UBC Reports | Vol. 47 | No. 06 | Mar.
22, 2001
Money raised will help keep athletes at home
by Bruce Mason staff writer
The final results have been tallied. The 2001 Thunderbird Millennium
Breakfast recently raised $256,000 for athletic scholarships.
The university matched funds to double the contributions of 1,600
supporters who attended the event held at the Vancouver Convention
and Exhibition Centre.
Vancouver lawyer Martin Zlotnik, organizer and long-time supporter
of UBC Athletics, says, “I’m a believer and a product of the university
and its varsity program. We met our goal in a poor economy and will
continue to assist student athletes who devote a great deal of time
to training and competition.”
“Success in athletics works hand-in-hand with academic success
to develop strong and well-rounded students and future community
leaders,” says UBC President Martha Piper. “UBC athletics scholarships
deserve the greatest support since they play a key role in enabling
our dedicated student athletes to excel.”
“It’s about more than money,” says Athletics director Bob Philip.
“Obviously many people strongly endorse the idea of providing a
top education and the best coaching and opportunities for competition.
The scholarships help UBC athletes focus on excellence in both their
sport and studies.”
Vancouver Mayor Philip Owen was the keynote speaker at the event
which was first held last year.
Among the athletes who will benefit are members of the university
swim teams, 10 of whom represented Canada at the Sydney Olympics.
UBC swimmers also provided the biggest athletic success of the
varsity season so far, an unprecedented fourth consecutive national
championships.
At the Canadian Inter-university Athletic Union (CIAU) competition
the women’s team won by a 54.5-point margin over the University
of Calgary, while the men won by 131.5 points over Calgary. Toronto
finished third on both sides.
UBC’s three-day gold medal total at the competition was 12. Both
the women’s and men’s medley relay teams set new national records,
while highly touted UBC rookies Kelly Stephanyshyn and Brian Johns
led the way individually. Johns earned five gold and one silver
medal. Stephanyshyn took home three gold and three silver.
