovative hub for research and learning in the heart of British Columbia’s stunning Okanagan Valley. Ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world, UBC is home to bold thinking and discoveries that make a difference. Established in 2005, the Okanagan campus combines a globally recognized UBC education with a tight-knit and entrepreneurial community that welcomes students and faculty from around the world.
To find out more, visit: ok.ubc.ca.
