Ubc bg summer 2008

ANDY’S ARIA

A DASHED PECULIAR GAME

WHAT’S UP THIS FALL

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Editor: Ben Schach

Message from athletic director

Designer: Sharmini Thiagarajah

Assistant Editor: Steve Tuckwood Contributors: Fred Hume, Don Wells

locker room

principal Photography: Richard Lam

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BLUE+GOLD is published twice a year by the UBC Department of Athletics and is distributed free of charge to the UBC Alumni and friends. Opinions expressed in the magazine do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Athletics or the University.

features andy’s aria a dashed peculiar game what’s up this fall

On the Cover }

BC golfer Andrew Robb lining one up U at UBC Chan Centre of Performing Arts.

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Message from the Athletic Director

One great season ends and just a couple months later we begin another in hopes of repeating and improving upon what was 2007-2008.

It is about this time of the year when things get busy again in Athletics. The start of football training camp signals the beginning of the season as Thunderbird return from summers abroad, refocus on school and get ready for a new campaign in search of a championship.

The spring and summer saw UBC athletes travel to China (women’s volleyball), Taiwan (men’s basketball), Czech Republic (baseball), South Africa (golf), and a tremendous contingent of athletes, coaches and support staff who represented UBC and Canada at the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Beijing.

These international opportunities not only enhance the experience and competition level in sport for each of those involved, they also provide culture and personal experiences that so many of these athletes will remember and reflect upon for a lifetime.

This summer has also seen significant construction activity in Thunderbird Park. With the completion of the UBC Thunderbird Arena in June, UBC Athletics and UBC Properties Trust have partnered on a project that will build

2 BLUE + GOLD fall 2008

two artificial fields for multi-purpose use, a baseball practice facility and a running track. For the students, players and coaches who will use these facilities daily this construction could not have come sooner.

Back to our varsity teams, some will be looking to improve on last year’s results, while others will be looking to repeat.

Men’s Soccer, Women’s Swimming and Women’s Basketball all captured national championships last year; as did Women’s Volleyball, who captured in dramatic fashion their first title in 30 years; and Men’s Golf who took home the top prize in the NAIA and the RCGA – titles on both sides of the border!

As we embark on season number 101 for UBC Athletics and season number 60 as Thunderbirds, I am hopeful that many of you will find time to take in a T-Bird game this year, either here in Vancouver or somewhere throughout the country.

With the century mark behind us, let’s hope the next 100 years brings as much to UBC, its students and its varsity athletes as the first 100 did.

Regards, Bob Philip Director of Athletics

locker room

Olympians List Badminton

Women’s Basketball After putting together one of the most impressive regular seasons in team history (21-2), the UBC Thunderbirds women’s basketball team cemented their status as a dynasty, winning their third CIS title in the past five seasons.

A trio of seniors led the way, as Erica McGuinness, Cait Haggarty, and Julie Little combined for 48 points to lead the ‘Birds to a 67-46 triumph over the University of Regina Cougars in the CIS final.

For her dominating play in Saskatchewan, McGuinness was recognized as the tournament MVP and earned a spot of the tournament all-star team. She was also recognized as the Canada West Defensive Player of the Year and a Canada West first-team all-star for her play during the regular season. Joining her on both the tournament all-star team and the CW first-team was fellow guard Haggarty, who was also named a CIS second-team all-star.

Men’s Golf It was a year of firsts for the UBC men’s golf team.

In mid-May, behind a stellar team performance that saw their top four golfers all finish in the top 10, the Thunderbirds cruised to their first-ever NAIA national title, riding a dominate second round performance to a 12-stroke victory. On that second day in Plymouth, Ind., senior Blake Rowe-Sleeman produced the finest round of the Championship, a sterling eight under par 64 that saw him birdie eight of 10 holes during one stretch.

