Kianna Mullner, Olivia Woytiuk and Arianne Pollon have been named the first recipients of the Shaye Amundson scholarship. (Facebook/ PAMSA)

By Nigel Maxwell

Her memory lives on

Prince Albert Minor Softball names first recipients of Amundson scholarship

Sep 2, 2022 | 5:00 PM

The memory of a well-known and well-respected Prince Albert ball player lives on in the form of a scholarship.

On Thursday, Prince Albert Minor Softball (PAMSA) announced the first recipients of the Shaye Amundson Memorial scholarship: Kianna Mullner, Olivia Woytiuk and Arianne Pollon.

Mullner is attending college in North Carolina and plays ball for the Catawba Valley Community College Red Hawks. Prior to practice on Friday, Mullner told paNOW the scholarship means a lot to her, adding that while she did not know Amundson personally, she was well aware of what she meant to the Aces program.

“She was always a good role model and what I know a really hard worker and really good ball player so to be able to honour her in this scholarship really means a lot to me,” Mullner said.

While playing in Prince Albert with the Aces, Mullner won four provincial championships while adding one silver and one bronze finish. Mullner and the Aces earned the opportunity to compete at four National Canadian Championships. She won three consecutive Girls Prairie League Softball (GPLS) Championships.

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Woytiuk, from Shell Lake, is currently in her sophomore year at Otero College in La Junta, Colorado and will be graduating next year with a degree in animal science. Acknowledging she and Amundson grew up in the same area, Woytiuk told paNOW the scholarship was very personal.

“I’ve played broomball with both of Shaye’s sisters. Our family has become good friends with the Amundsons so winning a scholarship in Shaye’s memory was extra special. She was someone who loved softball just as much as I did,” Woytiuk said.

Woytiuk played for the Aces from 2016-2021. During that time, the team won silver at provincial (2016) and won gold the following three years. In 2020, the team finished third at provincials. Woytiuk has also competed several times at nationals.

Pollon, who graduated from Tisdale High School last June signed with the Durham College women’s softball team in Ontario.

The 5’7″ infielder, with a rocket for a right arm, played mostly for the Tisdale Riverdogs where she won the U14 Provincial Championship.

In her young career, she also played for the 222’s travelling team in California and attended Tommy Douglas academy.

Shaye Amundson passed away in June 2016. Her vehicle rolled into a body of water near Debden.

The 18-year-old was a member of the P.A. Aces fastpitch team. During her time with the team, they won silver and gold at provincials. Amundson also played with the team at Westerns and Nationals.

Each of the recipients receives $2,000 for their education.

In a statement from PAMSA, they explained money raised during the inaugural Shaye Amundson Memorial Tournament last summer went to helping these ladies pursue their dreams and futures.

“We will offer scholarships again next year with money raised from this summer’s Shaye Amundson memorial tournament,” the statement read.

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nigel.maxwell@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell