On Friday morning, student leaders from all areas of the University of Waterloo's Department of Athletics and Recreation were rewarded for their outstanding leadership and dedication at this year's student leadership breakfast.
Here are the 2025-2026 Student Leadership Award Winners:
Judson Whiteside Award Co-Winners: Natasha Croucher and Olivia Dake
Olivia is one of the strongest student leaders, holding various roles including an 8-month conditioning coop and personal trainer since Winter 2024. She played a key role in revitalizing the Strength Club and has been an exec since Winter 2024. She coaches women's only Conditioning programs and supports the powerlifting team, coaching athletes to achieve provincial and regional qualifying totals and guiding newcomers through their first meets. She teaches the Mind Body class in partnership with Campus Wellness, coached the first Staff Excellence Fund weight room program and represents the Conditioning team on the Waterloo Rec Instagram account. Her pride, leadership and professionalism consistently stand out, and her impact will be felt long into the future.
Natasha has taken on a leadership role for the past five terms as the intramurals Student Program Coordinator. She has also worked as a camp counsellor, CIF facility associate, and has been a member of the @wloorec social media team since Winter 2023. She is also a member of the Warrior Women of Waterloo.
Facilities and Events Leadership Award Winners
Events Staff Leadership Award: Scott Brackpool
A student of many talents, Scott brought his enthusiasm, leadership and facilities experience, from the PAC Staff team to the Event Staff team. He took over as the Event Staff Training Lead in July of 2025 and has excelled in the position. Contributing to the training and development of his peers, Scott continues to have a positive impact on the Event Staff Team. He contributes countless hours to executing varsity games, external rentals, and training sessions. We look forward to his development in this role and future success.
Facilities Staff Leadership Award: Mason Demczyna and Audrey Paige Hoogstra
Mason began as a co-op student in September 2023 working as a Facility Associate and has since flourished into one of their strongest student leaders. Over his time with them, he mastered many aspects of the role and consistently stepped up to support operations across both the CIF and PAC facilities. Mason also expanded his impact by contributing to Business operations, ticketing, and event operations, demonstrating strong versatility and reliability. His leadership, adaptability, and willingness to take on new challenges have made him a valuable member of their team.
Audrey has shown outstanding contributions as a Student Coordinator, Front Desk Attendant, and Arena Attendant at the University of Waterloo. In these roles, Audrey has demonstrated exceptional leadership, organization, and professionalism. As a Student Coordinator, she mentors staff, supports scheduling, and ensures smooth operations. At the front desk, she provides welcoming and effective service while resolving issues with strong communication and problem-solving skills. As an Arena Attendant, she helps maintain safe and well-organized events. Through initiative, teamwork, and a consistently positive attitude, Audrey strengthens team collaboration and enhances the experience of all facility users.
Marketing and Communications Leadership Award Winners
Game Day Staff Leadership Award: Kianna Simpson
Kianna has been incredibly dependable in her role as basketball game day coordinator for three seasons now, after first joining the game day staff in 2022. This season, she continued to display excellent leadership and problem-solving skills in her game day coordinator role all while juggling academic responsibilities and new roles as manager of basketball operations with the women's team as well as student manager coordinator. Kianna leads a team of 25 game day staff, and her leadership and relationship-building are what keeps our varsity basketball games running smoothly through school day games, equipment malfunctions, and anything else a game day throws at her.
Marketing Leadership Award: Mason Demczyna
Mason began his journey with Athletics and Recreation through the co-op program, quickly earning a reputation as a reliable and trusted team member. Always willing to step up — especially during busy or challenging moments — Mason never hesitated to help wherever needed, which led him to the Marketing team. From jumping into the King Warrior suit for creative reels to supporting one-off opportunities, he became a go-to contributor.
Mason's growth truly shone as the Lead Student Ticketing Coordinator, where he demonstrated exceptional leadership, professionalism, and attention to detail while training and leading fellow students to our customer service standards. Most recently, he led ticketing operations for the U SPORTS National Championship. His expertise has already earned him interviews with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and the Athletics and Recreation Department is excited to see where his journey takes him next.
Wellness Leadership Award Winners
Outstanding Move Your Mind Volunteer: Madison Bigler
Madsion has gone above and beyond to support and encourage her buddies as they explore and experience the many benefits of exercise. Madsion is always willing to do more, demonstrating outstanding leadership, communication, and organization by taking on the responsibility of two buddies at once. When challenges arise, Madsion always shows compassion and consistently keeps her buddies' best interests at heart. Her positivity, commitment, and support have made a lasting impact, and she is thanked for her contributions to the Move Your Mind Program.
Wellness Promotion Leadership Award: Shafein Bedi
Shafein is a hardworking, talented Content Creator who has been vital to the success of the @wloorec team. With a natural ability to turn innovative ideas into impactful stories, her thoughtful analytical approach elevates both the account's content and the team behind it. Her meaningful and engaging posts highlight wellness and the student experience at UWaterloo, helping peers connect with campus recreation and her creativity, dedication, and Warrior spirit have helped shape what @wloorec is today. Reliable, kind, and always willing to share her knowledge, Shafein leads by example and brings out the best in those she works with.