The ‘Birds carried their NAIA momentum into the RCGA University Championship held at the Cordova Bay GC in Victoria and won their first Canadian title in the program’s history. Andrew Robb won his first major individual title as a TBird, finishing at par or better in each of his four rounds. The T-Birds trounced the competition, beating the second place Vikes by 21 strokes that included four top 10 performances.

Head coach Chris MacDonald was recognized for his team’s outstanding performance and was named the NAIA coach of the year and has been awarded the prestigious designation of the Golf Coaches Association of America’s NAIA coach of the year.

Track and Field The UBC Thunderbirds put together one of top team performances at this year’s NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, earning a pair of top 10 finishes.

Both teams were in contention heading into the final day of competition and with a number of medal performances the women finished a

Anna Rice

Baseball Brooks McNiven

Equestrian Leslie Reid

Field Hockey UBC women’s basketball celebrating their third CIS title in the past five years, a 67-46 victory over the University of Regina

program best third overall. The men had no medal threats on the final day but still finished a very respectable ninth.

Leading the way for the women’s team were Megan Huzzey and Liz Gleade. Huzzey claimed her fourth NAIA gold in 3,000m race-walk and will end her career undefeated at the NAIA Championships. She led the ‘Birds to a 1-2 finish this year with Nicola Evagenlista picking up the silver. Gleade, a sophomore, won her second consecutive women’s javelin title with a throw of 50.53m. Fawn Whiting led a 2-3-4 UBC finish in the women’s marathon while Claudia Richard won silver in the 400m hurdles.

On the men’s side, Olympian Mike Mason won his third consecutive high jump crown, while sophomore Inaki Gomez improved upon his silver medal performance from last year with a gold in the men’s 5,000m race-walk.

Another highlight for the Track team this year was their dual meet victory over crosstown rival SFU, as the Birds out-dueled the Clan 129-115.

Baseball UBC head coach Terry McKaig reprised his role as head coach of Canada’s entry at this year’s World University Baseball Championship. Six of the 22 athletes representing Canada wore the Blue and Gold this past NAIA season. Representing the TBirds were LHP Mark Hardy, RHP/1B Scott Webster, 1B/DH Ryan Pilgrim, INF Sammie Star, INF Alex White, and OF Jon Syrnyk. The Canadian team had their best performance ever at the FISU Championships, finishing round-robin play with a 2-4 mark. Their two victories were both shutout efforts, while their four losses came by a combined total of just 6 runs. The tenacious Canadian team gave pre-tournament favourties USA and Japan both scares, pushing both teams to extra innings.

Hardy was the first Canadian to earn an individual award, claiming the 2008 World University Games ERA Award after posting a perfect 0.00 ERA. He recorded 17 strikeouts, allowed just four hits, and walked none over 10 innings of work.

David Carter Connor Grimes Mike Mahood Mark Pearson Marian Schole Scott Tupper Anthony Wright Philip Wright Scott Fraser (physiotherapist) Shiaz Virjee (special assistant)

Rowing Kyle Hamilton Ben Rutledge Jake Wetzel

Sailing Nikola Girke Mike Leigh

Swimming Brent Hayden Brian Johns Annamay Pierse Donovan Tildesley Tom Johnson (head coach) Joseph Nagy (coach) Hugh Tildesley (coach) Eugene Liang (massage therapist) Ron Mattison (physiotherapist)

Track and Field Mike Mason

Wheelchair Basketball Jaimie Borisoff Patricia Nicholson Richard Peter Jennifer Krempien Misty Thomas Tim Frick (head coach)

Additional Medical Staff Bob McCormack (Chief Medical Officer) Don McKenziee Nadine Plotnikoff Marc Rizzardo Babak Sahdgan Jack Taunton (2010 Chief Medical Officer)

Andy’s Aria UBC golfer swings and sings his way along the fairway less traveled

By Don Wells

Walking down the 11th fairway of the Richmond Golf Club as twilight sets on a perfect mid-summer’s eve, I am equally consumed by the tranquility of the deserted golf course, and the intriguing conversation with my young playing partner.

