Thanks from a past Athletic Award winner

 To: President Mike Dybka, Rotary Club of Burlington Lakeshore

 Hi Mike,

I just wanted to take the time to follow up with the athletic scholarship I received back in 2008. I really appreciated the scholarship and I just wanted you to know it did not go to waste! Not only did it help finance my education, but it also helped me with my rugby endeavors. This email is very much over due but I was reminded to send this email when I noticed this year's recipients in the Burlington Post. I know they were equally grateful because this athletic scholarship that the rotary club awards every year can go a long way, especially for students trying to fund their athletic dreams while paying for school!

I received the athletic scholarship when I graduated high school for my success in rugby. Since then I have still been actively involved and continue to love the sport.

After receiving the award, I went on to play at Queen's University. In my second and third year I received OUA all star recognition. Last year I also captained the team to CIS where we placed 5th in Canada. At CIS I was the 'player of game' vs. Trent an was awarded tournament all-star. I will be captaining the team again this upcoming year and hope to pick up right where we left off. This past season was the most successful season the Queen's women's rugby team has ever had.

Over the August long weekend I will be playing for the CIS all canadian team in Saranac lake. This team consisting of cis all stars was selected to play a US collegiate team.

On the Rugby Canada front, I was invited to attend an identification/training camp in Las Vegas this past February for the National Senior Women's 7's team. The development for this national 7's team has become a priority for Rugby Canada as this sport is now in the summer olympics. I had quite an unforgettable experience playing along side such talented elite athletes. This was definitely a challenging event but I look forward to see where it takes me.

I've also tried to give back to the rugby community a bit by doing some high school coaching. Some teammates and I coached a girls rugby team at a local high school in Kingston. The girls did great and certainly made it a rewarding experience for me.

That is my rugby life in a nut shell but the real purpose of this email was to thank you for believing in me as an athlete and a rugby player. Thank for the generous athletic scholarship back in 2008.

Take care,

Susan Heald