Tell us your Olympics stories
As the countdown to the Olympics continues Overview is keen to hear your stories of how you are contributing to the 2012 Games. June’s edition of the staff newsletter will feature stories and pictures of sport, well-being and contributions to the Olympics.
Contact Somer Finlay to let her know how you are contributing at s.finlay@sheffield.ac.uk or overview@sheffield.ac.uk
Free Aikido taster sessions
This Saturday (12 May) staff and students can take free taster sessions in Aikido thanks to the re-opening of the Sheffield Steel City Aikido club which is celebrating the end of its refurbishment work from 2–5pm.
The club, which hosts the University of Sheffield Aikido Club, was founded in 1991 by then Sheffield University student Scott Allbright who went on to win the Aikido World Championships in 1995 in the USA.
Free 20-minute taster sessions will run from 2pm as available, alternating with
demonstrations from senior instructor Scott and other members of the club,
with the official reopening ceremony at 4pm at its location at Unit 15 of the Devonshire Business Park, 68 Eldon Street, S1 4GT, Sheffield.
This year’s Universities Week showcased how the University is engaging with the Olympics and Paralympics
World Champion heptathlete and University graduate, Jessica Ennis MBE, is one of Team GB’s most hotly tipped Olympic contenders for the London 2012 games. The 25-year-old gained a Psychology degree in 2007 before receiving an honorary degree from the University in 2010.
Fellow Sheffield graduate Nichola Osborne, 27, is also hoping to earn a place on the podium with the Women’s Volleyball Team. Nichola graduated from the University’s School of Medicine in 2011 as a fully qualified doctor. She received a scholarship from the University’s Elite Sport Performance Scheme (ESPS) to help her achieve sporting and academic excellence as she combined her final year of study with full time training.
“Thank you to everyone in Sheffield who contributed to my scholarship of 2010–2011,” said Nichola. “It was a tough, but successful year and the support I received from Sheffield both financially and in services was a significant help. Mentally, it has been a great help to know that the University as a whole has supported my wishes to combine final year medicine with an intense sporting commitment. It has been invaluable to know that further help was always available.”
Other Olympic hopefuls and graduates of the University of Sheffield include: Zara Dampney, Team GB member of the Olympics beach volleyball team, Table tennis champion David Wetherill and world-class trampolinist Bryony Page.
Alison Muir, Alumni Relations Manager, said: “The University is very proud of all alumni representing their country at the Olympics later this year. The London Olympic Games are going to be a fantastic event for the whole country and we are so pleased that members of the University community around the world are taking part. It really does highlight the diverse ways in which our University is engaging with both the Olympic and Paralympic Games."