He is 20-year-old Andrew Robb - one of UBC’s top golfers and a promising voice student in the School of Music. Equally bent on becoming a world class tenor and a top amateur golfer, he exhibits unforced modesty and maturity beyond his years as he explains how he maintains a balance between his twin passions.

As we get closer to the green, I begin to wonder if perhaps we have lost track of his ball. “Andrew, this hole is 366 yards long and we’ve been walking for quite a while,” I finally interrupt. “Where did your tee shot land?”

“It’s up there just short of the green,” he says with just a 4 BLUE + GOLD fall 2008

hint of a laugh. “It was a pretty good one.”

His “pretty good one” appears to be about 340 yards – a remarkably powerful drive, especially at sea level and even more so for someone who jokes about being barely 140 pounds. Just a few months earlier, I witnessed the equally remarkable power of his voice for the first time, as he sang the national anthem at the TELUS Millennium Scholarship Breakfast to a crowd of some 1200 momentarily slackjawed onlookers.

While his introduction to golf was obvious – father Dan Robb was formerly an assistant pro at Marine Drive and mother Paula Phillips a BC women’s champ – his development as a vocalist within the genre of classical music was a more gradual process.

He recalls becoming interested in musical theatre in grade two, and eventually a youthful regular in the casts of

“If I’m not singing well, I just go out and pound balls.” various theatre companies, including Theatre Under the Stars and Richmond’s Gateway Theatre, as well as an entrant at music festivals throughout the province.

When he entered grade 10 at Magee High School, he joined the school choir, although he confesses that his initial reason for joining was to get additional course credits for attending early morning rehearsals, which would free up his afternoons to work on his golf game. He admits though that something stirred him deeply the first time he heard the choir. His new found enthusiasm and talent caught the ear of music teacher John Trepp.

“He took a special interest in me and we spent hours looking at music together,” says Andrew. “He introduced me to a lot of people and set up everything for me at UBC.” That included introducing him to his current voice instructor, Bruce Pullan, an associate professor in the UBC School of Music, who he describes as not only an excellent teacher, but a friend who understands and supports his pursuit of both golf and music.

“If I’m not singing well, I just go out and pound balls,” he says. “The golf course is a really nice place to be and it helps to just be by myself for a while.”

His first big break came in the fall of 2006, when he was one of three tenors in the city selected to perform as a soloist in a Christmas performance of Handel’s Messiah with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Vancouver Bach Choir at the Orpheum Theatre.

He has since performed the Messiah a second time and a number of other challenging pieces at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. In addition to learning complex parts, he has also had to be a quick study of the languages of classical music – primarily French, Italian and German.

He has also been called upon at various times to sing the national anthem at Vancouver Canucks games.

Amazingly, his golf game has continued to improve in spite of the escalating demands of his studies and performance schedule. After winning the 2006 BC High School Championship, he turned down numerous athletic scholarship offers from US universities to attend UBC and play for the Thunderbirds under coach Chris MacDonald.

“UBC has everything I need and more – more than any American school. The schools in the states often have large teams of about 20 golfers. It’s great to be part of a small team like UBC’s. It’s the same in the School of Music. It’s small and tight knit with fantastic teachers.”

His freshman year saw him finish in the top 20 in at least one NCAA tournament, but his best play came at the end of the season, when he led the Thunderbirds to the 2007 NAIA Region One Championship by finishing at five-under for second place.

His sophomore season began with a tie for sixth place with teammate Blake Rowe-Sleaman, helping UBC

to its first win in the 37-year history of the Western Washington Invitational. The following spring he paced the Thunderbirds to their first-ever victory at the NAIA Championship with another sixth-place individual finish.

He followed that up two weeks later by leading his team to its first RCGA Championship and his first individual title as a Thunderbird, with a four-under finish in a 72-hole tournament at Victoria’s Cordova Bay Golf Club.

