Giving back to a rewarding program: the Yat family scholarship supports Black student soccer athletes

Mar 11, 2022

Yasmeen Al-Kas, in soccer uniform, races to beat an opposing player to the ball. — *Yasmeen Al-Kas (in white uniform) is one of two inaugural recipients of the Yat Family Student Athlete Award.*

Former U of T varsity athlete Michael Yat (BA 2008 UTM) has established the first scholarship of its kind within the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education to support Black student soccer athletes. It’s his way of giving back to a varsity program that gave him so much.

“My hope is that this scholarship will help varsity students have the same rewarding experience I did playing competitive soccer through school, without the financial stress,” he said.

The Yat Family Student Athlete Scholarship will be awarded annually to two recipients, one male and one female, in varsity soccer based on academic merit and financial need. Preference will be given to Black student athletes.

“In my first two years at the University of Toronto, I was training with the varsity soccer team, travelling for games and maintaining a full course load, all while working nights,” said Yat. “It was a grind. I was sleeping any chance I could get, but it was worth it to study, play soccer and finish school debt free.”

It would be a shame for any student athlete to give up an opportunity to go to school and play sports because of financial constraints.
Michael Yat

Yat said he realized he needed to work when his parents made a long-term decision to change career paths that affected the family income during that time.

“I have two younger brothers who also had aspirations to go to school, so I knew I needed to do my part,” he said. “It would be a shame for any student athlete to give up an opportunity to go to school and play sports because of financial constraints.”

Today Yat is a successful real estate broker, investor and new dad. He remembers moving to Ottawa from Nigeria when he was eight years old, then making the move to Toronto five years later. When he came to Toronto, he began to see more Black families facing financial hardships.

“I’ve always had the idea in the back of my mind to do something impactful for the Black community,” said Yat. “Over the past year, I had some time to reflect and was inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement and so I decided to act.”

Kingsley Belele and Yasmeen Al-Kas are the inaugural recipients of the Yat Family Student Athlete Award.

“When I heard that I was selected for this scholarship, it made me feel proud and grateful,” said Belele, a second year student of human geography at U of T and Varsity Blues men’s soccer player. “It showed me the hard work I put into my sports and school paid off and I am now motivated to do even more.”

Belele had the opportunity to meet with Yat in a virtual event recently organized by the Faculty.

“We had a very good talk and he made me feel very comfortable,” he said. “I felt like if I ever needed any advice, he’d be someone I could turn to.”

Al-Kas, who is in her second year of kinesiology and plays soccer on the Varsity Blues women’s team, said the scholarship reminded her of why she works so hard in both her academics and athletics.

“This scholarship is a reminder that hard work and dedication pays off, and that others appreciate and acknowledge all the hard work and struggles that come with being a student-athlete,” she said. “I am extremely thankful for this scholarship and the opportunities and support donors provide to student-athletes. I hope I can continue to make them proud with my hard work in academics and soccer.”

Kingsley Belele, in soccer uniform, races past other players.

Yat said it feels wonderful to give others the opportunity to do what he did in his four years at the University of Toronto.

“Varsity sports has given me focus, discipline and experience in interacting with people of different nationalities,” he said. “We came together for a common goal and made it work as a national winning team. Now I am proud to give other students like me the same opportunity.”

By Janet Gunn and Jelena Damjanovic