CONFEDERATION COLLEGE
College Celebrates Student-Athletes at Annual Thunderhawks Awards Banquet

Confederation College recognized the outstanding achievements of its student-athletes at the Thunderhawks Athletic Awards Banquet, held April 8. The annual event honours athletic performance, academic success, and leadership across the College's varsity sports teams.

Sydney Cloutier, a dual-sport athlete from Ignace, Ont., was named Female Athlete of the Year. Currently enrolled in the Business - Marketing program, Cloutier demonstrated dedication and excellence in both indoor soccer and curling. She was also named Rookie of the Year for Women's Indoor Soccer.

Nathan Lepore, a member of the Thunderhawks Men's Golf team and a Thunder Bay local, received the Male Athlete of the Year award. Lepore qualified for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Championships following a first-place tie-breaker at the OCAA Provincial Golf Championships. He was also named to the OCAA Men's Golf All-Ontario Team and received the OCAA Rookie of the Year title.

This year's Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards were presented to:

• Nathan Lepore - Men's Golf
• Morgynn Lesnick-Kabernick - Women's Indoor Soccer
• Michael Gentile - Men's Indoor Soccer
• Jesse VanderHeide - Cross Country Running
• Daffni Chabot - Women's Curling
• Griffen Wiersema - Men's Curling
• Beth Werbicki - Women's Volleyball
• William Bottle - Men's Volleyball

Griffen Wiersema, graduating from the Business Administration - Accounting program, received the D.A.R. Bradshaw Athletic Achievement Award. The award recognizes a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional growth, team spirit, and contribution to College athletics. Wiersema served as skip of the Men's Curling team and was a three-year member of the Golf team, earning MVP and OCAA Fair Play awards along the way.

OCAA All-Academic Awards were presented to student-athletes who achieved honour roll status during the fall semester:

• Griffen Wiersema - Men's Golf
• Carson Stone - Men's Golf
• Trevor Green - Men's Golf
• Jesse VanderHeide - Cross Country Running

"Our student-athletes continue to impress us with their dedication on and off the field," said Susan Tucker, Athletics Coordinator at Confederation College. "This celebration is about more than just competition it's about commitment, character, and community, and we're incredibly proud of what they've accomplished this year."

Confederation College congratulates all student-athletes, coaches, and staff for another successful year in Thunderhawks athletics.