Submitted. Volleyball BC is proud to announce that Alex Russell and Rosie Schlagintweit are the recipients of the 2013 Ray Lepp scholarship award. On November 2nd, Tom Jones, President of Volleyball BC was on hand as the University of British Columbia took on Manitoba in Canada West conference play to present the award to these two outstanding student-athletes.
Ray Lepp was a founding member of BC Volleyball from 1956 and was a Board Member for 22 years. During his tenure he was involved with recruiting international coaches to BC, the Winfield Volleyball Camp and the Pacific Rim Championships. Ray passed away recently and donated funds through his will to provide a permanent endowment that would support this scholarship program. This $2,000 scholarship was designed to encourage and recognize volleyball and personal excellence in BC.
“These athletes have demonstrated significant potential for international success,” said Volleyball BC President Tom Jones. “They are both great role models and have excelled at all levels here in BC.” Rosie Schlagintweit was very excited to be named the 2013 recipient. ”It is such an honour to win this and I would like to thank the Lepp family and Volleyball BC for the support.”
Alex Russell
Alex is a middle blocker in his third season with the UBC Thunderbirds men’s team. A graduate of Surrey’s Kwantlen Park Secondary, Russell has been a member of Canada’s national junior men’s team for the last two years. This past summer, Russell helped Canada to a 12th-place finish at the FIVB Men’s Under-21 World Championships in Turkey. In 2012, he was on the squad that won silver at the U-21 Men’s Continental Championship in Colorado Springs, Colo. With UBC last season, Russell finished fourth in the Canada West conference in blocks per set (1.36). He has also twice earned Academic All-Canadian status as an engineering student.
Rosie Schlagintweit
Rosie is going in her fourth season with the UBC Thunderbirds women’s team, having already won three CIS national championships. Last season, Abbotsford native finished third on the UBC team in kills, behind Canadian national team members Shanice Marcelle and Lisa Barclay. She was a member of Team B.C. From 2007 to 2010, winning the national championships once. The Yale Secondary graduate is a two-time Academic All-Canadian, an honour given to student-athletes who average at least 80 percent in their courses.
About Volleyball BC
Established in 1965, Volleyball BC is the official governing body and provides the organizational structure for the sport of Volleyball in the province of British Columbia. Volleyball BC is involved in every facet of the sport by offering programs at all levels for both indoor and beach volleyball. The organization strives to provide all BC residents with fair and equal access to participation and personal growth through recreational, competitive, elite, instructional, administrative, coaching and officiating programs.
Volleyball BC president Tom Jones (l), Abbotsford’s Rosie Schlagintweit (centre) , Surrey’s Alex Russell