Two true Warriors with an affinity for black and gold

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

When Stephen Szimanski (BA ’06) and Jodi Szimanski (BA ’97, MBET ’20) came to the University of Waterloo in the 1990s, they didn't know black and gold would become part of their identities.

They lovingly named their first dog Warrior – a black-and-gold coloured Rottweiler-German Shepherd mix. In their basement, you’ll find high-top tables and chairs from the former Bombshelter pub, which Stephen managed for a few years in the ’90s. Stephen even has a Waterloo Warriors tattoo on his right arm as an ode to his time as a student-athlete.

As proud UWaterloo alumni, Stephen and Jodi can’t wait to come back to campus for the return of Homecoming.

“For four or five years, or longer, Waterloo is home for students,” Jodi said. “This is why Homecoming is important: we need to do things that remind alumni they were at home when they were on campus.”