Recreation Leadership Award Winners
Aquatic Leadership Award: Sarah Deakos
Sarah has been an exceptional student leader last past year. Although quiet and reserved at the start of her leadership role, she quicky warmed up and brought great ideas continuing to foster the positive culture of the aquatics team. Sarah is always keen to work (overly so), by picking up shifts and looking for areas of self-development and improvement. She has been a key member of the team and is willing to go above and beyond for those around her, helping any way she can (and by bringing in candy for the lifeguards). She is kind and approachable, further solidifying her current role as the Aquatics Student Program Coordinator.
Camp Leadership Award: Molly White
Molly has been an integral part of the Multi-Sport Camp over the past several years. As a Camp Coordinator for two summers, she consistently went above and beyond in her role. Molly led play days, helped develop new camps and programs, and served as a strong leader and role model for the more than 20 camp counsellors who looked up to her each year. She accomplished all of this while balancing the demanding schedule of a varsity athlete on the Women's Volleyball team and navigating the process of applying to Pharmacy School at the University of Waterloo, a goal she successfully achieved and is now pursuing. Molly's outgoing personality, dedication, and attention to detail have made a lasting impact on the program. She will be greatly missed at camp this year.
Climbing Wall Leadership Award: Lily Corkill
Lily joined the Climbing Wall team in Spring 2024 and, in that time, has made a meaningful impact on countless climbers and on the space itself. She embraced every opportunity the wall had to offer, from leading youth lessons and hosting birthday parties to route setting and beyond. Quite literally, Lily has done it all. Beyond the climbing wall, Lily has also contributed to the department in many other areas, including intramurals, facilities, and camps. Still, the Climbing Wall team will always be proud to say that Lily started as a Climbing Wall staff member. The community has been incredibly fortunate to have Lily over the past two years, and her contributions will not be forgotten.
Clubs Leadership Award: Jacob Reed
Under Jacob's leadership as acting President since Spring 2024, the Strength club's membership tripled. He was a coach for the club's powerlifting team, helping athletes achieve provincial and regional qualifying totals and guiding many through their first competitions. He secured new equipment for members and created a lending program to increase the accessibility and marketability of the club. He and Olivia personally funded $3,000 powerlifting bench for the team to use while the club raised money for its own. Through his efforts and leadership, the club also gained two dedicated sponsors, strengthening long-term support and resources.
Esports Leadership Award: Jesse Wang
Jesse joined Warriors Esports as a co-op student in 2024, where he led a team of students to bring gaming events across campus. Since then, he has continued with us part-time as desk staff, keeping our gaming lounge running smoothly and providing event support. Jesse has also taken the lead in developing Esports Camps, a project he will continue to lead this summer.
Fitness and Instructional Leadership Award: Hailey Putman
Hailey has been a dedicated group fitness instructor with Warrior Recreation since spring 2025. She creates an energizing and inclusive environment where participants of all levels feel motivated, supported, and empowered. Hailey has demonstrated exemplary leadership by providing valuable feedback to enhance our group fitness registration process. Hailey consistently offers to help out with coverage and external requests, including co-leading an outdoor spin class for Homecoming 2025.
Intramural Sport Leadership Award: Natasha Croucher
Natasha has worked with the Intramural Program for over five seasons as an official and scorekeeper, supporting multiple sports including basketball and volleyball. She has also dedicated five terms as League Staff — an essential role in which she has invested countless hours. Her work has supported team creation, scheduling, email communication, awarding championship t‑shirts, generating social media content ideas, and running training sessions for officials and scorekeepers.
Her commitment, positivity, and leadership have strengthened the program in meaningful and lasting ways.
Strength and Conditioning Leadership Award: Olivia Dake and Jacob Reed
Olivia successfully completed an 8-month coop term in addition to demonstrating her strong leadership skills as a schedule lead. She is recognized for her integrity, reliability and professionalism. She models a high level of adherence to policy and procedure and sets a positive example for both staff and members. She engages with the community through social media champions women's programming and contributes to the hiring and training of new staff. Her commitment and energy have made a lasting impact on the Strength and Conditioning team. There is no doubt Olivia will be successful in any of her endeavors.
Jacob successfully completed a 4-month coop term and excelled in his leadership role as schedule lead. He has generously given his personal time to support and mentor the coops who followed him. He is a skilled personal trainer known for his professionalism and pride he takes in our space. He contributes to shaping the future of the team through his involvement in hiring and training new staff. He volunteers his time through social media support and events such as Open House. Jacob is a valued and well-recognized presence in the weight room, and he will be greatly missed.
Outstanding Graduating Student Leaders:
Facilities and Events
Audrey Paige Hoogstra
Bronwyn Ellerby
Juliana Grace Ludvig Bossom
Mason Demczyna
Valentina Adelola
Sarah Knoblauch
Hailee Beverly Stokes
Bella Pauldine
Dimitri Jorgji
Marketing and Communications
Allie Wells
Cameron Stirrup
Mason Demczyna
Simon Rose
Wellness
Natalie Garcia Munoz
Recreation
Aurea Xing
Christian Yu
Earl Kobe Basal Mondaya
Emily Hamilton
Emily Saint
François Caron
Gavin Wood
Jacob Reed
Jaden Chan
Jaime Newell
Jaz Hinds
Jesse Wang
Jessica Chen
Julia Empey
Katie Traynor
Leanne Schut
Marita Kuruyan
Michelle Koy
Natasha Croucher
Noah Mayburry
Olivia Dake
Paige Gabert
Samantha Ko
Sarah Torkmani
Shubham Malik
Susan Chau
Tanner Wilkinson
Tiffany Zhang
Viroshan Kanakarajah
