Alumni and student connections

The majority of mens soccer alumni live and work in Calgary.

Derek Ballendine, BComm'87, MBA'91, and men's soccer alumni association president is connecting alumni to students and fostering a culture of mentorship. 

By Erin Mason

Derek Ballendine, BComm’87, MBA’91, has a busy schedule as a wealth management advisor at Scotia McLeod’s Calgary office and after hours, he stays connected to campus as the Dinos men’s soccer alumni association president.

“Playing sports and going to school creates a different university experience,” says Ballendine, who started the committee in December 2010. “It requires greater dedication to athletics and school when you go to class, practice and have games on the weekend. We started the association to help the men’s soccer program and its students.”

The committee’s priority is also connecting alumni with current students. “As a student it is important to have a sounding board when you are making critical life time career choices. Our Alumni has a wealth of industry experience and want to be a resource in order for students to make better informed career decisions.”

“Our vision is to build relationships,” says Ballendine. Building a directory of alumni and planning events are a few tasks on the horizon. Fundraising is also a priority to help keep the program is good standing, and the very first fundraising event is a golf tournament scheduled for thursday, August 25th. You can register by contacting Ian Munn at 403-220-4329 or email at munn [at] ucalgary [dot] ca">munn [at] ucalgary [dot] ca.