How being a Bison shaped the Class of 2026 | Sam Jensen, men's basketball.
Sam Jensen says it’s not the game scores he’ll remember from his time on the Bisons men’s basketball team. It’s the effect the people in the program, both past and present, had on him. The team has shaped him in ways he feels will have a profound impact on his path going forward.
“It’s always the people who leave the biggest impact on you,” he says. “When I get together with guys who graduated in my first years, we still reminisce about the fun times we had, and rarely does it have to do with basketball.”
Perspective is the biggest thing he feels he gained on the team. While there were lots of highs during his tenure, many things didn’t go the way he’d hoped. But, alongside his teammates, he found ways to overcome, push through and find the positives. He says being able to see hard times in a positive light will be an important skill off the court.
“Bisons taught me how to work hard and push through even when sometimes you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he says. “I think being able to work relentlessly for something I want will pay off in the future.”
Jensen has grown alongside a number of veteran fifth-years on the team. He and Mason Kraus played side by side through Junior Bisons and high school, and are now finishing their time with the Bisons together.
“I’ve made friends on this team that I will keep in touch with for the rest of my life,” says Jensen. “I’ve created so many memories with them that I will hold close forever.”
Recently, there has been more effort in connecting with alumni, which Jensen says broadens your perspective on life after Bisons. Building relationships with former Bisons has helped him feel ready for his first steps after the court.
“Former Bisons student-athletes are a very successful group of people and being able to take those bonds and relationships into the real world with people ready to help you along the way makes everything easier,” he says.
Being a Bison is a moment Jensen says he will always cherish. Even though there have been times of challenge, he says he seems to remember only the positives.
Jensen is graduating with a Bachelor of Recreation Management and Community Development from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Recreation Management.
UM Bisons are at the centre of it all, making a difference here in Manitoba and around the world. Many graduates recognized at Convocation will stay in Manitoba, supplying high-demand skills to the labour market and contributing to UM’s economic impact on our community.
The Bisons Integrated Support Team brings a holistic approach to supporting student-athletes
Mini U's culture is intentionally shaped by empowering their team through leadership training and professional development.
From advocating for Indigenous Peoples at the UN to becoming Chief of her First Nation, this law student remains unstoppable.
Dr. Mandi Baker's new book, Inclusion and Equity in Outdoor Leisure: Whose Body Belongs, looks at how some people feel they do not belong outdoors.
