Athletics and Recreation honoured outstanding student leaders who have made a significant contribution and impact on the day to day operations of the department at the Warriors Athletics and Recreation Student Leadership Reception on Friday evening at FED Hall.
It was a night of celebrating those who have provided meaningful engagement opportunities and have been tremendous leaders in certain areas of the department. Thank you to all who attended and celebrating what we do as a department to provide inclusive programming for all students at the University of Waterloo.
The following two students were awarded the Jud Whiteside Award for their outstanding contributions and leadership to Warrior Recreation.
Judson Whiteside Winners
Valerie Harris
Valerie has been with the department for three and half years and has never taken a term off. Whether behind the CIF/PAC equipment desk serving customers and supporting campus recreation programming or working in the PAC administrative office working with Jane, or volunteering during campus wide initiatives, Valerie has always provided exceptional service accompanied with a smile. Over her terms with the warriors she has served as the facilities Scheduling coordinator, balancing the needs of 40 students, 2 co-op students, and 3 full time staff members with the needs of all of our user groups. Anyone who has interacted with Valerie will always speak of the positive experience they've had. She embodies our values of working, playing, and competing with integrity and always delivers first class customer service, while acting as a role model to other students. These traits make her a favourite when looking for staffing beyond the equipment desk.
Andie Dueck
During the 2017-2018 year, Andie held the position of SPC for two terms and was instrumental in the revision of all staff on-boarding and training programming. Under her leadership and creativity, the aquatics training package was revised to select the best qualified staff and to support the team once hired, setting them up for success as they worked on deck. Andie was also the driving force behind the full revision of the Warrior Learn to Swim program, resulting in a greater success rate for participants. Andie's energy, creativity and ready smile have made an enormous impact on the Warrior Aquatics program this year and we thank her.
The following students were recognized for their outstanding contributions throughout the past year .
Aquatic Leadership Award – Courtney Ellis
Courtney has always been a strong, quiet force within Warrior Aquatics and in the past year, she has contributed even more to the betterment of the program and to the positive experience of the users of the PAC pool and participants in programs. She can always be counted on to assist the program in a time of need, and always with a smile and positive attitude.
Facilities Leadership Award – Matt Cook
Held the Title of Events Coordinator since fall 2016 and has worked every football game since fall 2014! Matt has also worked approximately 90 percent of the varsity games in the PAC and on the Arena. He's selected and trained his own events crew giving them the skills they need to succeed in their roles. Matt's experience makes him the only staff in the department who knows how to operate all facilities equipment and machinery. This includes the AV equipment throughout our facilities, the PAC and Warrior Field bleachers and the Olympia! Matt is always willing to drop in and share his expertise with new staff or to show experience staff how to work more efficiently.
Facilities Leadership Award – Valerie Harris
Val is everywhere in the department! You can catch her either CIF or PAC equipment desks, the administrative office, varsity games selling tickets or on the floor leading the event. It doesn't matter where you see her, you are guaranteed great service. She has all the answers for any facilities related question and will go a long way to finding solutions during unusual circumstances.
Fitness and Instructional Leadership Award – Ellen Wang
Ellen has been teaching various forms of dance on campus for the last two years. She has shared her passion with over 100 participants and has always received nothing but positive feedback from the students in her classes. Her passion for dance comes from a long dancing career and extensive technical training at her home studio in West Vancouver, the North Shore Academy of Dance. Outside of her work as a dance instructor, Ellen is also a dedicated personal trainer with our PT team, as well as a Move Your Mind Volunteer. She is always willing to go above and beyond what is asked of her, and has been an amazing ambassador for Warrior Athletics during her tenure with the Warriors. Thank you Ellen for your commitment and dedication
Game Day Staff Leadership Award - Megan Muir
Megan has been the varsity game day coordinator for men's and women's basketball for the past three years and has done an exceptional job from top to bottom. Megan has turned Waterloo's basketball game day experience into one of the most respected across the OUA when it comes to officials, fans and the student-athletes. She is extremely organized, self-sufficient and always ready to solve a problem, whether it's a game clock malfunctioning or a rambunctious fan that needs a stern talking to. She has built one of the best head tables in the OUA and has always had very strong game day staff at each and every varsity basketball game. The Waterloo Warriors basketball programs have been very fortunate to have had you as the game day coordinator.
