Two Richmond students have been awarded a $5,000 scholarship, and the chance to work with a world champion mentor, as they pursue their dreams on and off the curling rink.
Johnson Tao, 17, and Michael Nunn, 18, are two of six Canadian students – and the first from Richmond – to receive this year’s Sandra Schmirler Foundation scholarship for student curlers. Other recipients hail from Saskatchewan, Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Tao, who graduated from Burnett secondary, has set his sights on a career working with start-ups, and will begin his post-secondary studies at the University of Alberta in the fall. After he receives his Bachelor of Commerce degree there, Tao plans to continue on to get his MBA.
But Tao will still be hitting the curling ice during his studies, as a member of the university’s Golden Bears Junior Curling Team.
Tao said that receiving the scholarship was a “surprise,” as many past scholars – student curlers who have received the scholarship – went on to become professional curlers that he “now (looks) up to on TV.”
“It was an honour to be selected as a scholar and recognized alongside five other talented student-curlers from across Canada, including my good friend and former teammate Michael,” said Tao, adding that he’s excited to be a part of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation and help build on Sandra’s “incredible legacy.”
Meanwhile, Nunn – who graduated from McMath secondary – is currently enrolled at the University of British Columbia, where he will begin his studies in the Faculty of Arts in the fall.
After that, Nunn plans to transfer to UBC’s Nursing Program, with the goal of becoming a surgical nurse.
“I feel honoured and very excited to represent a foundation that exemplifies the very essence of what the sport of curling is based on – love, community and respect,” said Nunn.
“As I’ve grown in the sport of curling, I’ve always admired other athletes that give back to their community while having success in the sport.”
He said that being able to stand alongside past and present scholars alongside his good friend Tao was “something (he) could only dream of.”
Nunn is an active volunteer, providing community meals each week with his grandmother, and previously organized a high school curling league that recruited a number of new curlers to the Richmond Curling Club.
He was also a U21 BC Junior Silver Medalist and a 2018 BC Winter Games Silver Medalist.
The two began curling, by coincidence, at the same time, said Tao, and have been curling at the Richmond Curling Club for the past eight years, since Grade 5.
They were teammates during the past 2019-2020 season at the centre, and, along with two other teammates from Vancouver and Port Moody, won silver at the 2020 BC Junior Championship, said Tao.
The team then went on to represent B.C. as the host team at the 2020 Canadian Junior Championship in Langley.
While Tao is moving on to the Saville Community Sports Centre in Edmonton with his university team, Nunn will continue curling at the Richmond club for the 2020-2021 season, albeit with a different team.
In addition to the $5,000 scholarship, each of the student-curlers will also receive mentoring from Cathy Overton-Clapham, a world champion and five-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts Champion. She is also a board member of the foundation.
The scholars will also organize individual fundraising events to benefit the foundation.
Tao told the Richmond News that the events need to be organized by May 31, 2021 – although that timeline may change due to COVID-19.
“For myself, I am planning a walkathon, and for Michael, he is planning a funspiel (tournament) at the Richmond Curling Club, and we will adjust accordingly to COVID-19 restrictions,” he said.
At the end of the 2020-2021 curling season, the six scholars will jointly award a $10,000 grant to a hospital of their choice, for the purchase of life-saving equipment to help save premature or critically-ill newborns.
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was founded in May 2001 in memory of Canadian curler champion Sandra Schmirler, who passed away in March 2000 of cancer, at the age of 36. The foundation’s mission is to raise funds for hospital newborn intensive care units.
Since 2013, the foundation has provided scholarships to 29 Canadian student curlers.
