MOOSE JAW — Years of hard work and dedication has led to an athletic scholarship at the University of Saskatchewan (UofS) for Vanier Collegiate’s Zayden Anderson.
“It’s sort of what I’ve been training for since I started track and field. To be part of the Huskies for track is a pretty big accomplishment for me,” Anderson said.
The scholarship is over four years.
“I’m really happy. Like I’m really pumped for it. It’s something I always dreamt of,” he said.
“I sort of expected (to receive a scholarship) but I was sort of nervous. There was other university offers coming in but the U of S reaching out to me kind of appealed to me the most. Because it was the program I want to take there,” he said.
Anderson wants to take Agra business through the college of agriculture because his long-term goal is to take over the operation of the family farm.
Proximity to home, only university with an agribusiness degree, the coaches, the community and facilities were key factors in choosing the U of S.
The U of S was one of 12 educational institutes that approached Anderson with a scholarship opportunity in track and field.
He will be the first person in his family to ever attend university which is a great source of pride for the family.
“My parents (Derek and Trisha) are pumped. It’s awesome to have a scholarship. And the first one of my family ever to go to university so it’s a pretty big thing for the family.”
“it was a lot of work,” he said, adding “It was a lot of training going to Regina three times a week to train with The track and field club. It’s going to gym constantly. Yes, it was a lot,” He said about the work he had to put into getting the scholarship. Work that begin three years ago in grade nine.
Anderson said well he was training for track and field. He found that hurdles was his passion.
Although his ultimate goal is to go come back home and run the family farm at the same time, Anderson would like the opportunity to hopefully make the Olympics.
“ my goal in my dream is to make it to Olympics one day. Yes, definitely.”
Anderson said he would like to thank his many teachers and coaches who helped him along the way because without them he would never have made it.
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