“He’s very good at being in the present,” says MacDonald. “He’s incredibly disciplined and knows when he needs to be at his best and what he has to do to get there.

“As a team, we accept that there are certain times of the year when Andy has to be more focused on his music. But we also know that he will be there for us during the big tournaments when it counts the most.”

As we walk in the fading light up the par-five 18th, I subconsciously begin to calculate Andrew’s score over our nine-hole round, concluding that he is at least four-under with no bogeys. The brilliance of his play doesn’t appear to faze him. It’s just a casual practice round, during which time we have discussed everything from the merits of country music to why I tend to pull iron shots, to his regrets about having to eventually “hang up the clubs for five or 10 years” so that he can live in a big city like New York or Chicago where he can study and perform with the world’s best.

Watching him reach the green in two to set up a twelvefoot eagle putt, there is no mistaking that he will be a force to be contended with for the duration of his university golf career, and well beyond should he choose, possibly as a member of Canada’s national amateur team. The putt misses by an inch. “I wanted that one,” he says with mild disappointment. “That would have given me a 29.”

The discussion continues over a quick dinner on the clubhouse terrace about how he has approximately 10,000 pieces of music - practically every symphony and opera ever composed – on his iPod, along with exactly 16 tracks in the new country vein, plus a couple of old hits by Elton John and Billy Joel. He pauses thoughtfully for a moment when I ask him if there is anything else he wants to say.

“I’m doing something I love, but I haven’t done it alone.

I’ve got incredible parents and I’ve had great teachers, so I have no excuses. I’ve been given every opportunity to be the best I can be.”

Another pause.

“I just don’t think it’s too far-fetched to be a world class singer and a world class amateur golfer at the same time.”

Indeed. Anyone who has witnessed Andrew Robb bust out a complex aria and a booming drive would agree that his aspirations aren’t far fetched - not by a long shot.

Don Wells is the author of the recently released: Flight of the Thunderbirds: A Century of Varsity Sport at the University of British Columbia.

5 fall 2008 BLUE + GOLD

locker room Old Faces, New Positions UBC Athletics has made a number of recent “additions” to their coaching staff. Among the new acquisitions in women’s sports are three very familiar faces.

Nancy Wilson has been named head coach of the women’s hockey team. An assistant with the squad the last three seasons, Wilson most recently served as provincial coach for BC and guided the Women’s National Under-22 Team to a gold medal at the 2007 European Air Canada Cup. Joanne Ross, a five-year star for the Thunderbirds in the 1990s, has

taken over as the women’s volleyball assistant coach. Ross has been coaching the women’s team part-time since her retirement from professional volleyball and has also served as UBC Athletics Intercollegiate Assistant.

Former Thunderbird rugby standout and current national team member Lesley McKenzie has been tabbed as UBC’s new head coach of the women’s rugby program. McKenzie spent five years with the Thunderbirds playing her way up from the junior varsity squad to the national team. McKenzie is a two-time graduate from UBC, earning a BHKin in 2003 and an MA in 2007.

New Faces, Old Positions The Department has also a number of new assistant coaches on the men’s side, including…

London, ON native Kevin MacNeill. Coach Mac, as he is known to players and friends, will take over the role of special teams and linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator for UBC football, all positions he held at his alma mater Wilfrid Laurier. A five-year player for the Golden Hawks, MacNeill is Laurier’s all-time career tackles leader.

Stellar play throughout her UBC career led Joanne Ross to a spot on Canada’s national team and the Marilyn Pomfret Award in 1999.

UBC Home Coming Saturday September 6, 2008 Kickoff at 2pm

Aaron Wilbur will be behind the bench of the UBC men’s hockey team as their new assistant coach. A BC native, Wilbur has a wealth of experience in coaching, recruiting, and

scouting in the BCHL, KIJHL, and WHL. Last season he was an assistant coach with BCHL champs Penticton Vees.

