A former University of Lethbridge basketball player is being honoured by way of a new endowment scholarship.
The scholarship is in the name of Jared Heidinger, who suited up for the Pronghorns from 1994 to 1999, and will support future men’s basketball team members who exemplify leadership, dedication and resilience.
Heidinger’s former teammates joined forces to create the scholarship, along with matching contributions from the U of L Board of Governors $10 million scholarship matching initiative.
While hitting the court for the Lethbridge squad, Heidinger was named to the Canada West All Rookie Team in 1994-95.
In both the 1997-98 and 1998-99 seasons, he earned Canada West Second Team All-Star honours. Heidinger finished his Pronghorns career with 962 points and 401 rebounds.
However, Pronghorn Athletics says Heidinger’s perseverance and positive attitude in the face of life challenges is what truly defined his legacy.
The alum is currently battling Multiple Sclerosis, with the U of L athletics department saying, “he continues to inspire his teammates and the Pronghorn community with his strength, faith and unshakeable resilience”.
Heidinger’s former teammate Tim Rollingson says they wanted to do something special to honour him. “It was important for us to name it after him, because we wanted him to know how much we love him,” Rollingson remarks.
“Jared has been through so much in his life, and I don’t know why he’s been asked to endure what he has. There’s no doubt that he’s been asked to swim in some pretty deep water [but] through it all, he’s always found a way to stay positive.”
Rollingson adds they wanted to create something that would carry Heidinger’s name forward for him, but also for his children, grandchildren and future athletes.
“It was important for us that he saw it now and knew how much we love him. Part of being in the Pronghorn family is recognizing how we all benefitted from the program, and we want to see it succeed,” he says.
“Scholarships like this help level the playing field, especially for a small institution like ours. They give us the chance to compete with the best in Canada West.”
Pronghorn Athletics will formally recognize the new scholarship and celebrate Heindinger’s legacy at the Saturday, January 11 game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears. In a special coincidence, the U of A team is coached by former Pronghorn and Heidinger teammate Barnaby Craddock.
“Jared’s journey is a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from positivity and perseverance,” says Neil Langevin, executive director for Pronghorn Athletics.
“This scholarship not only honours his legacy but also reinforces our commitment to supporting student-athletes who embrace those same values—overcoming challenges with optimism, dedication and the transformative power of education.”
“We are incredibly grateful for the contributions from Jared’s teammates in establishing this endowment, which ensures that future generations of athletes will have the opportunity to thrive both in the classroom and on the court,” Langevin adds.
More information on the scholarship is available at the U of L website.
READ MORE: Lasting legacy with generous endowment for Pronghorn men’s soccer
