WOA AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Winnipeg Optimist Athletics Annual Awards
Each year, in the Fall, an Awards Evening is held to recognize outstanding Age Class and Event athletes. Tickets for the event are subsidized. Awards and scholarships include:
Eligible athletes receive performance-based awards, National Team funding (up to $1,000) and free memberships ($250)
Jack Booth Executive Scholarship ($200)
Jim Lyon Executive Award for Volunteerism ($100)
Larry Switzer – Wayne McMahon Scholarship at University of Manitoba (approx. $600)
Free Membership
• Full member WOA athletes will be awarded a free Club membership for the following year, based on the following placings:
- In top six at the Canadian Senior Track & Field Championships
- In top three at the Canadian Junior Track & Field Championships
- In top ten at Junior or Senior National Cross Country Championships
- Being named to the National Cross Country team
- The athlete is responsible for other fees (i.e. AthCda/AthMb Sport Membership, FacilityUse fee, New Equipment Use fee, etc.).
Jack Booth Executive Scholarship
At the WOA Annual Awards event, the Parent Executive awards a $200 post-secondary scholarship to a deserving club athlete who is returning to the club and the sport, while continuing their education. Criteria include athletic and academic performance, as well as service or contribution to Winnipeg Optimist Athletics. Information regarding the scholarship can be obtained from the President. The 2020 Scholarship winner: Angela Kroeker.
Jim Lyon Executive Award for Volunteerism
Annually, a plaque is awarded to a member of WOA who has displayed general, all-round support to the club and its athletes through volunteer and fundraising activities.
This award is in memory of Jim Lyon, who passed away in May 2003. Jim was Treasurer of WOA from 1997 – 2002 and a recipient of the award in 2001.
A scholarship was created and donated by Shirley Lyon, the wife of Jim Lyon. In October 2003 and for a period of six years, a scholarship in the amount of $100 was awarded to an athlete recipient in conjunction with the Parent Executive Award.
In 2006, the Parent Executive Committee agreed the scholarship for the Jim Lyon Parent Executive Award for Volunteerism would be continued after the initial six-year period (October 2003 – 2008).
The recipient of Jim Lyon Award for 2020 is Danika Passler Bates.
St. James Optimist Award
This Award is open to any age level deserving athlete – 250$
Larry Switzer – Wayne McMahon Scholarship (at University of Manitoba)
In 1999, the Parent Executive of Winnipeg Optimist Athletics established a scholarship at the University of Manitoba to recognize the significant contribution of Larry and Wayne to Winnipeg Optimist Athletics and to the sport of track and field in Manitoba. The current value of the scholarship is approximately $600 annually.
The award is available to full-time students at the University of Manitoba with a 3.0 GPA, participating in track and field.
Applicants must be a member of Athletics Manitoba and demonstrate leadership and involvement within the sport community in Manitoba. Applicants are required to submit a two-page letter outlining their involvement in athletics and the leadership they have shown in the sport community, whether in competition, coaching or other aspects of sport. Deadline for application is September 30 each year.
For further information, please contact: Financial Aid & Awards,
University of Manitoba
204-474-9261
Applications should be submitted to: Claude Berube
Head Coach, Athletics
Room 109, Max Bell Centre, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2
Previous recipients of the Larry Switzer/Wayne McMahon Scholarship include:
- 1999 – Mel McManus, 4th year dentistry
- 2000 – Melanie Gregg, Masters in Sport Psych
- 2001 – Michael Booth, 3rd year Arts
- 2002 – Jennifer Ervick, 1st year, Faculty of Law
- 2003 – Brian Walker, 4th year, Business Mgmt
- 2004 – Kja Isaacson, 2nd year Arts, honours Fr & Eng
- 2005 – Sharon Drake, Recreational Mgmt & Comm Dev 2006 – Not awarded
- 2007 – Joel Charriere
- 2008 – Keiran Moolchan
- 2009 – Deondra Twerdun
- 2010 – Deondra Twerdun
- 2011 – Haley Sigurdson
- 2012 – Paul Ryberg
- 2013 – Ryan Croy, Univ 1 (from Selkirk Mb)
- 2014 – Ryan Croy, 2nd year student
- 2015 – Gee-El Nkwonta, WOA Coach
- 2016 – Eric Guy
- 2017 – Brook-Lynn Boyd, Faculty of Science
- 2018 – Jean Luc Perron
- 2019 – Jean Luc Perron
- 2020 – TBA