Read about great UBC KIN students before you and where they are today as alumni
Russo, Erminia
Graduating year: 1989
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.
MacKinnon, Dean
Graduating year: 1966
Degree: BPE
While a student, Dean played basketball under coach Hugh Marshall at John Oliver high school then attending UBC played on the Thunderbird rugby team. He was a pretty fair athlete which is required when refereeing high school basketball games, a career he began around age 30.
Griffith, Clyde
Graduating year: 1964
Degree: BPE
Clyde, from Trinidad, was part of this unique period, first enrolling in Medicine then realizing physical education and recreation were his passions. Also a noted musician, Clyde graduated from UBC in 1964 – he was International Student of the Year in 1962 – and quickly found his fellow alumni not only assisted his career but became life-long friends.
Bishop, Carole
Graduating year: 1973
Degree: BPE
With the national team, Carole competed in the Olympics, Pan-American games, World championships and North American championships. In European tournaments she was the MVP in 1975 and 1976, the latter year she was ranked the fourth best setter in the world.
Kriitmaa, Kolin
Graduating year: 2001, 2004
Degree: BHK, MHK
Working in a position highly involved in the world of professional sports and high profile athletes, Kolin performs a job many only wish they could pursue. It is, however, as Kolin states, not that simple. Describing his position as “what you make of it … little bit of management, little bit of entrepreneur, little bit of get your hands dirty and do the jobs that no one else wants to do,” the job is not without its pressures.
Yuen, Denise
Graduating year: 2007
Degree: BHK, GDBA
With previous experience as a Canadian SportWORKS Officer (CSO) with Commonwealth Games Canada, Denise has worked internationally to assist both the Singapore National Olympic Council and National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka.
Hodson, Sara
Graduating year: 2002
Degree: BHK
Sara’s diverse experience and ‘go-getter’ attitude have made her clinic a success to date. Currently operating out of White Rock, BC, Live Well Exercise Clinic provides safe, evidence based programming to help increase the quality of health and life for those dealing with diabetes, cancer and heart disease
Ernsting, Mark
Graduating year: 1999
Degree: BHK
In his athletic career, Mark is an accomplished; five time Canadian National Track Cycling Champion. As an athlete, he has had the privilege of representing cycling teams in North America, Europe, and was part of the Canadian National Team.
Twist, Peter
Graduating year: 1992
Degree: MHK
The many projects undertaken by Peter Twist have resulted in rewards – rewards as much for others as they have been for him. A 1992 graduate of the Human Kinetics Masters program, Twist as a student played on the Thunderbird hockey team while at the same time pursuing his passion .
Stewardson, Stan (1938-2017)
Graduating year: 1962
Degree: BPE
Engaging and knowledgeable, this ex-Thunderbird (his wife played Thunderbird basketball in the 1950s) is also well-known locally as a historian and memorabilia collector specializing in sports and the city of New Westminster itself – which could easily consider Stan one of its own “treasures.”