A former member of the York University synchronized swimming team has received a notable nod from Ontario Artistic Swimming (OAS).
 
Jennifer Saunders has been named the inaugural inductee into the OAS Virtual Wall of Honour. The wall will live on the official OAS website, and intends to recognize the substantial contributions their notable members have made to the growth of artistic swimming in the province.
 
Saunders fits that bill perfectly – she served as an athlete and volunteered as a coach, official and trainer for over 30 years in the organization. Before embarking on her lengthy community involvement with OAS, Saunders (then Jennifer Lloyd) spent four years as a member of the synchronized swimming team at York.
 
Under the tutelage of former York synchronized swimming coach and athletic director Patricia Murray, Saunders competed from 1977 to 1981. She graduated as a member of the Class of '81 with a degree in Physical Education.
 
After graduation, Saunders almost immediately began giving back to the community by assuming the technical director post at Synchro Saskatchewan in 1985, remaining in the role for six years.
 
While serving this post, she aided in the development of coaches and officials. She began this journey as a Level 1 provincial judge in 1990 and progressed up to a national level judge in 2008. Her career highlight is judging at the 2015 Canada Winter Games in Prince George, B.C.
 
Her officiating career continued well after she left the Canadian west. As of 2015, Saunders trains prospective synchronized swimming officials as an instructor of OAS provincial levels 1 and 2 judges courses.