Dahman Boudraa, a former assistant at Douglas College, will reprise that role this coming season with men’s basketball. In his two seasons with the Royals, Douglas College finished 68-8 overall and 31-1 in regular season play and earned the CCAA National Championship last season.

Joining the men’s soccer coaching staff will be former TWU standout Nick Perugini. The 2007 CIS men’s soccer player of the year, Perugini will continue his CIS career from the sideline as an assistant with the T-Birds.

Come celebrate 100 years of a true Canadian rivalry!

UBC Thunderbirds vs Alberta Golden Bears at Thunderbird Stadium

vs.

Tailgate Party starts at Noon with BBQ, Kids area & Live Music Tickets at the gate: $10 Adults · $4 Alumni (with A-Card*) · $4 Kids $2 UBC Students · 6 and under FREE visit www.alumni.ubc.ca for more information *DON’T HAVE AN A-CARD? FOR INFO, PLEASE CALL 604.822.3313

(Left to right) Chancellor Sherwood Lett, Princess Elizabeth, President Mackenzie and the Duke of Edinburgh at Varsity Stadium in 1951.

“Fascinating . . .

But It’s a Dashed Peculiar Game Fred Hume UBC Athletics This was a special day: Saturday afternoon October 20, 1951, Varsity Stadium, the campus of UBC. Now this historical UBC moment happens to be just a little before my time so I must confess the event about to be unfolded for you I did not witness. So if you will excuse me, I will now descend into my time tunnel and float back . . . back . . .

The stands were packed, dignitaries everywhere, bands playing, cheerleaders working overtime – a spectacle fit for Royalty.

This was UBC campus 1951 style, a fall afternoon with our UBC Thunderbird football team hosting Eastern Oregon. Even though the previous night War Memorial Gym had been officially opened, old Varsity Stadium, the wood and concrete structure located just a few paces from the Main Library, was where the air was especially thick with excitement for this was no ordinary football game – two special guests were scheduled to arrive. The Royal Couple; Princess Elizabeth, who in a matter of a few months would be crowned Queen of England and her husband, Prince Philip, would visit UBC for the first time and be in attendance to witness their very first football game.

It was 2:35pm and amid the excitement, colour and noise, the game was suddenly underway, with the Royal party expected to arrive in their plastic-domed car at any moment. As the game progressed however, UBC showing well against its U.S. opposition, UBC President MacKenzie and Chancellor Sherwood Lett among others were growing a little uneasy, three quarters had been played and the Royals had yet to arrive!

Inevitably the final gun sounded signaling the end of the game yet the featured guests were still nowhere in sight.

”

It was getting pretty late, yet despite the cold and growing darkness the fans, players, dignitaries and all the kids hoping to get a glimpse of the Royals refused to leave, hoping and anticipating this rare opportunity might still materialize.

Finally, two hours later and ten degrees colder, sirens and bright lights heralded the arrival of the Royal cavalcade as it wended it’s way toward the stadium. Now the “spontaneous” reception and sporting event could take place “just as planned.”

Quickly the players were back out on to the darkened field this time to carry out a ten minute extension of the game, a spur of the moment plan designed to accommodate the guests.

At last, the Royal Couple would get to see their first North American football game.

Prince Philip, with a broad grin, settled back comfortably in his Varsity Stadium seat. Someone told the smiling Princess, “we don’t usually play in the dark,” keeping in mind the Stadium did not have lights.

Concern came over the crowd as the ‘Birds were pushed toward their own goal line with even the Prince dropping his smile. However, when UBC rebounded with a nice 50 yard run, the crowd led by the Prince, let out a lusty cheer. Slightly abashed by his own lustiness, Philip turned to UBC President MacKenzie and in a hushed voice asked “I guess that was all right?”

With the end of the abbreviated exhibition of football, the Prince on his way out of the stadium could be heard saying, “Fascinating . . . but it’s a dashed peculiar game.”

