Winners and Finalists announced for 2025 Gee-Gees Year-End Awards
The annual Gee-Gees awards highlighting the outstanding athletic, academic, and community engagement of student-athletes in 2024-2025 will be presented on Saturday, April 5.
Truly a year of celebration, 2024-25 featured three national championship-winning teams, four additional national medal-winning teams, individual national medallists, four conference championship-winning teams, and began with the most uOttawa representatives on record at a single Olympic and Paralympic Games.
A most valuable player from all 44 programs will be announced at the banquet, as well as the recipients of the True Sport Awards and Gee-Gees Career Achievement Award.
UPDATE: The winners of the categories below have been bolded and indicated with *asterisks. A full list of winners can be found on this page.
The finalists for the remaining major awards of the evening are listed below, showcasing the incredible achievements of Gee-Gees student-athletes in 2024-2025.
Athlete of the Year Finalists - Varsity Women's Teams
Aurora Bowie – Rugby*
A fifth-year centre and Master's student in Counselling Psychology, Bowie led the RSEQ conference in regular season points scored, recording two tries, 36 converts, and two penalty goals for a total of 88 points in her six games played. Bowie was named the U SPORTS National Player of the Year, a First Team All-Canadian, and an RSEQ First Team All-Star and conference Most Valuable Player. Bowie was also named to Canada Selects for two games versus Spain.
Audrey Odigie – Volleyball:
A third-year outside hitter and Finance student, Odigie was named an OUA First Team All-Star after leading the Gee-Gees offensively, ranking second in the conference in in both total points and points per set. Odigie established a new career high in service aces, ranking third in OUA with 42 in 76 sets played, and she was also third in OUA in total kills with 278.
Cassandra Provost – Soccer:
In her fourth year in Garnet and Grey, Provost led the OUA and ranked third in U SPORTS with 13 goals scored this season, also establishing the team record for career goals. The Management student added two assists to her points total, tying for fifth in the national points leaders and leading the OUA East Division. Provost was named the OUA East Player of the Year, a First Team All-Canadian, and a U SPORTS national championship all-star as the Gee-Gees captured the OUA Championship and national bronze medal.
Natsuki Szczokin – Basketball:
Szczokin led U SPORTS in steals per game with 4.0 and set the Gee-Gees career record for steals. The fifth-year point guard led OUA in assists, as she dished out 4.8 per game to establish a career high. Remarkably, she also set a career high with 17.1 points per game, which ranked fifth in OUA. The Master's student in International Development and Globalization was named a First Team All-Canadian, a U SPORTS national Tournament All-Star, an OUA First Team All-Star, and the MVP of the Critelli Cup as the women's basketball team won the OUA Championship and a U SPORTS bronze medal.
Athlete of the Year Finalists - Varsity Men's Teams:
Charles Asselin – Football:
Named an OUA First Team All-Star, Asselin led U SPORTS in all-purpose yards with 522 return yards and 190 receiving yards in addition to his 809 yards rushing. The third-year Economics and Public Policy student ranked second in OUA with an average of 101.1 rushing yards per game and recorded eight rushing touchdowns, also second in the OUA, while leading the OUA in total carries (138) and total yards. His rushing yards total ranked fourth in U SPORTS this season.
Jacques-Mélaine Guemeta – Basketball:
The OUA Defensive Player of the Year, Guemeta was also the leading scorer for the OUA Champions and national bronze medallists, averaging 15.8 points per game in regular season play. Guemeta was also the team's leading rebounder with 6.2 boards per game. The third-year Civil Engineering student's 1.7 steals per game helped Ottawa rank first in the nation in team defence. Guemeta was named an OUA Third Team All-Star.
Hugo Lemesle – Swimming*
A fourth-year Finance student, Lemesle set three team records as he captured three U SPORTS medals this season. He repeated as the national gold medallist in the 50m and 200m breaststroke and earned the silver medal in the 100m breaststroke. At the conference level, he earned two gold medals in his individual events and helped the team to a pair of relay podiums, and an overall RSEQ silver medal team finish.
