Chris Zimmerman, ArtSci ’27, is making an impact on and off the court.
Zimmerman, a setter on the Queen’s Men’s Volleyball team has been a big reason for their on-court success. However, not only does he lead by example when the bright lights of the ARC are on him, but he also shines even when nobody is watching.
Throughout high school, Zimmerman was always heavily involved in equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) work, making his community a better place, and that continued when he arrived at Queens. His impact in Kingston has been immeasurable through his commitment to the Varsity and Leadership Council (VLC), where he now serves as co-president. The VLC is a group of seven student-athletes who aim to support student-athlete culture, advise Athletics & Recreation using their insights, and promote community engagement.
With continued guidance from Zimmerman, the VLC has worked to support the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Kingston, while also contributing to initiatives focused on Truth and Reconciliation and mental health. In recognition of his commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, Zimmerman received the OUA EDI Award, which honours student-athletes who demonstrate leadership in these areas.
Zimmerman sat down with The Journal to discuss his commitment to Queens and Kingston communities. He explained how moving from British Columbia allowed him to be who he wanted to be.
“Coming to Queen’s was a great opportunity, and that opportunity was a really big catalyst for me,” Zimmerman said. “I felt really comfortable to be who I am, which I attribute to our environment and culture [on our team].”
Off the court, EDI work has always been something that has shaped his life, but Queen’s gave him a lot of opportunities that continued that line of work.
“[EDI work] just got to a higher level. I started off doing it with the VLC in my second year, and more opportunities just kept falling in my lap,” Zimmerman explained. “It’s pretty cool to have such an impact, and I really do appreciate that I can be a role model for other student athletes.”
Both the Gaels men’s and women’s volleyball teams hosted a pride night during one of their home games in early January, which Zimmerman proposed and accepted with open arms. Zimmerman admitted that he had seen University of British Columbia do them and have big success. He thought to himself “man, we gotta do one of these.”
“My teammates and coaches were super supportive and really into it, which was really cool to do with those guys.”
Going into his fifth and final season, Zimmerman is excited about the opportunity to focus on volleyball and “pass the torch to the next student athletes.”
Moving into the season, the men’s volleyball will look for its third straight OUA championship, with Zimmerman being an essential part of that daunting feat.
Tags
diversity, Equity, inclusion, Leadership, Volleyball
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