Saltos’ gymnastics head coach Alana Jensen is the only person from the Northern Interior to be named a hometown hero by a community foundation this year.
“It was a real honour,” said Jensen, who attended the award ceremony two weeks ago in Prince George.
Jensen, along with three other B.C. athletes, was awarded a $2,000 bursary from the Pacific Western Brewery Community Foundation for her efforts to better the community.
And she already has big plans to use the bursary to further her coaching career.
“There’s a level four coaching program that you have to get accepted into and you can only apply for it every two years, so I’m going to apply for it next year, or else I’ll use to go to U.S. National Congress next year,” said Jensen.
She has been coaching for the past 15 years at Saltos, which is where she originally got her start.
“I started off as a gymnast in the club and I started coaching as a teenager. I really love coaching,” she said.
Since then, she has expanded the gym to nearly triple its size, and has implemented educational and mentorship programs in Smithers and other nearby communities.
“We’ve been trying to do an outreach program. I went to Houston this year and did gymnastics there,” she said.
“We also did school programs and Kids Can Move, which is bringing gymnastics to the schools instead of having people come to the gym.”
Becky Stavast, who nominated Jensen for the award, said she is the perfect role model for her kids and the community.
“She’s very supportive of all the kids at the gymnastics club,” said Stavast. “Alana is wonderful, she’s great with the kids, she goes above and beyond in every aspect.”
Brian Kieran, spokesperson for the foundation echoed Stavast.
“[Jensen] is a good role model for other athletes who become coaches, she’s a good role model for her community because she’s dedicated to her craft and she’s taking it beyond to other communities,” he said.
Jensen is moving on to Flip City in Langley next month and will be working under renowned gymnastics coach Cathy Chapell.