A surprise gift highlighted the UBC Okanagan scholarship breakfast Friday morning as the family of one its top athletes made a major donation.

Graduating volleyball student Megan Festival shocked the crowd香蕉视频直播攊ncluding university officials香蕉视频直播攚hen she announced her family will donate $25,000 to the Heat women香蕉视频直播檚 volleyball team.

It marked a bittersweet farewell to university sports for Festival as the soon-to-be graduate thanked UBC for the many opportunities that came her way during her five years as a Heat athlete.

Festival joined the women香蕉视频直播檚 volleyball team in 2012 and played alongside her older sister Jillian for two years. Both Festival athletes were an integral part of the volleyball team香蕉视频直播檚 successes.

香蕉视频直播淲e are extremely thankful to the Festivals香蕉视频直播攎ost of all for trusting us with their wonderful daughters Jill and Megan for the past eight years,香蕉视频直播� said UBCO director of athletics and recreation Rob Johnson. 香蕉视频直播淎nd, having had the opportunity of getting to know parents John and Janette, while I was unaware of their plan to make a gift this morning, I am not surprised.

香蕉视频直播淭hey have been consistent and thoughtful fans and supporters of our program from the beginning, and this generous gift will help the program continue to thrive in the future. On many levels, our program is stronger from their involvement.香蕉视频直播�

Close to 350 people gathered for the 12th annual breakfast, which not only recognizes student accomplishments, but also raises money for the student athlete scholarship endowments.

It was a morning to shine light on the accomplishments of the athletes and UBC President Santa Ono took the opportunity to congratulate the student athletes, encouraging those in attendance to stand for a round of applause.

A self-confessed sports fan, Ono told the audience that athletics means more than scoreboards and trophies.

香蕉视频直播淭here is nothing more powerful than athletics to bring an institution together,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚t brings faculty, administration, and staff together and builds the spirit in our institution while bringing the community together.香蕉视频直播�

Ono took time to remark on this year香蕉视频直播檚 accomplishments of the Heat athletes, which featured 34 academic All-Canadians, 14 National Scholar Athletes, two Canada West All-Stars, two Canada West All-Rookie team selections, and one CCAA All-Canadian. The women香蕉视频直播檚 cross country team won the CCAA National Championship, the women香蕉视频直播檚 volleyball team qualified for the Canada West Final Four for the fourth straight year, men香蕉视频直播檚 volleyball had its best record since joining the U Sports, and both men香蕉视频直播檚 and women香蕉视频直播檚 soccer teams qualified for Canada West Playoffs.

香蕉视频直播淥ur student athletes are wonderful ambassadors for the university,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey really have two full-time jobs between practicing, travelling, and competing at the highest level. They are the superstars in our institution and we couldn香蕉视频直播檛 be more proud of them.香蕉视频直播�

Special guest at the breakfast, Doug Mitchell also had a strong message for the full house. Mitchell who has been an ambassador for all levels of sport, from amateur athletics to the National Hockey League, to Commissioner of the CFL to his current role as a board member of the Canadian Olympic Foundation.

香蕉视频直播淎 university degree can open many doors for you, but it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 give you the steps you earn when you play varsity athletics,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淟earning to manage your schedule香蕉视频直播攂etween practices, travelling and keeping up with your academics香蕉视频直播攕ets you at an advantage for the rest of your life.香蕉视频直播�

With the gift from the Festival family, more than $75,000 was raised at this year香蕉视频直播檚 event, bringing the endowment total to over $800,000.