(@ Capilano Ce College

Informer

Se reece ee ce mR rr GT TA EI TR TEN EE TR RETF TBRS TG

Kelly Olynyk poses for the camera before a basketball game in Blansko, Czech Republic. It was a great experience for the North American team, which fell to their Czech opponents who also play on the European Pro League.

Basketball Star Shines on Mission to Europe

Wr most people were wondering how to spend their summer vacation, Capilano College’s 1993-94 female athlete of the year was well on her way to a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Last year, while attending Mission Fest ’93 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, a brochure with athletes on the front caught Kelly Olynyk’s eye. Mission Fest offers opportunities for people to visit other parts of the world as missionaries and provide essential services, such as medical aid. This particular program made its connections through a variety of sports’ programs, with participants playing teams in Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and the Ukraine. It offered everything that Kelly holds close to her heart.

“T am Ukrainian and I wanted to go to that part of the world and see where my

6

family came from,” said the former point guard for the Capilano Blues. “Plus, I also wanted to play basketball and discuss Christianity.”

Forty sponsors helped the general arts student raise the $5,500 needed to make the trip. “Because I was attending Cap on a sports scholarship, I thought they might be able to help me out. The College provided some financial support and I raised the rest of the money from relatives and people I know.”

The two-month trip also offered Kelly the opportunity to meet lots of other young people. “There were 150 North Americans, aged 18 to 26, travelling in our group,” she said. “I made friendships with them, and with people from other countries, that I hope will last a lifetime.”

Her favorite country and the location of her most memorable experience of the

trip was the Ukraine. “The people there were so giving and so loving,” she said, adding, “We took a million dollars worth of medical supplies with us and we gave everything to one hospital there. All the doctors and nurses were crying. It was really touching.”

Because Kelly’s family lives in Kamloops, Capilano College’s men’s basketball coach, Phil Langely, along with his wife, Judy, became her second parents. “Living with them was wonderful,” said the basketball star. “And I loved going to Cap.”

Kelly is attending the University of Victoria this year to study speech pathology. When asked her opinion on Vancouver’s newest national basketball team, the Grizzlies, she said: “It’s awesome. I hope that I will be able to take in some of their games.” O