Osprey Community Foundation

Amanda’s Legacy

March 10, 2022 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.