Game Day Staff Leadership Award- Gillian Pond
Gillian has been the varsity game day coordinator for women's hockey for the past three seasons and has done an incredible job running game days at the CIF Arena. From pre-game schedules to in-game operations, Gillian is always organized and ready for anything that is thrown her way. She has built a very knowledgeable game day staff that can be counted on providing an exception game day experience each and every women's hockey home game. Thank you for all you have done for the Warriors Gillian!
Intramural Sport Leadership Award- Christopher Maduka
Chris has been a workhorse for the intramural program since the spring of 2014. He has spent multiple terms as a Convenor, Referee in Chief and as a Student Program Coordinator. His passion for the program is evident as he consistently exceeds expectations promoting the program, making highlight videos, and mentoring other league staff. Chris started as a soccer referee but has grown into one of the most well rounded officials we have ever had. Chris has worked games in 8 different intramural sports and has recently became just the 3
rd person to reach the 1000 game plateau. Thank-you Chris for your commitment and dedication to the intramural program at Waterloo, you have made a lasting impact.
Marketing Leadership Award- Rachel Bronzovich
Rachel started with the warriors Marketing Team in Fall 2017 as a Rec Practium student and continued on this term as a videographer. She worked over 17 events in Fall term and spent many hours across campus promoting events and programs, even while she was also training as a varsity student athlete on our track team. She took the lead during one of our Naismith Basketball Tournament games as well as our ThinkPink Women's Hockey Minor League Day and did an outstanding job planning and executing all of the logistics for those events.
Marketing Leadership Award- Owen Masterton
Owen also started with the Warriors Marketing Team in Fall 2017 as a Rec Practium student and has also continued on this term as a videographer. Owen worked over 19 events in Fall term, not including all of the countless hours he spent across campus promoting everything for the black and gold. He took the lead during one of our Naismith Tournament Basketball games as well as our ThinkPink Men's Hockey Game and has always done an outstanding job of engaging with our fans and creating an exciting atmosphere with our fans.
Sport Club Leadership Award- Kevin Lu, Badminton Club
Kevin Lu for is being recognized for his phenomenal contributions to the University of Waterloo Badminton Club. Kevin has been a part of the club as an exec, events director, and now in a mentorship and operations position. As an executive, Kevin put in a lot initiative and hard work to ensure that the club runs smoothly by diligently fulfilling his exec role. As an events director, Kevin was key to the success of our club tournaments through meticulous planning. His leadership skills in guiding a group of directors to execute large-scale events such as tournaments for the club has also been invaluable. As a mentor, Kevin communicates and ensures that new directors and junior directors understand how to prepare and run the badminton club. In his time in a different executive roles, Kevin has helped provide exemplary service to over 2900 club members. Overall, Kevin's leadership with the badminton club is reflected through the success of the club throughout the last 3 years
Strength and Conditioning Leadership Award – Katee Ezra
Katee is an integral part of the Conditioning team. She has been with us for over two years and in that time has consistently gone above and beyond what is expected of her. Katee has taken on the role of creating and promoting our WarriorWorkouts through social media as a way to encourage students to stay active and pass along safe and effective conditioning strategies. Whether she is working on the floor, training a client, helping fellow trainers, or promoting the Warrior way through social media, Katee is always an invaluable member of the Conditioning team and we are lucky to have her.
Training Leadership Award – Trish Oei
After finally landing in the academic program that best suited her passions, Trish contributed greatly to the first aid program, even from Florida during her placement at Disney and the University of Florida. Trish brings great energy, passion and creativity to a professional that will further benefit from her engagement.
There were also
39 Outstanding Graduating Student Athletes honoured at the event for their extreme dedication and commitment to Department of Athletics and Recreation throughout their time at UW.
