Val Schneider
An athlete par excellence and an outstanding builder of sports programs, Val Schneider, 1966 BPE, 1969 MA, is widely recognized for his contributions to sport throughout Canada.He played for the University of Alberta Golden Bears football team between 1963-68. During that time, the Bears won the Western Intercollegiate Football League (WIFL) championship in four consecutive seasons, were Vanier Cup finalists in 1965 (the first year of Vanier Cup competition), and won the Cup in 1967.
From 1964-68 (except for a year teaching in 1966), this 1999 inductee to the University of Alberta's Sports Wall of Fame was named to the WIFL All-Star team and was co-captain of the Bears from 1965-68.
In the 1967 Vanier Cup championship match, Schneider was awarded the Ted Morris Memorial Trophy as the game's Most Valuable Player.
Schneider's link with the Vanier Cup continued throughout his career: in 1987, he was inducted into the Vanier Cup Honour Roll for his contributions to college football as a player, coach, and administrator.
Schneider has taught high school, college, and university; has coached at each of these levels; and was the athletic director at the University of Saskatchewan from 1980-91. He served as a senior administrator for the Canada West University Athletic Association (CWUAA) and the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU), and was the assistant dean (services) for the College of Physical Education at the University of Saskatchewan for more than a decade. Schneider has approached each of his roles with enthusiasm and outstanding ability. His name brings honour to the University of Alberta's Sports Wall of Fame.