(Above) 2017-18 athletes of the year Andrew Dobson (left) and Chauntelle Palmer (right) are pictured with Elana Weber (centre), Student Athletics and Wellness Coordinator.

(Above) Athletes awarded most valuable player and rookie of the year in each of Lakehead Orillia's sports teams: equestrian, men’s and women’s hockey, dance, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s basketball.

April 6, 2018 – Orillia, ON

Lakehead University Orillia capped off a successful 2017-18 athletics season on Friday, April 6 with a celebration of its student athletes during the annual Athletic Awards Banquet at Hawk Ridge Golf and Country Club.

“This is a night to highlight our Thunderwolves athletes,” said Elana Weber, Student Athletics and Wellness Coordinator. “It’s an opportunity for all our athletes and coaches to receive well-deserved recognition surrounded by their coaches and teammates.”

To cap off the celebration, Andrew Dobson was named Male Athlete of the Year, while Chauntelle Palmer was recognized as Female Athlete of the Year. Palmer was also recognized as most valuable player for women’s varsity indoor soccer.

Other major award winners included Brennan Kaffer and Lukas Katinas who were named the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) All-Academic Award recipients. The OCAA All-Academic Award is presented to full-time student athletes who also meet honours academic standards at Lakehead University.

Awards were also presented to top student athletes in each of the University’s sports teams: equestrian, men’s and women’s hockey, dance, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s basketball. Most valuable player and rookie of the year were announced and presented by the team coaches, who were also recognized and thanked by the University.

“Being an athlete is a lot of work on top of being a full-time student, and in some cases, juggling a part-time job,” said Chris Glover, Director of Student Affairs, who addressed the student athletes at Friday night’s banquet. “Although today you are being recognized as athletes, together you represent so much more. You are leaders, passionate members and ambassadors of Lakehead University, and proud Thunderwolves who make this university a special place for so many.”

Since Lakehead Orillia began offering athletic programs back in 2010, the menu of sports offered through the Orillia campus has grown to a multi-level, multi-sport program with almost 100 athletes.

“If it wasn’t for the perseverance and hard work of our athletes and volunteer coaches, we simply wouldn’t have the athletic program we do here at Lakehead Orillia,” said Glover. “We know how important it is to our students to be able to offer these types of programs and we’re hoping to continue to see growth and diversity in what we offer.”

A complete list of award winners from the evening can be found below.

Major Award Winners

Female Athlete of the Year
Chauntelle Palmer – Women’s Varsity Indoor Soccer

Male Athlete of the Year
Andrew Dobson – Men’s Hockey

OCAA All-Academic Awards
Brennan Kaffer – Men’s Varsity Indoor Soccer
Lukas Katinas – Men’s Varsity Indoor Soccer

Team Awards

Equestrian
MVP: Bradi Moore
Rookie of the Year: Sierra Tregear-Paton

Men’s Hockey
MVP: Evan Alexiou
Rookie of the Year: Dexter Bridge

Women’s Hockey
MVP: Clara Hall
Rookie of the Year: Tiffany White

Dance
MVP: Ella Baker
Rookie of the Year: Elizabeth Reynolds

Men’s Varsity Indoor Soccer
MVP: Mozeed Labinjo
Rookie of the Year: Cody Hewett

Women’s Varsity Indoor Soccer
MVP: Chauntelle Palmer
Rookie of the Year: Breann Sharma 

Men’s Basketball
MVP: Cesar DeGuzman
Rookie of the Year: Breanna Shaw

- 30 – 

Media contact:  Jaclyn Bucik, Marketing & Communications Associate, 705-330-4008 ext. 2014, or jbucik@lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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 2018 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, as well as first in Total Research Dollars, second for Citations, and third for Scholarships and Bursaries. In 2017, Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the third consecutive year. Visitwww.lakeheadu.ca.

A powerful symbol is now visible on the Lakehead University Orillia campus.  The new tipi, raised by the University last week, serves as a sign that Lakehead is committed to ensuring it is a safe gathering space for Indigenous learners.

“Raising a tipi on campus is a culturally significant moment for Lakehead Orillia,” said Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans, Principal, Lakehead Orillia. “It symbolizes the University’s commitment to supporting and enhancing Aboriginal knowledge and culture through education, to help our students, faculty, staff, and community partners further understand and appreciate Aboriginal perspectives and traditions.”

In conjunction with the tipi already in place on the Thunder Bay campus, the tipi on the Orillia campus will serve as a meaningful and social space for students, faculty, and staff.

“Not only will the tipi help promote and share Indigenous culture and knowledge, it will also function as a place where other disciplines can interact with each other and bridge a sense of understanding of concepts that may be missed within certain classes,” said Winston Boudreau, Lakehead Orillia student and clan representative of the Turtle Island Student Circle.  “I think it is a step forward to having a strengthened partnership with neighboring communities and promoting a sense of inclusiveness within the campus.”

“The tipi and surrounding gardens are a part of a living, growing, gathering place for learning and sharing of ideas between students, faculty, and staff,” said Allysha Wassegijig, Aboriginal Initiatives Coordinator at Lakehead Orillia.  “We want to make sure that Lakehead University is a welcoming place, where Indigenous peoples, history, and way of life are celebrated through education, respect, and diversity.”

Traditional Helper Cliff Sharpe began the event with a smudging ceremony, using the cleansing smoke from sacred medicines, sage and tobacco, to bless the tipi and all those who attended.  Following the ceremony, staff, students, and faculty, participated in men’s and women’s teachings with Sharpe and Luanna Harper.

The tipi is the culmination of Turtle Island Student Circle’s goal to create a space embraced and supported by the community both inside and outside of Lakehead.

The tipi will eventually be painted with traditional designs and colours, as directed by local Elders.

Orillia, ON – July 17, 2014

Like most teenage boys, Eric Hill does not always do what his parents think is best. When they encouraged him to visit Lakehead University’s Orillia campus, where he would be studying in the fall, he was reluctant to make the trip.

The purpose of the trip was to attend the University’s Fast Pass program, which Eric – though nervous about starting university – didn’t feel would be useful. His mother Barb believed it would be beneficial for Eric to visit Orillia to get a sense of the campus and meet some new people.

Eric eventually agreed, and made the trip to Orillia with his mom. A graduate of Northern Secondary School in Toronto, Eric is enrolled in Lakehead’s Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science/Bachelor of Education program.

After spending a couple of hours at the campus, the pair emerged feeling like a weight had been lifted from their shoulders – turns out that mom was right.

“I would 100% recommend the Fast Pass experience to incoming students,” said Eric. “New students would be crazy not to do this!”

Fast Pass is an opportunity offered by Lakehead University during the months of June and July to incoming students and their parents and friends.  In addition to touring the campus, attending information sessions presented by current students, staff and faculty, new students benefit from one-on-one guidance to complete course registration.

“As a first-year student, understanding program requirements and registering for courses can be a confusing and stressful experience, and we aim to reduce this through our Fast Pass program,” said Simon Looker, one of the Student Affairs advisors responsible for organizing the program.

Barb agreed that the registration system was somewhat daunting. She had quickly glanced at the course registration website at home and realized that it may not be the easiest process. This realization was the main reason for the visit to Lakehead and she was very satisfied with the experience.

“Kudos to everyone who put it together,” she said.  “I applaud them, especially the student volunteers, who were just the best.”

Barb was impressed, not only with the registration assistance, but with the campus itself. Finally seeing where her son would be spending the next four to five years of his life was enjoyable, and she felt secure knowing that the campus is new, safe and environmentally friendly.

Eric had a similar experience. When asked, he said his most valuable takeaways from the day were having the help to pick courses, and learning about what Lakehead had to offer. He also realized that he would be more than just another student number at Lakehead. “It was great to see the strong sense of community at the campus,” he said.

The once nervous Eric is now counting down the days until September and cannot wait to meet new people and get involved in campus activities. He could not be happier with his decision to attend Lakehead and looks forward to proudly joining the Thunderwolves Pack at Orientation activities in the fall.

The Fast Pass program continues at the Orillia campus on Fridays, July 18 and 25. The program is open to incoming students at both the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses. For details, visit mylakehead.ca.

– 30 –

New Lakehead student, Eric Hill of Toronto, registers for courses with the help of Student Advisor Jackie Bean, as his mother looks on.

Current students explain the typical day in the life of a Lakehead student to new students and their families at Fast Pass, the University’s summer orientation program.