Peter Stratis – Hockey:
An OUA East Second Team All-Star at defence, Stratis recorded career best statistics this season with seven goals and 15 assists in the regular season. An Education student and fourth-year defenceman, his points total was fourth highest on the Gee-Gees this season and he was an important goal-scoring threat on the powerplay, recording four goals with the man advantage during the regular season. Stratis scored the game-tying goal in the national quarterfinal en route to the national championship win.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Women's Teams
Emma Archibald – Nordic Skiing:
Archibald won a pair of OUA gold medals in the 12km and 15km standing para events. A third-year Nursing student, Archibald is a Canadian Para-Nordic Team member and achieved Top 10 finishes competing in World Cup events this season.
Willow Cherewaty – Rowing:
Cherewaty had two fourth-place finishes at the OUA Championships, racing with the coxed four and the women's eights. The Biomedical Science student competed at the Canadian University Rowing Association Championships in the coxless pair and the eights, helping the eight to a sixth place finish.
Jessica Gyamfi – Track and Field*
Gyamfi broke the Gee-Gees record in shot put three times this season, with a season-best record performance of 13.85m while competing in Boston. The third-year Nursing student also set a team record in weight throw at 15.89. Gyamfi won a silver medal in shot put at the OUA Championships and captured a U SPORTS bronze medal.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Garnet Men's Teams
Jamie Armstrong – Rugby*
Named the Canadian University Men's Rugby Back of the Year and a First Team All-Canadian, Armstrong also made his Canadian National Sevens team debut in 2024-25. The RSEQ Conference MVP was also selected as Player of the Match for the Gee-Gees twice at the national championships and helped Ottawa to an RSEQ silver medal.
Alexandre Disselkamp – Rowing:
A rowing team veteran, Disselkamp earned his first national podium finish with a silver medal in the men's double. That followed his third OUA bronze medal in three consecutive seasons, this year in the men's heavy coxed fours. Disselkamp is a Political Science and Public Administration student.
Milo Sircom-Brown – Nordic Skiing:
A second-year Management student, Sircom-Brown was named an OUA All-Star and was a consistent performer all season for the Gee-Gees. His performance at the OUA Championship helped lift the men's team to an overall bronze medal, and he added Top 20 finishes at the Eastern Championships.
Athlete of the Year Finalists - Varsity Grey Women's Teams
Noura Camara – Fencing:
Camara earned an individual fourth place finish in sabre at the OUA Championships and helped lift the Gee-Gees to a bronze team medal in women's sabre. Strong performances at the Queen's Open, RMC Invitational, and Carleton Invitational gave her an overall +85 indicator for the season.
Addison Kane – Softball:
A fourth-year veteran, Kane led the OUS league in fielding percentage with an error-free season at first base. Hitting fourth, Kane led the team with 16 runs batted in and was second in batting average with a .328 mark, helping the Gee-Gees to a conference bronze medal.
Sophia Laverdière – Badminton:
Laverdière's four wins in doubles matches helped lift the Gee-Gees to a sixth place team finish at the OUA Championships. Laverdière also performed well at the University Nationals, recording a 3-1 win-loss record.
Amy Savoie – Ringette*
Savoie's leadership and defensive prowess helped the Gee-Gees win a national silver medal and the gold medal at the Provincial University Championship, in addition to three tournament gold medals and a tournament silver medal in the 2024-25 season. A leading scorer among defenders, Savoie scored the game-winning goal to send Ottawa into the national semifinals.
Athlete of the Year Finalists – Varsity Grey Men's Teams
Martin Gallant – Ultimate*
Named a 2024 First Team All-Region All-Star, Gallant's skill and teamwork helped the Gee-Gees to first place finishes at Western New York, the Metro East, and at the Canadian University Ultimate Championships. Gallant also represented Canada as a member of the 2024 Senior Men's National Team and is widely regarded as the best player in the Canadian university division.
