DR. AMANDA ASAY MEMORIAL AWARD
Amanda Asay died tragically on January 7, 2022 as a result of a ski accident
near Nelson. A recent newcomer to Nelson, she embraced the Nelson community and
the Nelson community embraced her.
Amanda played with the Canadian Women’s National Baseball Team for 15 years,
and her most proud moment was winning a silver medal at the Pan Am Games in
2015. She shared these incredible baseball skills with many aspiring Nelson
youth baseball players and is remembered as a gifted and patient coach with one
of the most brilliant baseball minds to ever set foot on a Nelson ball diamond.
She was also valuable and beloved hockey team mate to many Nelson female and
male hockey players. As a former NCAA and UBC Thunderbird hockey player her
skills were often well above those she played against, but her inclusive and
enthusiastic personality made everyone on the ice feel like they were the MVP
of the game.
Amanda was born and raised in Prince George, B.C. She attended Brown
University where she obtained a B.Sc. in Human Biology. She went on to graduate
school at UBC and she obtained a Master of Science and then a Ph.D. in
Forestry. She worked with Dr. Suzanne Simard (her Supervisor and Advisor) on
the “Mother Tree”, “Intelligent Trees”, and other projects. Amanda’s research
was focused on kin selection in trees and their communication in underground
mycorrhizal fungal networks. She was working in Nelson for the Ministry of Forests
as a Silvicultural Systems Researcher.
The Dr. Amanda Asay Memorial Award was established to create a lasting
legacy in her name. The fund will be held within the Prince George Community
Foundation. Donations will be endowed in perpetuity and the income generated by
the fund will be awarded annually to a student from School District 8 in
Nelson, BC and School District 57 in Prince George, BC that is pursuing post
secondary education. Preference will be given to female students, who
participate in hockey, ringette, baseball or softball.
Amanda’s amazing legacy will live on in the memories of all who knew and
loved her and her Memorial Award will continue to support young athletes, just
as she had supported them in life. Rest in peace Amanda Bear.
Donations to the Dr. Amanda Asay Memorial Award can be made here.
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