Nearly 60 years of Lethbridge College Kodiaks athletics history can be captured like a finely-curated photo album. From winning championships to excelling academically, from building life-long friendships to getting involved in the community, Kodiaks student-athletes develop memories that last a lifetime.
Now, the Lethbridge College Kodiaks are asking everyone to join their team and support coming generations of Kodiaks student-athletes through the My Kodiaks Moments online giving campaign. Donations of any amount are being collected and all money raised will support Kodiaks Athletics student scholarships, going directly to support the athletic and academic pursuits of Kodiaks student-athletes.
“We build our teams and programs around individuals who fit our three pillars of Kodiaks Athletics – academic accountability, athletic excellence and the student-athlete experience,” says Todd Caughlin, manager of Kodiaks Athletics. “Our student-athletes dedicate countless hours to bettering themselves both in competition and in the classroom, learning life skills that will benefit them long after they leave the college. This campaign is a chance to show them that we have their backs and appreciate their efforts.”
The My Kodiaks Moments campaign kicks off on Friday and Saturday during Kodiaks Alumni Weekend and will run from Nov. 22 to Dec. 6. Each $50 donation made in person this weekend will be rewarded with a limited edition Kodiaks long-sleeve t-shirt (limited quantities available.)
Throughout the campaign, donations can be made online at lethbridgecollege.ca/give or gokodiaks.ca. Every two days, all $50 donations will be automatically entered into a draw for great Kodiaks merchandise. All eligible participants will also be entered into a grand prize draw of a one-week pass to a Kodiaks summer camp. Donations can be directed towards a specific Kodiaks team or given generally to the Athletics program to support the areas of greatest need.
Receiving athletics scholarships helps to reduce the financial and time burdens placed upon student-athletes. Kodiaks alumni have gone on to interesting and fulfilling careers around the world, boosted by the skills learned during their time at Lethbridge College.
“Athletics scholarships helped me to get a degree that is now helping me further my dreams by becoming a coach,” says Shantaya Strebel, a Kodiaks basketball player from 2015-17. “I was able to focus on my schooling, because basketball did take up a big portion of my time, so I didn’t have the time to get a full-time job. It made it less of a burden to pay those bills or worry about student loans.”
Kodiaks student-athletes have earned 60 Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference and 12 Canadian College Athletic Association team championships. The program has also produced 59 Academic All-Canadians and the collective student-athlete grade point average continually meets or exceeds that of Lethbridge College’s general student population.
The Kodiaks program also requires student-athletes to commit to being a part of the southern Alberta community by hosting camps and clinics, volunteering with local school and club programs, and running the annual Warm Paws charitable campaign.
Give in person this weekend, as the Kodiaks volleyball teams host Olds College, with games beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, and 1 p.m. on Saturday. The Kodiaks basketball teams host Red Deer College on Saturday, with action tipping off at 6 p.m. Admission is by donation for all games this weekend, with all proceeds going toward the campaign.
Complete details and the opportunity to make a My Kodiaks Moments donation are available on the Lethbridge College and Kodiaks Athletics websites.
Follow the campaign by engaging with the Kodiaks through Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
LISTEN: Manager of Kodiaks Athletics Todd Caughlin discusses the My Kodiaks Moments campaign and Alumni Weekend: