Wageningen University & Research’s Wheelchair Basketball Player And Softball Player Receive Sports Grants Of 2000 Euros

Two Wageningen students have received grants from the Fund Niels Smith to support them in combining their studies with top sports. Softball player Lauren Heijnsdijk (19) and wheelchair basketball player Boris van Hunnik (19) won this year’s prizes, each receiving 2,000 euros to purchase equipment, follow extra practices or participate in tournaments. The prize was awarded during the sports gala of student sports association Thymos on April 14, 2023.

Boris van Hunnik
Boris van Hunnik is a bachelor student in Biotechnology who plays in the national 3×3 wheelchair basketball training team and participates in the premier league with his own club team. He and his team are national champions in 3×3 wheelchair basketball. His aim is to progress from the national training team to the national men’s team. After four years of intensive use, his sports wheelchair needs to be replaced, which the grant can cover.

Lauren Heijnsdijk
Lauren Heijnsdijk is a bachelor student in Molecular Life Sciences and plays in Ladies 1 of the softball club UVV (Utrecht). The Ladies 1 play in the national league, the highest possible level in the Netherlands. After successful participation in the junior national U18 team last year, she can now train with the national women’s team. Her ambition is to become a regular player in this team. To achieve this, she wants to take extra training as a pitcher, for which she can use her sports grant.

About the Fund Niels Smith
Talented athletes who study at Wageningen University & Research and who just miss out on the support of NOC*NSF can receive a contribution from the Fund Niels Smith. The fund supports a maximum of two students per year. The Fund Niels Smith is managed by the University Fund Wageningen.