The UWinnipeg community would like to congratulate Wesmen Women’s Basketball head coach Tanya McKay on her recent YMCA-YWCA Women of Distinction Nomination. McKay was nominated by women’s basketball team member Kerri Kuzbyt in the Education, Training & Mentorship category.
The award recognizes an outstanding woman who is an educator or mentor in many avenues of life and inspires a passion for person growth, development and life-long learning through the education system, employee training and development, community education or alternative programs. She may be developing innovative programs and/or building a strong rapport with learners, parents, colleagues or the community at large to foster learning in a broader sense.
McKay recently completed her 18th season as head coach of The University of Winnipeg Women’s Basketball program. She has used her position as a basketball coach to mentor and influence the lives of women around her. In her university coaching career she has recruited and coached over 100 women and has an astounding 98% graduation rate. She uses her position not only to train great basketball players, but also to create role models and women of outstanding achievement.
From 2001-2010 McKay volunteered her time to run Take Me On (TMO), a basketball program that was created to coach young players and develop female coaches. For the past seven years, she has volunteered at Brooklands Elementary School with their TMO basketball club each week.
McKay has had an influence on the lives of many of her players both past and present. A recent player responded “she has been a second mom to me, caring for me but also pushing me to become not only a better player, but more importantly a better student and role model in the community”.
When not involved in basketball, McKay also contributes to the community by volunteering in an exercise class at the Poseidon Nursing Home. All her work makes McKay an exemplary role model both on and off the basketball court.
The 2014 Women of Distinction Awards Gala will take place on Wednesday, May 7th at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Click here for ticket information.
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Sheldon Appelle
Sports Information Coordinator
University of Winnipeg
(204) 786-9823
s.appelle@uwinnipeg.ca
www.wesmen.ca