As the battered football teams lined up beside the Royal car, ‘Birds captain Dave Macfarlane rushed over to the Prince presenting him with a UBC autographed football.

The Royal cavalcade then departed amongst the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” and the Empire was saved. Hail UBC! 7 fall 2008 BLUE + GOLD

Norman Watt 1927-2008 UBC recently lost a genuine piece of human treasure with the passing of former Thunderbird basketball player and coach Norman Watt (BEd, 1952).

Norm entered UBC in 1947 and became a member of the junior varsity basketball team as well as the manager of the Thunderbirds Hall of Fame team of 1947-48, before moving up to the varsity squad as a player the following year.

After earning his Masters and Ph.D. at the University of Oregon, he returned to UBC in 1961 to join the Faculty of Education. He was later appointed director of Extra-Sessional Studies, where he pioneered a groundbreaking program for seniors that became known as the Third Age Spring Lecture Series. The first of its kind, it quickly became the blueprint for similar programs at universities across North America. He also found time to serve as head coach of the JV Braves basketball team, leading it to national championships in 1966 and ‘67.

Norm will also be remembered as the architect of countless campus and community charity activities.

Among his signature offbeat events were the World’s Worst Original Oil Paintings Exhibition and Auction (WWOOPEA); the President’s University Cup Costumed Croquet Klassic (PUCCCK) and the World’s Largest Garage Sale. His efforts resulted in numerous accolades, including the President’s Service Award for Excellence in 1991.

What’s Up This Fall Cross Country NAIA Championships October 22 (Wisconsin)

Football Saturday Sept. 6 Friday Sept. 19 Thursday Oct. 9 Friday Oct. 24 Saturday Nov. 15 Saturday Nov. 22

vs. Alberta vs. Regina vs. SFU vs. Sask.

Uteck Bowl Vanier Cup (Hamilton)

2 p.m. 100th Anniversary Celebration 7 p.m.

7 p.m. Shrum Bowl 7 p.m.

Women’s Field Hockey CIS Championships Oct. 30-Nov. 1 (Victoria)

Men’s Basketball Saturday Aug. 30 Sunday Aug. 31 Thursday Oct. 30 Friday Nov. 21 Friday Nov. 28

vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.

Tulsa Cal State Fullerton TWU SFU Victoria

1 p.m. NCAA Weekend 7 p.m. NCAA Weekend 8 p.m. Home Opener 8 p.m.

8 p.m.

Women’s Basketball Saturday Aug. 30 Sunday Aug. 31 Thursday Oct. Friday Nov. 21 Friday Nov. 28

vs. vs. vs. vs. vs.

LSU Baylor TWU SFU Victoria

3 p.m. NCAA Weekend 5 p.m. NCAA Weekend 6 p.m. Home Opener 6 p.m.

6 p.m.

Men’s Ice Hockey Friday Oct. 17 Fri-Sat Nov. 21-22

vs. Alberta vs. Calgary

7:30 p.m. Home Opener 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Ice Hockey Friday Oct. 3 Fri-Sat Nov. 14-15

vs. Alberta vs. Regina

7:30 p.m. Home Opener 7:30 p.m.

Women’s Rugby

Give & GO With your tax deductible donation of $225 or more

Canada West Championships Oct. 17-19 (UBC) CIS Championships Oct. 30-Nov. 2 (Lethbridge)

Rowing Canadian University Rowing Championships Nov. 1-2 hosted by UBC

Men’s Soccer Saturday Sept. 6 vs. Sask 2:15 p.m. Home Opener Saturday Oct. 4 vs. Victoria 2:30 p.m.

Sunday Oct. 12 vs. TWU 2:15 p.m.

CIS Championships November 6-9 (Carleton University)

Women’s Soccer Saturday Sept. 6 vs. Sask.

12:00 p.m. Home Opener Saturday Sept. 20 vs. Calgary 12:00 p.m.

Saturday Oct. 18 vs. Victoria 12:00 p.m.

