U of C student and field hockey player Teryn Buna has been selected by the Canadian Olympic Committee as one of two youth delegates to represent Canada at the Athens 2004 Olympic Youth Camp in August.
Buna is a first-year Kinesiology student who currently represents University of Calgary in field hockey, sits on the Student Athlete’s Advisory Committee and is a member of the U19 Alberta provincial indoor field hockey team.
Buna will travel to Athens along with Ryan Flannigan of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Chair of the British Columbia Selection Committee Susan Keenan explained GPA, athletic ability, community work and participation in previous Olympic youth were considered when selecting two delegates out of the 500 applications.
“What made Teryn’s application stand out was what she had done in the community,” said Keenan.
Awarded an entrance scholarship from U of C for outstanding leadership, Buna, at 18, has already travelled to Prague as one of two youth delegates selected to attend the Vancouver 2010 bid presentation.
When Vancouver was announced as the 2010 Olympic venue, Buna was present in the room along with former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and other prominent international figures.
The Olympic Youth Camp will host 400 student delegates from around the world.
“It’s a real competition to be chosen, and as a result some outstanding young men and women attend the youth camp,” said U of C Chancellor Bill Warren who served as President of the COC for seven years.
According to Warren, delegates have seminar discussions, go to the games and attend a COC reception where they meet the Canadian athletes.
“One of the purposes of the camp is to enhance student awareness of what the Olympic movement is all about,” said Keenan. “There is a huge humanistic component. It’s also about peace and bringing countries together, getting them to put differences aside”
Counting down the days until her departure, Buna sees the opportunity in Athens as another step towards her career goals.
“Once I’ve done my undergrad, I’d like to work with the Vancouver 2010 organizing committee and then hopefully go back to school to become a physiotherapist.” said Buna. “My dream is to become a part of the COC.”
Buna is now the second U of C student to attend an Olympic Youth Camp. Travis Saunders, Chancellor’s Club Scholarship recipient, attended the Sydney 2000 camp.