UNews - Sean Steacy

Debby Steacy honoured with 2015 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award

trevor.kenney — Thu, 28 May 2015 22:24:28 +0000

A passion for supporting athletics that began with her own children and grew into tireless support for the entire Pronghorn Athletics program, set Debby Steacy’s volunteer efforts apart. On Thursday, May 28, 2015, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge recognized the late Debby Steacy for her longstanding commitment to promoting Pronghorn athletes by awarding her the 2015 ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award.

Pictured here with husband Graham, Debby Steacy, centre, enjoys the Olympic experience.

It was the involvement of her three children — Jim, Sean and Heather — in ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge athletics that initially led Debby to join the Pronghorn Booster Club, which raises funds for ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ athletics through a variety of programs and initiatives. But her passion for the success of all of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s athletes led her to actively volunteer for more than a decade. During that time, she was vital in helping generate more than $500,000 for Pronghorn Athletics.

One initiative that was particularly close to Debby’s heart was Operation Red Nose, a safe-driving campaign that provides drivers with rides home during the holiday season on a donation basis. She worked tirelessly to expand and strengthen this important fundraiser by overseeing hundreds of volunteers, conducting administrative tasks and, together with her family, coordinating each evening of the operation. The considerable work and time she invested in the program led to more efficient operations, more volunteer participation and greater financial support for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s athletic teams.

Graham Steacy, left, with Horns track coach Larry Steinke, Jim Steacy and Debby Steacy.

For 10 years, Debby also helped facilitate the organization’s annual dinner and auction event by assisting with tasks such as overseeing the participant application process and recruiting volunteers. As well, she was heavily involved with a number of track and field team initiatives. Her organizing skills, attention to detail and cooperative working style were critical assets to the club’s overall operations.

Beyond her involvement with ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Athletics, Debby spent countless hours in her community volunteering for various causes and organizations. She was a director-at-large of the Athletics Alberta board of directors, secretary of the Southern Alberta Track and Field Council, and an Athletics Alberta track and field official. She was extensively involved in local school councils, participated in two Lethbridge School District No. 51 committees and was a classroom volunteer for more than 15 years. Debby was on the board of directors for the Southern Alberta Professional Development Consortium, and was a member of the planning committee for Weaving Words: Extending Literature Through the Fine Arts Conference. She was also a Royal Conservatory of Music piano and theory teacher and served as an accompanist for school choirs.

A successful Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) varsity athlete herself, Debby was proud to support the athletic careers of her children, all of who were highly decorated Pronghorn track and field athletes who excelled at the throwing events. Sean was a champion at the CIS level, and Jim and Heather each reached the pinnacle of sport by representing Canada at the Olympic Games in hammer throw – Jim at Beijing (2008) and London (2012), and Heather in London (2012).

Although Debby passed away suddenly last year at the age of 58, her vigorous championing, volunteerism and community spirit have left an enduring impact on Pronghorn Athletics.

Pronghorns honour Debby Steacy by renaming scholarship

trevor.kenney — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:21:20 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Pronghorn Athletics is honoured to announce that the department is renaming its Academic All-Canadian Scholarship to pay tribute to the late Debby Steacy.

Steacy, a longtime supporter of Horns Athletics, passed away suddenly in April 2014 at the age of 58.

Each year, more than 20 per cent of Pronghorn athletes earn CIS Academic All-Canadian (AAC) honours. The Pronghorn Booster Club, with funds generated from Operation Red Nose activity, partner with the athletics department to help fund the AAC Award.

A long-time booster club member and volunteer coordinator for Operation Red Nose, Steacy was a huge advocate for using the funds raised through the booster club to recognize not only athletic achievement but academic excellence. Sandy Slavin, Pronghorn athletic director, and Travis Grindle, president of the Pronghorn Booster Club, agreed that it was only fitting that the Pronghorn Academic All-Canadian scholarship should bear her name, to honour and recognize her commitment and dedication to Pronghorn Athletics.

Operation Red Nose was a program that Steacy held close to her heart. She worked tirelessly for Operation Red Nose, organizing more than 600 volunteers for the annual 12-night campaign, and ensuring that the program ran as smoothly as possible.

Having been a successful CIAU varsity athlete herself, Steacy understood the value of being a student-athlete. She supported all three of her children’s university and athletic careers. Each of Jim, Sean and Heather Steacy were highly decorated Pronghorn Athletes. Jim and Heather each reached the pinnacle of the track and field world representing Canada at the Olympic Games in the hammer throw. Jim, a two-time Olympian, competed in Beijing (2008) and London (2012), while Heather joined Jim in London. Ji is currently representing Canada at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

Beginning in fall 2014, athletes achieving Academic All-Canadian status will receive a Deb Steacy AAC Scholarship on behalf of Pronghorn Athletics.

