By Kevin J. Sabo
For Ponoka News
A high school athlete has made the decision about where she will be attending post secondary school.
Camrose’s Augustana University has recruited Ponoka Grade 12 student Cassandra Klinger to their volleyball program, beginning in September 2021.
Augustana is a faculty of the University of Alberta, and is one of the oldest educational institutions in the province.
Klinger chose Augustana for a variety of reasons, citing the small, welcoming campus and the close proximity to home.
“That was a big thing for me,” said Klinger.
Another draw for the student athlete was the experience she had in her Grade 11 year, when she had the opportunity to train with the university’s volleyball team.
“I had the opportunity to practice with them in Grade 11, to go to the Augustana campus,” said Klinger.
“That was a huge thing, to see their welcoming environment.”
Head coach of the Vikings women’s volleyball team Stephen Enright says Klinger is a welcome addition to the team.
“Cassandra has the aggressive mindset and the physical attributes to take over a match,” said Enright.
“She is a welcomed addition to the team and her athleticism and work ethic will make an immediate positive impact in our gym.”
Klinger, who has been playing volleyball since Grade 7, is looking forward to playing in the fall, as she continues her studies. As a student athlete, Klinger says in her first year she will get $700 from the school.
As for her studies, Klinger has been conditionally accepted into the university’s bachelor of science in physical education program, her second-choice program.
“I’m still being assessed for my first choice,” said Klinger. Her first choice is a bachelor of science in biology.
As for future plans, she said, “I’m still weighing my options with both programs.”
Her options include branching into health care, kinesiology or becoming a physical therapist.
Klinger, and the rest of the 50 students in the class of 2021, will be graduating later this year, but due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, she is still unsure what graduation will look like.
“Ours will be outside of our school, similar to last year,” said Klinger.
“It all depends (on the pandemic).”