Sportscaster's daughter continues legacy

Kerry Bjarnsason and Nakoa Thomas

Sportscaster Glenn Bjarnason's commitment to sport went all the way back to the first CBC TV broadcast in Edmonton when he and Ernie Afaganis signed on.

As Bjarnason made the circuit on his sport beat, his young daughter Kerry tagged along. As a result, Kerry, now an Edmonton lawyer, has an unlikely love of boxing and a commitment to continue her father's sport legacy with some of the money she inherited after his death.

"It took five years of looking to find the right gift," says Bjarnason. But the Bjarnason Vendel Family Scholarship, a $10,000 endowment for children in need to attend U of A summer sports camps, hit just the right chord.

Kerry's son, Tom Vendel, has attended U of A basketball camp and Kerry appreciated the staff professionalism. "I could see these kids starting to stand up a little straighter," she says. Fifteen years as a volunteer with Big Sisters convinced her the need was there. And as a frequent spectator at Pandas games, the U of A alumna was convinced the U of A sports camps are a great feeder system.

Eight-year-old Nakoa Thomas one of four recipients to receive the scholarship this year attended soccer camp. "It's my favorite sport," says Thomas. "I think I might be a goalie." One child attending football camp and two others attending basketball camp also received scholarships. A bonus for Kerry, was that two of the first recipients were referred by the Big Sisters program.

"I was an active kid in sports and still water ski, run and golf," says Kerry. "To me that's an active lifestyle. I got that from a lot of positive hits as a kid. It's helped make me a success."

Over 2,700 children from six to 19 years of age attend Camp U of A each year participating in a wide variety of sports.