$200K Donation a ‘Slam Dunk’ To Support Student-Athletes

BU Athletics Director Russ Paddock and BU President David Docherty with members of the BU Bobcats, Faith Clearsky and Silas Owusu-Acheaw
Brandon University Athletics Director Russ Paddock (left) and BU President David Docherty (right) officially announce the $200,000 donation with members of the BU Bobcats, Faith Clearsky and Silas Owusu-Acheaw.

Jill and Warren Watt share fond memories of their time at Brandon University, each playing for their respective Bobcat basketball squads in the late 1980s.

Jill was named an Academic All-Canadian in the 1989–90 season and received the Student Council Athletics H.S. Perdue Memorial Trophy, recognizing her leadership on and off the court. Warren was also an accomplished athlete, contributing to successful seasons with the men’s basketball team from 1985 to 1987 — including a national championship.

Recognizing the impact that scholarships and bursaries had on their own experiences, Jill and Warren have made a generous gift of $200,000 to establish the Watt Leadership & Basketball Scholarship-Bursaries to provide similar opportunities for future generations of BU Bobcats. Their vision is to support deserving student-athletes within the men’s and women’s Bobcats basketball programs, encouraging community engagement, leadership, and academic success through sport.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Watts for their dedication to building the growth and success of our basketball program.”

“Being a Bobcat is about more than winning or losing, our student- athletes are committed to their teammates, to our campus, and to our community. Alumni like Jill and Warren Watt show how that is a lasting commitment,” said BU Athletics Director Russ Paddock, a former university student-athlete himself. “We are incredibly grateful to the Watts for their dedication to building the growth and success of our basketball program.”

This donation will create impactful scholarship-bursaries for players, with equal distribution between the men’s and women’s teams. Eligible recipients must contribute strong academic performance, community engagement, and leadership qualities, and demonstrate financial need.