Alex Gerard – Baseball:
Gerard was one of the top pitchers in the OUA this season, leading the league in innings pitched and strikeouts, and ranking third in earned run average. He memorably pitched a complete-game shutout as the Gee-Gees defeated the eventual league champions by a 1-0 score.
Daniel Oroszlan – Fencing:
Named an OUA All-Star for his performance in Men's Foil Relay, Oroszlan placed sixth in the men's individual foil at the OUA Championship after winning the event at the Queen's open. His 180-71 margin at the OUA Championship helped lift Ottawa to gold in the men's team foil.
Yunhao Tang – Badminton:
Tang helped the Gee-Gees team earn a sixth-place finish at the OUA Championship by winning five matches in singles and doubles. At the University Nationals Team Event, he added three wins and one loss.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Women's Teams
The President's Awards are presented to the student-athletes who best combine academic and athletic achievement in the current season. All finalists for the President's Awards must have a minimum annual GPA of 7.5 or be enrolled in graduate studies.
Béatrice Bilodeau – Hockey:
The Gee-Gees captain, Bilodeau is in her first year of medical school and recorded career high statistics on the ice this season. A third-year forward, Bilodeau tallied six goals and ten assists as the Gee-Gees placed third in OUA East with a 15-7-4 record. Her six goals tied for third on the team.
Aurora Bowie – Rugby:
A Master's student in Education, Bowie was named the U SPORTS women's rugby Player of the Year, leading the Gee-Gees to an undefeated regular season. Bowie, in her fifth season in Garnet and Grey, led the RSEQ in points scored with 88 this regular season. She is also a nominee for Athlete of the Year.
Jenna Matsukubo – Soccer*
A second-year Medicine student, Matsukubo completed her U SPORTS eligibility this season and scored the OUA Championship-winning goal for Ottawa. Her regular season total of two goals and four assists earned her OUA East Second Team All-Star status and she added three assists in three games at the National Championship, lifting Ottawa to a bronze medal. Matsukubo was named a U SPORTS Tournament All-Star.
Josephine Streppel – Swimming:
A fourth-year Health Sciences student, Streppel took home three medals from the RSEQ Championship. She won silver in the 100 metre butterfly and as part of the 4x100 metre medley relay team, and bronze with the 4x100 freestyle relay team. At the national championships, she competed in three individual events. Streppel also contributed to a team record performance in the 4x100m medley relay at RSEQ Championships.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Men's Teams
Franky Lapenna – Hockey:
A third-year Finance student, Lapenna ranked fifth in OUA in total saves with 544, despite playing just 19 games as he travelled to Torino, Italy with Team Canada for the 2025 Winter World University Games, winning gold. His regular season save percentage was .911, and he is credited with 11 of Ottawa's 19 regular season wins. Lapenna was named the University Cup National Championship MVP after stopping 102 shots over three games with a save percentage of .936.
Ben Maracle – Football:
Maracle is in his first year of a Master's program in Experimental Psychology after graduating with a joint Bachelor's degree in Indigenous Studies and Psychology in spring of 2024. Maracle totalled 511 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in a 2024 season which saw him sidelined by injury. His community involvement and academic performance were recognized by the OUA as he was the 2024 recipient of the Russ Jackson Award.
Brock Newton – Basketball:
A fourth-year Finance student, Newton was a key contributor to the Gee-Gees' OUA Championship and U SPORTS bronze medal. A starting forward, his regular season stats included 1.5 blocks per game which ranked fourth in OUA, 5.2 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, and 9.6 points per game. Named a U SPORTS tournament All-Star, Newtown recorded 22 points and two blocks in national bronze medal game, and led Ottawa in scoring in the national quarterfinal with 17 points.
Alex Strople – Swimming*
A fourth-year Biomedical Science student, Strople has maintained a 10.0 GPA over the last three consecutive terms. He won an RSEQ silver medal as part of the 4x200 metre freestyle relay team and also swam to a sixth-place finish at nationals in that event. Individually, he placed fifth in RSEQ in the 400-metre individual medley.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Garnet Men's Teams
Ben Holahan – Rugby*
A second-year Health Sciences student, Holahan was the team's starting number twelve and played every minute of every game this season. His defensive skills helped Ottawa to an RSEQ silver medal and seventh place finish at CUMRC Nationals. He was invited to Canada U20 Trials in March.
Kyle Lamprecht – Rowing:
A fourth-year Health Sciences student, Lamprect won bronze medal at the OUA Championships with the men's heavy coxed four and placed sixth in the heavy coxless pair. At nationals, he was a member of the sixth-place heavy coxless pair.
Thomas Sheldon – Nordic Skiing:
Sheldon is a second-year Economics and Political Science student, in the Co-Op program. His improvement over the course of the season was highlighted by the Coupe Skinouk and Gatineau Loppet races.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Garnet Women's Teams
Willow Cherewaty – Rowing*
A fourth-year Biomedical Science student, Cherewaty had two fourth place finishes at the OUA Championships, racing with the coxed four and the women's eights and competed at the Canadian University Rowing Association Championships in the coxless pair and the eights, helping the eight to a sixth place finish.
Vienna Courteau – Track and Field
A fourth-year Human Kinetics student, Courteau qualified for the U SPORTS national championships in pentathlon and placed eighth. At the OUA Championships Courteau placed fifth with a personal-best 3495 points which ranks fourth all-time in Gee-Gees history. Courteau added personal bests in five other events this season, including the second-best long jump in program history.
Maja Mooers – Nordic Skiing
A second-year Biology student, Mooers was an assistant captain of the OUA silver medal-winning team in 2025 and was a national bronze medallist in 2024. Building her academic research resume, Mooers worked in an entomology lab last summer with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Fredericton, N.B., conducting field work and contributing to long-term research projects.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Grey Women's Teams
Veronica Alba – Water Polo:
In second year of Medical school, Alba was the team's top goal scorer this season and scored three goals in the bronze medal victory at the National Collegiate Water Polo Championships. Alba was awarded the Undergraduate Medical Education Scholar Competency Award, recognizing her as the student with the second-highest standing in the Francophone stream during her first year, and she is a founding member of the Ottawa chapter of the National Council of the Canadian Association of Latin Medical Students.
Clara Goulet – Ultimate*
As a key handler for the Gee-Gees ultimate frisbee team, Goulet played an instrumental role in leading the team to the 2024 Canadian University Ultimate Championship title, demonstrating exceptional skill, leadership, and composure under pressure. A Master's student in Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences, Goulet also won silver at provincial championships this summer with her club team, Ottawa Crank. Specializing in advanced diagnostic techniques for mild traumatic brain injuries, Goulet has already co-authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and serves as a mentor to undergraduate students.
Gabrielle Switzer – Artistic Swimming
A fourth-year Health Sciences student, Switzer has been heavily involved in research across multiple disciplines, including supporting a paper on waste management in interventional pain medicine at Harvard Medical School, proposing a study on waste-sorting practices across Montreal's radiology institutions, and conducting a quality assessment on fall prevention in a Montreal long-term care facility. Switzer competed in the duet at the McGill Invitational and Eastern Divisionals this season.
Céline Wan Min Kee – Tennis
A fourth-year Computer Science student in the Co-Op program, Wan Min Kee has held a 10.0 GPA over the last two seasons. She competed in three matches for the Gee-Gees this season: one singles and two doubles.
President's Award Finalists – Varsity Grey Men's Teams
Eric Dissanayake – Volleyball*
A fourth-year Telfer student in the Healthcare Analytics Co-Op program, Dissanayake is the volleyball team captain and Co-President of the Student-Athlete Council. He was recently admitted into a Master's of Sports Management program at uOttawa.
Travis Lee – Badminton:
A fourth-year Health Sciences student in the Population and Public Health program, Lee participated in a two-week initiative to establish mobile clinics in rural villages in Ecuador. As part of the Medlife Service Development Project, he contributed to health services delivery, improving access for underserved communities in summer of 2024.