Olympic prize in sight

trevor.kenney — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:07:06 +0000

As one of the most decorated female rugby athletes in the brief history of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS), Ashley Steacy (neé Patzer, she recently married fellow Pronghorn athlete and CIS champion, track athlete Sean Steacy) is just starting to make her mark on the world women's rugby scene.

The two-time CIS Player of the year and three-time CIS Champion has become a permanent fixture with both the Senior National full squad and Sevens teams with one goal in mind: representing Canada at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"Thinking about the possibility of going to the Olympics is pretty surreal," says Steacy. "It's a very recent goal of mine and is still pretty far in the future, but I'm trying not to think too much about the end goal, and instead focus on the smaller steps leading up to it."

A relatively unknown local Lethbridge product, Steacy burst onto the university scene in the fall of 2005, being named both the Canada West and CIS rookie of the year, and serving notice to Rugby Canada that she was an athlete worth watching. She's thankful to have been able to use CIS sport as a springboard for success.

Ashley Steacy is a fixture with the Canadian National Senior Women's Rugby program.

Despite taking time off to focus on her national team commitments and to play in New Zealand, Steacy will graduate this fall with a bachelor of arts in kinesiology.

"I love being in an environment that continually pushes me to be better and learn new things," says Steacy. "Being able to compete in my sport while receiving an education has meant the world to me. I wouldn't change or trade any part of my CIS experience.

Steacy made her national team debut on the Sevens side in February 2006 and the full squad in October 2007.

The offensive dynamo had her world coming out party at the 2009 Sevens World Cup in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Steacy finished fourth in tournament scoring with a team best 38 points. In the six-game event, she scored four tries and made nine converts, the second most in the tournament.

Last fall, despite breaking her hand only eight weeks prior, she suited up for the national senior team at the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. The team finished a disappointing fifth in the tournament but Steacy, as one of the youngest players on the team, is expected to be one of a handful of players that will make up the core group going forward.

Starting in January 2012 the national program will be centralizing for five months, with all the carded athletes moving to Victoria, B.C. During this time they will be training together five days a week and attend four tournaments, including a newly created Canadian event. Vegas Sevens and Hong Kong Sevens are two of the other tournaments on the schedule.

After five seasons in the CIS, Steacy amassed an impressive resumé that included numerous individual accolades, but her most cherished memories are the team successes she achieved with the Horns.

"The CIS has given me the opportunity to learn and grow not only as an athlete but as a person as well," says Steacy. "I've learned many life lessons over my 5 years here. Playing at a high level in my sport has definitely been the highlight of my university experience."

UPDATE: Steacy, along with current Pronghorn standout Kayla Moleschi (Canada West Rookie of the Year) played for the Canadian Sevens side that won the first ever IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup. The Canadians defeated England 26-7 to capture the title at the eight-team tournament Saturday,Dec. 3 propelling Canada to the top of the world women's sevens rankings. Two other Pronghorns, Kelsey Willoughby (2010 Canada West Player of the Year) and Brittany Orr played for the Maple Leaf side that also competed in the tournament.

Heather Steacy golden at Canada Games

trevor.kenney — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 16:06:00 +0000

What did you do on your summer vacation – probably not as much as Heather Steacy.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge track and field star added another accolade to her impressive resumé on Thursday, winning gold at the Canada Summer Games in Charlottetown, PEI.

With a furthest throw of 59.92 metres, Steacy dominated the hammer throw competition, winning by more than six metres. Quebec's Annie Larose finished second at 53.62m, while Ontario's Kristin Obrochta was third at 52.89m.

"It was a really good throw technically today for me so I'm happy for sure," Steacy, who was ranked number one heading into the competition, says. "Obviously anything can happen in a competition, but I did think I could do this."

Steacy returns to campus this fall to begin her fourth year at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ. In three seasons with the Horns, the 21 year-old Lethbridge native has claimed three Canada West titles in the weight throw to go along with two CIS titles. She has also earned a CIS bronze medal.

Steacy's golden toss is another step forward in her quest to compete for Canada internationally, including a possible trip to the Olympic Summer Games. Her brothers Jim and Sean Steacy have both competed at the international level and Jim, a multiple Canadian champion in the hammer throw, represented Canada at the Olympic Summer Games in Beijing last summer.

"It has been really good to have the experience of my brothers to rely on and it is definitely encouraging to see how well they have done," Steacy says. "It is definitely motivating, especially watching Jim compete in Beijing at just 24 years old."

UNews - Sean Steacy

Debby Steacy honoured with 2015 ��Ѹ�����Դ���߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Volunteer Award

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