Read about great UBC KIN students before you and where they are today as alumni
Ozkaplan, Atila
Graduating year: 2001
Degree: BHK
When Atila Ozkaplan, BHK 2001 and MSc 2004, arrived in Vancouver from Ontario in 1997, his goal was to become a doctor of Sports Medicine. However, his path shifted significantly when he volunteered with one of his professors, Dr. Ted Rhodes.
Andrews, Shelley Winter
Graduating year: 1975
Degree: BPE
While playing for UBC 1975 through 1985 she was selected MVP, won the league sportsmanship award and was named the 1975/76 UBC female Athlete of the Year.
From 1975 through 1986 Shelley was a member of Canada’s National team – her 12 years being the most of any BC woman in this sport.
Sainas, Bill (1939-2018)
Graduating year: 1949
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.
Zhou, Randy
Graduating year: 2014
Degree: BKIN
In recognition of his accomplishments in, and knowledge of, the world of fitness, he was awarded a share of the Mutant Nation fitness centre in Shanghai, a popular fitness chain in China known for its celebrity visitors. China Post has even offered to make a series of collector postcards and stamps to recognize his fitness achievements!
Averill, Michael
Graduating year: 2006
Degree: BHK
In the past six years Michael has become a full-time musician, and has combined music, storytelling, and social and psychological wellness with a walking tour of Canada. His path has led him to a variety of community-building avenues through music and he is currently working on a project in partnership with The Rogue Folk Club called “Community of Songs.”
Richter, Sarah
Graduating year: 2017
Degree: BKIN
I am a proud alumna of UBC’s School of Kinesiology, having recently graduated in May 2017. I’m originally from sunny Kelowna, and enjoyed the Okanagan’s snowy ski seasons growing up. I chose to attend UBC’s Point Grey campus because it’s where my parents received their degrees.
Laycoe, Bob (1947-2020)
Graduating year: 1969
Degree: MPE
Bob was an inspirational player on the Thunderbird football team while competing on UBC’s wrestling team, a team that won Western Canadian and Canadian university championships.
Stadnyk, David
Graduating year: 1986
Degree: BPE
Stadnyk played tennis for UBC when tennis was a high-profile sport on campus. Following graduation Stadnyk embarked upon a career in the market and soon established Stadnyk and Partners Venture Capital investing in both pharmaceutical and energy companies from which has flourished his impressive entrepreneurial career.
Wright, Lee
Graduating year:1966
Degree: BPE
The early 1960s saw the development of a Canadian National Team for men’s field hockey and it would be Thunderbirds such as Wright, Victor Warren, John Young and Peter Buckland who would not only be inaugural members but integral parts of this team through its first decade and beyond. Lee represented this country at two Olympics; 1964 in Tokyo, Canada’s first field hockey Olympics and then again in 1976 in Montreal. He finished his career having played in more than 60 international matches.
McTavish, Spence
Graduating year: 1973
Degree: BPE
International matches were a large component of Spence’s career as through the 1970s and into the 1980s he played over 50 games for Canada and over 100 games for BC. He captained Canada until 1982 and was awarded 23 caps honouring his full international test matches.