Chargers induct first ever Hall of Famers
September 28, 2013
The Camosun College Chargers paid tribute to four very special individuals on September 27th at the Inaugural Chargers Athletic Scholarship and Hall of Fame Dinner at the Laurel Point Inn. Over the course of the evening, guests raised more than $20,000 through live and silent auctions in support of student-athlete scholarships.
"We are so pleased at the turn-out for the event and at the generosity of our guests and donors," comments Graham Matthews, Camosun's Coordinator of Athletics and Recreation. "We could not be more proud of the Chargers' accomplishments over the past 20 years and of the achievements of the people connected to the program."
Inductees to the Chargers Hall of Fame included former Camosun President Dr. Liz Ashton, former Chargers Men's Volleyball Head Coach Linda Henderson and alumni members, Greg Wallis (Chargers Men's Basketball) and Martin Reader (Chargers Men's Volleyball).
Two-time Olympian Dr. Liz Ashton was inducted in the category of "Builder" for her contributions to the Chargers program including: developing and sponsoring the Camosun Chargers President's Cup; supporting the development of tuition waivers to assist in Chargers' recruiting efforts; providing leadership in the development of the Centre for Sport and Exercise Education and for spearheading the funding and building of the Chargers' home facility, the Pacific Institute of Sport Excellence (PISE).
Former Chargers Men's Volleyball Head Coach Linda Henderson was inducted to the Hall of Fame for her achievements in coaching which included 12 consecutive BC Championship appearances and leading the program to five trips to the CCAA Nationals. Since leaving Victoria in 2008 to take over as the Director of Athletics and Recreation at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Henderson's Athletics program has amassed a record-breaking number of National and Conference Championship titles and sits on various boards including Volleyball Canada's High Performance Committee.
Chargers Alumni Greg Wallis and Martin Reader were also inducted at the inaugural event as former athletes of the Chargers program. Now successful entrepreneurs, both Wallis and Reader led their teams to medal winning finishes in the BCCAA playoffs and appearances at the CCAA National Championships. Wallis and Reader each went on to play in the CIS. Wallis played three years for Simon Fraser University (SFU) before returning to Victoria to open his business, Passion Sports, while Reader went on to the University of British Columbia (UBC) for one season prior to playing professional Beach Volleyball and later, representing Canada in the 2012 London Olympics.
The Chargers continue their 20th Anniversary celebrations on Saturday, September 28, with Alumni games and a VIP reception at the Pacific Institute for Sport Excellence.
1:30pm Men's Volleyball All-Alum Match
4:00pm Women's Basketball Alum vs Chargers
6:00pm Men's Basketball Alum vs Chargers
7-10pm 20th Anniversary Celebration
Alumni games are free to the public. The 20th Anniversary reception is by invitation.
For more information, please contact:
Graham Matthews, Coordinator Athletics & Recreation
Camosun College
Tel: 250-370-4736
Email: Matthews@camosun.bc.ca
