Former student-athlete and coach stays in the game as a donor

This year’s recipient of The Fran Wigston Women’s Basketball Award, Stephanie Lundstrom (left), recently had the opportunity to meet Fran (Wigston) Eberhard on campus. The Award, created in 2005, was made possible by donations from alumni and friends of Western in support of Women’s Basketball and named in honour of Fran for her contributions to the sport and to Western.

Fran (Wigston) Eberhard, BA’57, MA’79, felt lost when she first came to Western as a student. That is, until she got involved in university sports.

The North Bay native was the youngest of nine children and found the adjustment from a small town difficult. But her outlook changed when she began playing basketball and volleyball in her first year. Throughout university she also competed in track and field and on the swimming team.

“I didn’t know anybody when I first came to London, but once I got involved in sports, I got to know a lot of people,” says Eberhard. “I had such a great time with athletics when I was at Western – it opened my eyes to a bigger world.”

Eberhard began teaching at South Secondary School in London in 1957 and then joined the Faculty of Education in 1965, where she taught methodology to physical education students until 1998. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Fran coached the Western women’s volleyball team, winning the Ontario championships six times and the Canadian championships three times, and placing second in the Canadian championships four times.

She says it was during her time as a coach when she realized how difficult it was to raise money for varsity sports.

“I was lucky not to need financial support while I was an athlete, but while I was coaching, the women were always fundraising to afford their travel,” says Eberhard, who used her own money one year to enter her volleyball team in a competition at UCLA and buy a large van for the players to travel in.

“Today, I think it’s a lot tougher for the students. The curriculum is intense and they are expected to devote all of their extra time to training for one sport. I don’t think student athletes should have to work if they are going to give that much time to the university. This is where I like to help.”

Eberhard has been an annual donor to Western since 1995, giving more than $7,000, to date. While she has supported various funding priorities, athletics are closest to her heart. In fact, she and her husband, John Eberhard (BA’66, LLB’69), have participated in the Adopt A Mustang football program for a few years, and Fran recently added swimming, track and basketball to the list of teams that benefit from her support.

“The Adopt A Mustang program is one way donors can be sure their money is going directly to the student athletes within a particular sport,” says Fran, who has “adopted” six student-athletes so far.

Donors have the option of tailoring their support towards a specific team, alleviating the ongoing financial needs associated with enhanced training and competition. Fran notes that she and John attend many Mustang sporting events so they can watch the athletes they have “adopted” compete and develop in their sport. Western is committed to raising $200,000 per year for the Adopt A Mustang program.

Fran continued competing in volleyball until age 65, and in basketball until four years ago when she turned 69. The life-long athlete says she wouldn’t have been as successful in her profession if it hadn’t been for Western and Mustang athletics.

“I hope when today’s Mustang athletes become professionals, they remember what Western did for them and they will give back, too.”

For more information on the Adopt A Mustang program, contact Holly Gati at 519.661.2111 ext. 87086 or visit http://www.westernmakesadifference.ca/priorities/mustang.html


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