Investing in Equity, Excellence, and the Future of Sport:

Supporting Female Student-Athletes through Athletic Financial Awards

By Deborah Coward

At Western University, varsity sport is more than competition—it’s a vital part of the student experience that shapes leaders, builds community, and creates memories that last a lifetime. Each year, hundreds of student-athletes dedicate themselves to rigorous training schedules, intense competition, and demanding academic programs. For many, the opportunity to represent the purple and white at the highest level of university sport in Canada is a dream realized, but that dream often comes with significant financial pressure.

Athletic Financial Awards (AFAs) play a crucial role in making varsity athletics possible for many of Western’s student-athletes. Given the time commitments required to compete in U SPORTS, many student-athletes are unable to work during their competitive season to help with their expenses. AFAs ensure they can focus on excelling both in the classroom and in their sport without the added stress of financial insecurity.

AFAs are also a key pillar in Western’s ability to recruit and retain top talent from across Canada and around the world. They allow Western to remain competitive with other leading institutions, offering student-athletes not only an elite academic experience, but also the financial support that helps make their decision to come to Western easier.

“As a student-athlete at Western, I feel the support from donors in all facets of my life at the university,” said Emma Campbell, assistant captain of the Mustangs Women’s Hockey Team. “By receiving this support, I am better able to focus on my academics, athletics and community. The support of female athletes is especially powerful as university athletics helps to shape us into women who will become leaders in our communities.”

In 2024, the Western Alumni Association Legacy Fund Committee awarded $100,000 in funding to support Mustangs student-athletes. This investment has a direct impact on both individual and team success—fostering excellence, resilience, and pride in Mustang athletics.

Danny Matthews is a Board member of the Alumni Association and chair of the Legacy Fund Committee who first got involved with the board in 2020. He was a member of the Mustangs men’s rowing team for five seasons, where they won four national team championships and the Henley Royal Regatta’s Temple Challenge Cup, and is currently a member of the Western rowing team alumni chapter.

“When assessing funding opportunities, the committee looks to make the greatest impact possible for current students. We want donations to unlock lasting memories during the time students are at Western, so they walk away with the same lifelong connections that the board has to the school,” Matthews said.

As Western continues to grow, so does its commitment to equity in sport. Under the guidelines of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), schools must ensure equitable

distribution of AFAs between male and female student-athletes. While this is a standard Western fully supports, achieving gender equity in AFA funding presents unique challenges.

Historically, male varsity teams have had a longer presence at the university, resulting in a broader and deeper alumni network that can contribute to fundraising. Female teams, though equally successful and vital to the Mustang legacy, have not had the same access to financial support through alumni engagement.

That’s why targeted investment in AFAs for female student-athletes is both timely and essential. Increased funding will help bridge the equity gap, allowing Western to continue to strengthen women’s varsity programs and ensure all student-athletes, regardless of gender, can access the transformative student experience that Western is known for.

“We recognized that women's athletic scholarships need to be prioritized to help address long-standing disparities in support and funding.” Matthews said. “Investing in female athletes not only strengthens women's sports programs but also fosters a more inclusive and equitable experience for all student-athletes at Western.”

Athletic financial awards are not just about medals or scoreboards. They’re about creating an environment where every student-athlete has the opportunity to thrive, to be supported, and to pursue their full potential both academically and athletically.

Matthews believes that awards can have a large impact, both for donors as well as the recipients. “During my time on the team, my sister Elizabeth also overlapped with me for two seasons on the women’s team. When she passed away in 2020 following a tragic hiking accident, [we] set up a financial endowment to honour her memory on the team: the Elizabeth Matthews Rowing Memorial Award, an annual financial award for service and character best exemplifying the team’s culture.”

The investment in AFAs for female student-athletes today will shape the champions of tomorrow and ensure that every athlete, no matter their gender, is fueled by opportunity.