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OC Alumni Association kick-off new season with a $25,000 gift to new Recreation and Wellness Centre, encourage all alumni to pledge support

KELOWNA - For ultra-athlete Nick Pelletier, whose adventures have included everything from jumping through the sky to swimming for almost three days straight, if there’s one thing that’s shaped his life – it’s the power of sport.

Pelletier, who studied Business and Marketing at Okanagan College from 2016-2019, will be sharing his personal story about the impact of sports for him at the upcoming OC Alumni Association AGM on Sept. 17.

“I learned a lot through the resilience and perseverance in sports that is applicable in my everyday life,” says Pelletier. “Sports put you in a situation that forces you to adapt and learn things on the fly. You may find yourself in a position to be challenged but by putting yourself in these tough spots you learn how to push yourself. You learn to overcome things.”

Are you an OC alum? Attend the OC Alumni Association AGM on Sept. 17 in person or virtually – 

Pelletier’s insights are especially relevant to the OC Alumni Association – who are announcing this week a $25,000 contribution to fundraising efforts at the College in support of a new Recreation and Wellness Centre at the Kelowna campus.

“As former students, alumni know this space will be a gamechanger for Okanagan College and the community,” says Kara Kazimer (BBA, 1999) president of the OCAA Board of Directors. 

“We want to help create a space on campus for future students to be physically healthy and socially connected: two factors that contribute to success in your program and in your career. As Nick’s experience illustrates – having the opportunities to participate in sports impacts so many other aspects of your life.”

Kazimer says the OCAA’s gift toward the Okanagan College Foundation’s Thrive Here campaign is designed to inspire alumni across the region to “pay it forward” with their own monthly gift in support of the Centre.

Currently, there is no gymnasium at OC’s Kelowna campus, which is unusual for a college of its size. It means finding space for student intramurals, pick-up games, tournaments is a challenge, while the OC Coyotes basketball and baseball teams currently have to train off-site.

Beyond the obvious physical and mental wellness benefits for youth and students, Pelletier says the drive and “never stop” attitude that can be learned from sports helps create continued personal growth and builds confidence to learn new things and take on new challenges.

In 2023, Pelletier successfully completed the inspirational and physically challenging 106-kilometre swim of Okanagan Lake from Vernon to Penticton within 71 hours. It was his third attempt at the crossing, and he overcame pain and other challenges to achieve his goal.

Pelletier has also completed a range of bold and grueling adventures from cycling up Knox Mountain 36 times in a row, to competing his 100th sky dive out of a hot air balloon, and running over 100 miles at a time.

While Pelletier has achieved athletic accomplishments that are well beyond what most can even imagine, he believes that there are lessons in sport for everyone.

“If you achieve something, it's awesome to celebrate,” says Pelletier, “but take that and make it your new baseline and then stack upon it to grow. For me, I’ve always taken the mantra of ‘don't be afraid of that beginner's mindset.’ That's how I got into skydiving, into running, cycling, swimming, all these different sports.”

To register for the OCAA’s AGM, click 

The Okanagan College Foundation has raised $10 million towards its $14 million campaign goal to build a Recreation and Wellness Centre. To learn more, and to have your gift matched by Cliff and Lois Serwa, click here.