CIS Championships November 6-9 (Trinity Western)

Receive a complimentary

SEASONS PASS 2008-09 valid at all varsity home games CALL 604 822 3094 or visit www.gothunderbirds.ca TODAY!

BE PART OF THE TEAM! 8 BLUE + GOLD fall 2008

Men’s Volleyball UBC Thunderball Tournament Oct. 9-11 (SKK-Korea, U of Pacific, and U of Hawaii) Friday Nov. 14 vs. Regina 8:00 p.m. Home Opener Thursday Nov. 29 vs. TWU 8:00 p.m.

Women’s Volleyball Thurs. Sept. 25 vs. Zhejiang (China) West Coast Classic Oct. 3-5 (TWU, Calgary, Alberta, TRU, and SFU) Friday Oct. 17 vs. Alberta 7:00 p.m. Home Opener Saturday Nov. 29 vs. TWU 6:00 p.m.

big block club

News + notes from the big block club

Homecoming – September 6, 100 years of sport rivalry UBC Athletics is your host for Homecoming 2008 as the football ‘Birds host Alberta and the men’s and women’s soccer teams host Saskatchewan on Saturday September 6.

UBC and University of Alberta are in the midst of celebrating 100 years so help us celebrate one of Canada’s longest rivalries by showing up and supporting the Blue & Gold.

The day starts at Thunderbird Stadium with a tailgate party that begins at noon, coinciding with the kickoff of the women’s soccer game on the new artificial turf field at Thunderbird Park. The football game kicks off in the stadium at 2 pm; while men’s soccer hits the turf at 2:15pm.

This is a family-friendly event with a BBQ, kids activities, prizes, beer garden for the adults and plenty of Thunderbirds sports action.

More golf in September, March The Friends of Thunderbird Baseball will host their annual golf tournament at Mayfair Lakes in Richmond the afternoon of September 23. For details or to register, contact Briony Reid at brionyreid@telus.net.

The Thunderbird Golf Society will host its annual golf tournament at the University Golf Club on Friday September 26. For details or to register contact Jean Forrest at cjforrest@shaw.ca.

The annual CN Desert Classic is back and will be held on Tuesday March 17, 2009 at Desert Willow golf club in Palm Desert, CA. The UBC Alumni Association will also be hosting a dinner the night of March 18 for golfers and non-golfers alike. For details on the event, contact Marty Zlotnik at Martyz@ZLC.net.

Millennium Breakfast date set The 10th annual TELUS Millennium Scholarship breakfast is slated for Tuesday February 24, 2009. The event, which begins at 7:15 am, will again be held at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. Please help us celebrate a decade of the breakfast and the more than $5M that is has raised. For further information on the event visit www.gothunderbirds.ca

New shells named at JMS Lecky UBC Boathouse UBC alumnae Rosy Lecky recognized a number of friends and family through the naming of rowing shells she purchased for the UBC Boathouse. The facility now has rowing shells honouring longtime friends Jane Hungerford, Martin Gifford and Elizabeth Urbach, daughters Laura Wallace and Lailey Wallace and one shell in memory of son Harvey Wallace who passed way in 2006.

The event included the christening of each shell as about 80 people enjoyed wine and cheese in the evening sunshine to mark the occasion.

Thunderbird Rings For the past three years the UBC Alumni Association has presented a Thunderbird Ring to every graduating varsity athlete. While the UBC Alumni Association is not able to provide a ring to every Thunderbird alum, UBC Athletics has made rings available to alums who want to be part of the club. The rings are hand carved by First Nations artist Rick Johnson and symbolize your connection to the UBC Thunderbirds. Rings are distributed through UBC Athletics for a donation of $100. For details or to obtain your ring, contact Jennifer Wong at 604 822-6183.

Thunderbird Alumni, we want to hear from you!

Share your accomplishments or honors with us by emailing varsity@interchange.ubc.ca

9 fall 2008 BLUE + GOLD

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