Jarod Algra & Erica Kreitz – photo courtesy UNBC

Prince George, B.C. – Jarod Algra and Erica Kreitz are the first two recipients of the UNBC Northern Sport Leadership awards.

Algra, from Abbotsford, received the full-tuition scholarship. He represented BC at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George in biathlon and was part of the relay team which placed fourth.

This award recognizes and rewards athletic achievement in cross country skiing and biathlon and is presented to a student who demonstrates continued pursuit of excellence in their sport while pursuing academic studies at UNBC.

Kreitz, from Prince George, received the $1,000 award. She was an alternate for Team BC at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in cross-country skiing and participated in the Games as a guide for a Para-Nordic skier from Ontario.

She is studying biochemistry at UNBC. Her award also recognizes and rewards achievements in cross country skiing or biathlon.

The awards were created as a result of a fundraising appeal launched two years ago to generate endowed full-tuition scholarships to high performance cross-country skiers and biathlon athletes.

The fundraising drive raised over $180,000. The largest donation of $50,000, came from Enbridge Northern Gateway.