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Professor Craig Boydell’s class of ten varsity athletes paired up with Indigenous Services of UWO this past Friday, March 23rd to host the 3rd annual First Nations High School volleyball tournament. Unfortunately, attendance proved to be a problem this time around. In addition to the tournament itself, the event also provided the participants an opportunity to get a look at the Western Campus and catch a glimpse of what University life might be like. Following a lunch break at the University Community Center, the First Nations students also got a chance to see some first class volleyball as the Mustang Men’s and Women’s Volleyball teams staged a demonstration in Alumni Hall that also included games and prizes for the students. The interactive competitions with the kids, gave them a chance to show their skills and intermingle with volleyball players at a varsity level.
Alexis Karpacz, a former member of the Western women’s volleyball team and also a member of Dr. Boydell’s class, organized much of the varsity demo and had the pleasure of cheering on her former team-mates. As Karpacz reflected on the varsity demonstration, she noted, “By exposing the kids to the high calibre of Western’s athletes, we’re hoping that they will not simply be impressed with the athletics, but rather with the overall experience. We want to show them how exciting university life can be.”
Colin O’Brien, another member of Professor Boydell’s class and a current member of the Mustangs Men’s varsity volleyball squad, agrees that although it is always tough to plan and deal with the normal problems of a first time event, it was well worth the effort and that the base established today will provide a template that will serve the event well in the future. “We’ve been getting lots of positive feedback from everyone that attended indicating that the kids enjoyed themselves and had a lot of fun, which is great.” O’Brien added, “After all, that’s what the whole event was about – making sure the students had a positive experience.” As with any first time event there are always logistical problems, especially when so many different partners are involved. However, according to Boydell, “the event organizers, (Karpacz and O’Brien) to a great job of anticipating problems and having contingency plans in place that enabled the event to succeed. As a result they have created a template that should serve as a basis for an expanded event in the future.”
Ultimately, the class hopes that the high school students will look back on the experience as a positive one and that they will choose to come back soon, whether for a subsequent First Nations volleyball event or for future studies at Western.
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