Extraordinary soccer duo wins Lakehead Athlete-of-the-Month award

The outstanding performance and sportsmanship demonstrated by student athletes Kareem Poonah and Boluwatife Fabanwo, members of the Lakehead Orillia men’s soccer team, was recognized with the Plastics Protect & Holliswealth Athletic Achievement Award for the month of February.

The outstanding performance and sportsmanship demonstrated by student athletes Kareem Poonah and Boluwatife Fabanwo, members of the Lakehead Orillia men’s soccer team, was recognized with the Plastics Protect & Holliswealth Athletic Achievement Award for the month of February. 

March 18, 2015 – Orillia, ON

For the first time, Lakehead University has awarded its monthly Plastics Protect & Holliswealth Athletic Achievement Award to a pair of athletes. Two members of Lakehead Orillia’s men’s soccer team received the award for February.

The award is typically presented to one student athlete in recognition of exemplary leadership, sportsmanship and athletic performance.

Boluwatife Fabanwo of Mississauga and Nigeria, a first-year business student, and Kareem Poonah of Milton, a first-year education student, were honoured with the award for their outstanding contribution to the team. 

“Both of these athletes have demonstrated tremendous dedication and leadership and are equally committed to the team,” said Lakehead’s Athletics & Recreation Facilitator, Neil Quinn. “They have excelled during every game and are an inspiration to their teammates, both on and off the pitch.” 

The athletes were proud to receive the award together and both expressed how the opportunity to be a part of the team has contributed to their experience at Lakehead. 

“My experience on the team has helped me meet new people and develop great friendships,” explained Fabanwo, an international student who is enjoying the small, friendly atmosphere at Lakehead. Following the Lakehead season, Poonah is looking forward to an upcoming tryout with Toronto FC.

In addition to honouring the efforts of individual athletes, the award provides $500 to support the athlete’s team or club activities. 

The award was established under the direction of former Olympic and Canadian championship athlete, Michelle Cowell, who represents the award donor, Plastics Protect & HollisWealth – Benson Kearley IFG. 

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MEDIA:  For more information, please contact Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2nd in Ontario and 3rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

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