LETHBRIDGE – In a tumultuous year for University of Lethbridge athletics, the president of the university is reaching into his own pocket to send a message of support.
Dr. Mike Mahon and his wife, Maureen, have committed to giving $60,000 in scholarship money to Pronghorn athletes.
“Maureen and I talked about it and decided one of the ways to demonstrate to the community the importance of connecting with and contributing to Pronghorn athletics was for me to step up and demonstrate my own personal commitment,” said Mahon.
The U of L athletics department underwent a full audit during the 2014-15 sports season. It led to discussion that some teams, notably the women’s hockey program, could lose funding. It also led to a mutual parting of ways with long-time athletics executive director Sandy Slavin.
The report stressed the importance of finding new funding models for U of L athletics.
“In order for our Pronghorn program to grow, we really do need to support it in a different way than we have in the past,” said Mahon. “A large part of that needs to come from the community, because the university only has so many resources to dedicate.”
Mahon made the announcement during the Pronghorns scholarship breakfast Tuesday morning. The exact funding details are still being worked out, but it’s intended to be a multi-year pledge, with a scholarship awarded to one player on each of the 11 Pronghorn teams. Coaches will play a key role in deciding who receives the awards.
“I believe that sport has a huge, positive impact on a university campus,” said Mahon. “Of course for the student athletes themselves, but I think, even more broadly for all of our students, faculty and staff and the broader community.”
- Life in the forest: How Stanley Park’s longest resident survived a changing landscape
- ‘Love at first sight’: Snow leopard at Toronto Zoo pregnant for 1st time
- Buzz kill? Gen Z less interested in coffee than older Canadians, survey shows
- Carbon rebate labelling in bank deposits fuelling confusion, minister says
The breakfast raised $15,000 for the Pronghorns scholarship program, an amount matched by the university for a total of $30,000.
John Herdman, the head coach of Canada’s national women’s soccer team, was the featured speaker. An inspirational talk from the Olympic bronze medal-winning coach focused on how all people can live their lives to the fullest, and work to achieve greatness in any field.
“We all have a short time on this planet,” said Herdman. “So, we’ve got to make the most of it, and that’s the challenge we throw out to our athletes. They’ve just got to wear a shirt and have got to make a mark on the international stage. It’s no different though, as a parent, you get a chance with your kid; you get one chance at that. You get one chance in business life. So, it’s just challenging people to say, ‘go on, make the best of it.'”
Past speakers at the Pronghorns scholarship breakfast include Calgary Flames president Brian Burke, Olympic gold medalist Mark Tewksbury, and Canadian broadcasting legend Brian Williams.
Comments