Paying for university will be a bit easier for a St. Tim’s teen after being honoured for her talent on the basketball court.
Last Wednesday at a gala dinner, St. Tim’s High School Thunder senior player Jessie Zemlak was named one of this year’s 16 recipients of the 2016 Calgary Basketball Classic (CBC) scholarship.
The CBC – an annual basketball tournament that draws as many as 1,000 students and coaches from Calgary and area – also offers yearly scholarships to worthy players to help with their post-secondary pursuits. The group has given away $270,000 worth of awards since 2006.
Zemlak earned $1,000 toward her university education for exemplifying the scholarship’s requirements to “foster citizenship, leadership and academics through the great game of basketball.”
St. Tim’s Athletic Director Kevin McLellan said the school nominated Zemlak for her skills and leadership in the sport, as well as her great marks in class.
“She’s been a dominant force within the girls’ basketball program … (and) she has maintained a pretty high academic standard,” he said.
As part of the application for the award, Zamlak herself was asked to answer a question regarding what basketball has meant to her.
“Basketball has a large impact on giving me the confidence I need to succeed in life,” wrote the teen. “Basketball has also given me the opportunity to create some of the greatest friendships with people I will ever have. The experiences I’ve had with my school team has helped me grow in large ways as an individual, and as a teammate.”
Zemlak plans to study athletic therapy in the fall.
