Graduates of the School are some of the leading pioneers in many fields. UBC Athletics historian, Fred Hume has amassed a list of notable Kin Alumni athletes who have achieved great things in their athletics career and after. Read and learn about some of our proud athletic alumni here.
Our thanks go to Fred Hume for his pioneer work as UBC’s first Athletics historian who also serves as an information resource for coaches, students and faculty(pictured on the right)
Fred Hume entered the UBC Sports Hall of Fame in 2011 nearly 22 years after he began working to uncover the great UBC teams, athletes and builders of sport dating back to 1915. The UBC graduate’s efforts soon resulted in the establishment and development of the UBC Sports Hall of Fame which has been instrumental in re-connecting the university with hundreds of its most accomplished athletic alumni encouraging them to become more directly involved with the campus and their former teams.
Paterson, Ron
Degree: BPE
Bachelor of Physical Education, 1979 UBC Phys. Ed (Kinesiology) graduate Ron Paterson is one of the better known sports “personalities” in Vancouver and one who has given back to the game of hockey. During the 1970s Ron was one of the best amateur hockey goalies in BC, if not Canada.
Penn, Gordie
Degree: BPE
Gordie Penn was part of UBC’s return to football credibility, greatness in fact, during the late 1970s. Under the coaching of Frank Smith the Thunderbirds evolved to the point where they reached the national championship Vanier Cup in 1978.
Pomfret, Marilyn (1932-2019)
Degree: BPE
While teaching and coaching at UBC Marilyn assumed the role of UBC’s women’s athletic director where she became acknowledged as a true “Builder.” Her dedication to the principals of equality and co-operation led to more athletic opportunities for female athletes, more women participating and more equal funding.
Russo, Erminia
Degree: BPE
BC Phys. Ed. (Kinesiology) graduate Erminia Russo has forged an impressive career in the sport of volleyball. Erminia graduated from high school in Kelowna and beginning in 1982/83, her first year on UBC’s volleyball team, she was a starter quickly evolving into a three-time Canada West All-Star and All-Canadian.
Sainas, Bill (1939-2018)
Degree: BPE
Bill Sainas, who passed away in 2018 at age 93, was a member of UBC’s first Physical Education/Kinesiology graduating class in 1949. This small, pioneer class represented the first graduates in Physical Education in Western Canada.
Sargent, Joanne
Degree: BPE
For more than ten years after graduation Joanne played Senior ‘A’ basketball winning several Canadian championships, a Canada Games team gold in 1975 and more MVP awards (a reported eleven) than she can recall. Moreover she and her teams won three more gold medals at Masters and Seniors Tournaments in 2005, 2009 and 2010.
Schiebler, Jeff
Degree: BHK
While leading UBC to championship levels, Jeff in 1995, set UBC, Canada West and CIS national records in the 3,000m. In the 10,000m he achieved the Olympic standard and competed for Canada in that event at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Schrodt, Barbara ‘Bim’ (1929-2020)
Degree: BPE
Dr. Barbara Schrodt has the distinction of being one of a select group of UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduates to be inducted as an individual into both the UBC and British Columbia Sports Halls of Fame.
Shields, Ken
Degree: BPE
Bachelor of Physical Education, 1969 One of the best known names in Canadian basketball is 1969 UBC Physical Education (Kinesiology) graduate Ken Shields. Ken, along with his wife Kathy, both played Varsity Thunderbird basketball during the late 1960s with Ken quickly moving on to the coaching ranks co-coaching the UBC women’s Varsity basketball team in1969/70.
Sinclair, Dana
Degree: BPE
Dr. Dana A. Sinclair (BPE ’85) is a performance psychologist at Human Performance International (HPI), where she consults with clients from the medical, corporate and entertainment worlds as well as professional athletes in the NFL, MLB, NBA, WNBA, NHL, MLS, IndyCar, PGA, Tennis Canada and the Olympics.