Mathis Turgeon-Roy – Ultimate:
A fourth-year Engineering student, Turgeon-Roy helped lift the Gee-Gees men's ultimate team to first place finishes in Western New York, Metro East, and a national championship win.
Sacha Vasiliev – Fencing:
A third-year Nursing student, Vasiliev won the OUA George Tully Award recognizing Outstanding Skill, Style, and Sportsmanship, also with a silver medal in the individual foil and a team gold medal in foil. He is currently ranked ninth domestically in senior men's foil.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Women's Varsity Teams
Fiona Day – Rugby:
A Second Team RSEQ All-Star, Day started all regular season games for the Gee-Gees as the team went undefeated before capturing the conference silver medal. Day scored three tries which tied for eighth on the team, and was selected for the U20 touring team.
Ava Donohue – Soccer:
Named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team, Donohue was a key component of the lock-down backline which powered Ottawa to an OUA Championship and national bronze medal. Donohue started nine regular season games and all postseason games at wing back.
Grace Lu – Swimming:
Lu was the women's team top point-scorer at the U SPORTS National Championships, highlighted by an eighth-place finish in the 50 metre breaststroke. Lu won four RSEQ silver medals, two in individual events and two with relay teams, and was part of three team records including the 100m breaststroke, where she finished eleventh nationally.
Naomi Morin – Hockey*
Named to the U SPORTS All-Rookie Team and an OUA All-Rookie Team member, Morin totalled 19 points on 5 goals and 14 assists to rank fourth on the team in points. Morin dressed in all 26 regular season games and had three multi-point games including a memorable four-assist performance against Carleton on November 28.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Varsity Men's Teams
Seyi Ayedegbe – Football:
A defensive Lineman, Ayedegbe dressed for six games and recorded two solo tackles and three assisted tackles. He was selected for the football team's Rookie of the Year Award.
Zach Giroux – Hockey:
Named to the OUA All-Rookie Team, Giroux scored ten goals and 15 assists during the regular season, ranking second on the team in total points and tied for third on the team in goals. He had an eight-game point streak, including a four-game goal scoring streak, and added one goal in the OUA playoffs.
Owen Kenney – Basketball*
Named a U SPORTS All-Rookie Team member and OUA All-Rookie, Kenney averaged 8.4 points and 4.8 rebounds in his 20.0 minutes per game as the first sub off bench when not starting; he also made five regular season starts. Kenney ranked ninth in OUA with 21 total blocks and shot 63.6 per cent from three-point range in OUA Playoffs, helping Ottawa to the Wilson Cup championship.
Noah Taylor – Swimming:
Taylor won two RSEQ medals, taking bronze in the 200 metre butterfly and silver with the 4x200m freestyle relay. Qualifying for nationals, he raced to a sixth place finish with the 4x200 free relay team and individually placed 13th in the 200m freestyle.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Women's Varsity Garnet Teams
Rebecca Cocchetto – Rowing:
Cocchetto recorded a fourth place finish in the competitive lightweight women's 1x at the OUA Championship, and was eighth at Nationals in the same event.
Finlay Cuza – Nordic Skiing*
Cuza contributed to the women's team silver medal at the OUA Championships and finished eighth at the U20 Sprints at the Eastern Canada Cup, as well as a thirteenth place finish at the Eastern Canadian Championships.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Men's Varsity Garnet Teams
Ben Davis – Rugby*
Named the RSEQ Rookie of the Year, Davis was the Gee-Gees leader in tackles as he started at number five in the second row. Davis recorded his first try as a Gee-Gees against Carleton and was instrumental in the Gee-Gees success this season. He was selected to Canada's U20 team.
Safwan El Mansari – Track and Field:
A member of the Gee-Gees OUA silver medal-winning 4x400m relay team, El Mansari was also the team's top performer in both the 600m and the 1000m this season. He earned a seventh place finish in the 600m at the OUA Championship, and his best 1000m time ranks third in Gee-Gees history. He raced to sixth place with the 4x400 relay team at U SPORTS Nationals.
Cohen Norman – Nordic Skiing:
Norman finished among the top 20 in nearly every race this season, regularly ranking as the team's second-fastest men's skier. His 11th and 20th place performances were instrumental in securing a team bronze at OUA Championship.
Matthew Rafter – Rowing:
Rafter placed sixth at the OUA Championships in the lightweight 1x. At the Canadian University Rowing Championships he finished ninth in the lightweight single.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Women's Varsity Grey Teams
Olivia Dupuis – Equestrian:
Dupuis qualified for OCEA Finals for the Novice Division in both Under Saddle and Over Fences, and qualified for Regionals for Novice 2B on the IHSA circuit. She finished fourth overall at the OCEA Finals.
Jaimie Lina Park – Fencing:
This rookie standout helped Ottawa to a fifth-place finish overall at the OUA Championships with a sixth place finish in the individual foil. At the OUA Championship she posted a 157-55 margin, and had an indicator score of +198 overall this season.
Eva Milinkovic – Water Polo*
Milinkovic was the Gee-Gees starting goalie and also played as an outfield player when the bench was cut short. A very supportive teammate and a key player to the Gee-Gees success this season, which included a bronze medal at the NCWP Championship, where she was the goalie who helped seal a shoot-out victory.
Alexa Murphy – Artistic Swimming:
Competing in duet, Murphy consistently reached the podium and secured second place at both the McGill Invitational and Eastern Divisionals. She has shown tremendous growth and has exceeded expectations by significantly increasing the difficulty of her already challenging routine between Easterns and Nationals, where she placed fourth.
Rookie of the Year Finalists – Men's Varsity Grey Teams
Julien Belair – Lacrosse*
Named a CUFLA East All-Canadian and CUFLA Rookie-All Star, Belair led the Gee-Gees in scoring with 30 points in 11 games, which ranked fifth in the East and eleventh overall in the league. The team reached the league quarterfinals.
Chase Lalande – Baseball:
The Gee-Gees starting shortstop, Lalande was selected as East Regional Hitter of the Playoffs. He led the league in hits and was eighth in batting average with .396 alongside a 1.118 OPS which ranked fourth. His twelve runs batted in ranked fifth in the league.
Ian Macewen – Fencing:
A member of the OUA gold medal winning Men's Foil team, Macewen impressed with a narrow 15-13 defeat to the eventual individual foil conference champion. He finished eighth at the OUA Championship and recorded a +64 indicator across all competitions.
Roth Mohring – Ultimate:
A member of 2024 Team Canada U20 Mixed, Mohring was pivotal both offensively and defensively as the Gee-Gees captured the 2024 National Championship. Mohring also won a national silver medal with his club team.
Garnet and Grey Community Engagement Award Finalists
Jacquelyn Duff – Ringette:
A third-year team member and fourth-year Political Science student, Duff volunteers as a mentor with the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa and also assists with Sport of the Day programming and other events. Duff is also the team manager and assistant coach for the Special Olympics Ottawa Nordic ski team.
Kwabena-Nana Gyimah – Football*
Gyimah is the current Co-President of the uOttawa Black Student-Athlete Advocacy Council (BSAAC) and throughout 2024-25 showed his commitment to the community, winning the OUA EDI Award for football. A third-year Marketing student, he was a lead member of a team which gives Level Up participants a day of stem workshops as well as student-athlete led sessions on campus, giving underserved youth an opportunity to experience academics and athletics at a university level. As part of Brotherhood Mentoring Program he visited Pinecrest-Queensway Community Health Centre and acted as a mentor for the young men in the community. He organized BSAAC Connect, a space for Black student-athletes to connect with other student-athletes and Black professionals within different industries, and is involved in Curation of Ottawa's Black Coalition.
Charley Healey – Hockey:
A second-year Psychology student, Healey has been an inspirational leader in Hockey Gives Blood donation campaigns, running two blood drives per year in collaboration with fellow student-athletes. Healey also volunteers with Ausome Ottawa, supporting autistic children at the Trot or Treat event.
Ben Maracle – Football:
Through his efforts in mentoring, organizing, and advocating for Indigenous youth in sports, Maracle has created opportunities, inspired future athletes, and strengthened cultural connections. His involvement is a result of his desire to provide Indigenous kids with the opportunity to see themselves in higher level sports. Ben has worked to ensure that the football camps he organizes place a high value on the inclusion of cultural teachings so that the kids can see that their culture is important and respected by the CFL teams involved.
Liam Ryan – Nordic Skiing:
As the Athlete Representative for XC Ski Ontario, Ryan is a vital link between competitive skiers across Ontario and the governing body, amplifying their voices and advocating for their needs. His input reaches the national level through his participation on the Nordiq Canada Athlete Advisory Committee. A first-year Human Kinetics student, he is advocating to integrate Eating Disorder awareness into safe sport training for coaches, and is in discussion with Nordiq Canada's safeguarding committee. On campus, Ryan was elected First Year Grade Representative for the uOttawa Human Kinetics Student Association.
Ève Tremblay – Equestrian:
A fourth-year team member, Tremblay was elected as the Francophone Affairs Commissioner of UOSU for 2025-26, where she will play a pivotal role in strengthening linguistic equity and advocating for francophone students' needs, building on her work to improve the Francophone experience within the equestrian team. Tremblay has also co-founded uOttaRun, the university's largest running club which welcomes over 500 runners of all levels. She has previously volunteered with Foot Patrol and as Coordinator for the eHub's Entrepreneurship Mindset Certificate.
Leadership and Initiative Award Finalists
Note this award is open to nominees from Varsity Garnet Teams and Varsity Grey Teams
Kate Berry – Artistic Swimming:
As Club President, Berry ensures open communication between the executive team and athletes, fostering a transparent and inclusive environment, and positively altering the club dynamic since becoming President. Berry takes on additional responsibilities, including providing coaching support to ensure the success of the club. She consistently encourages and supports all athletes, creating a positive atmosphere and enhancing overall club dynamic.
Cailin Buchanan and Reese Handley – Cheerleading:
Buchanan and Handley were Co-Captains of the team this season, voted by their teammates and leadership staff. In a year which saw the team with a first-year head coach, they stepped up as leaders when their team needed them most, knowing they could make a positive difference in the student-athlete experience of their teammates and success of the program. In their fourth and fifth years, they took this initiative and challenge on themselves to improve the culture, operations, athletic development and personal enjoyment for their veteran teammates, incoming rookies and the future of the program. They have made significant contributions in the development of the team at competition and on the sidelines of Gee-Gees games, leading us to place fourth at the 2025 University World Cup Cheerleading Championships, the highest placing in the program's history.
Cassandra Jaffray – Ultimate*
A proud Gee-Gees alumna, Jaffray played for five years, serving as captain for two of them, before returning as a coach for the past four seasons. Since 2016, she has drawn from the team's successes, setbacks, and milestones to guide both new and returning players with her deep knowledge of the game. She has also taken coaching courses to refine her approach, ensuring she can effectively translate her expertise into impactful coaching. Beyond strategy and skill, Jaffray is deeply committed to fostering inclusivity and upholding the spirit of the game, making every player feel valued and supported. Her relentless dedication led the Gee-Gees to a Division 1 standing in 2022, a third-place national finish in 2023, and ultimately, a national championship title in 2024.
Madison Quinton – Equestrian:
As one of the team's co-captains this season and the social media and communications lead, Quinton has been crucial to the success of the team. She has taken on unexpected roles and challenges with ease, always stepping up when needed. Throughout the year, she has ensured that the team operates smoothly, both in front of and behind the scenes. New and returning members alike have found Quinton to be approachable, welcoming, and an essential point of contact within the team.