The 13^th Annual Vikes Championship Breakfast is going virtual. The event is scheduled for Thursday November 5, between 7:30 – 8:00 am (PDT). Bring your breakfast and join the Vikes for an online presentation in celebration of Vikes athletes.

This year’s keynote speaker is an alumnae of the women's basketball program, Debbie Yeboah. She is one of the many former student-athletes that were gifted the opportunity to play university sport because of the breakfast.

"As a young student-athlete, I didn't realize how great of an opportunity I was given from the support that the breakfast provides. Looking in from the outside now, the Championship Breakfast was a huge reason why I was able to attend UVic and play for the Vikes," said Yeboah.

Yeboah was a fresh-faced point guard for the Vikes volunteering at the inaugural breakfast in 2008. Green to the idea back then, she later understood the meaning and significance of the event in helping achieving her dreams.

"Finances are such a huge burden when it comes to going to university. Especially for those who move away for post secondary - the costs associated with that decision are that much higher. Because of the Championship Breakfast, I was able to receive a full scholarship, offset a lot of my costs and attend UVic," said Yeboah, who was born, raised and has since returned to Winnipeg, Man.

The opportunity provided to Yeboah and countless others was life changing.

"Not only did I make some great friends who I still stay in touch with, I was able to get my undergraduate degree, play some amazing basketball and get set up for the rest of my life," said Yeboah, who has since donated to the Vikes. "None of that would have been possible without the breakfast."

As a freshman, Yeboah primarily came off the bench, playing in 14 minutes per game. It wasn't until her second year playing for Brian Cheng, where she turned into a regular in the lineup, averaging nearly 30 minutes per game for the remainder of her career.

One of her greatest moments on the hardwood occurred during the final game of her second year, when she hit the game-winning bucket in McKinnon Gym against the Simon Fraser University Clan.

"I forget the play we were supposed to run, but I had the ball in my hands with the clock running down. I felt confident because I used a screen to get a switch onto a rookie. I used a crossover to get some space at the free throw line and hit a jumper to go up two with less than one second left," recalled Yeboah about the 63-61 victory.

With the increased playing time, Yeboah turned into a consistent performer with the Vikes. From 2009-12, she averaged 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. As a result, she was named a Canada West Second Team All-Star for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 season.

Bouncing back from an 8-10 campaign in her fourth year, under new head coach Dani Sinclair, Yeboah led the Vikes to a 16-6 record while averaging career highs in points (18.2), assists (3.2), rebounds (5.8) and steals (2.2). She also was named a Canada West First Team All-Star for the 2012-13 campaign.

"I just wish we won more playoff games," said Yeboah, as the Vikes reached the postseason in four of her seasons.

Away from the court, Yeboah was dominant in the classroom as well. She was an academic All-Canadian four times, from 2010-13. In her final year with the Vikes she shared the prestigious President's Cup with Sean Duke from men's rugby. Later that year, she finished off her time at UVic when she graduated with her degree in philosophy with a minor in French.

Before furthering her education, Yeboah had the opportunity to play two years (2013-15) of professional basketball for the Turngemeinde Würzburg of the Damen Basketball Bundesliga Süd in Würzburg, Germany – the hometown of NBA legend, Dirk Nowitzki.

"Janet Fowler (former Vike from 1984-87) was the coach over there and she often looked for players from B.C., so I got a bit of a break there," said Yeboah. "Playing basketball for those two years was an unbelievable experience. If you think about it, for most university athletes, their careers end at the peaks of their athletic ability."

After checking out some hot spots in Europe and getting buckets for two years, she returned to North America, where she enrolled into the McGill University Faculty of Law. Last December, she graduated from McGill with her law degree and was appointed as her class valedictorian.

Currently, Yeboah is back in Winnipeg articling with Thompson Dorfman Sweatman LLP.

Even as her career begins to takeoff, she still finds time to follow the Vikes women's program. "Until recently, there were still girls on the team that I knew, but I still check game scores and the standings. I think they have a great team and I'm excited to see where Shae takes them in the future," said Yeboah.

"I truly loved my time as a Vike. With the support from this breakfast, I hope that not just other women's basketball players, but all Vikes can enjoy their experience in the program as much as I did," said Yeboah.

To attend the event and make a donation go to 2020 Vikes Championship Breakfast