5th year centreback from the men’s soccer team, Eric Prior, and 4th year defender, Alexandra Swift, of the women’s hockey team, have been named this year’s recipients of the John Frederick Walls Memorial Award and the Cathy Wadden Commitment Award.
Swift (Ottawa, ON) is “a student-athlete that all coaches covet” says women’s hockey coach, Peter Murphy. A two-time U Sports Academic All-Canadian, and after the first semester of the holder of a 4.2 GPA, Swift also contributes in the community. Her commitment to hockey runs about 24-30 hours a week, but she is also the President of the STU Student Athlete Council, helping to organize the STU Food Drive and a hygiene product drive in support of the Fredericton Women’s Shelter and Chrysalis House. She has also logged over 41 hours of community work throughout the year.
“She is a self-starter who can be counted upon to help plan and execute a fundraising or community initiative,” said Murphy about one of his assistant captains. “Her academics are beyond reproach and she plays a key role on our team as one of our assistant captains. Her contributions to the team over the years have been a key to our unprecedented success over that time. I cannot think of a better candidate for this prestigious award.”
Prior’s final year at the backend for the Tommies proved to possibly be his best. The Ganonoque, ON native was named a 1st Team ACAA All-Star, the recipient of the prestigious Bob Coe Award which is awarded annually to the male soccer player in the ACAA who best combines qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, enthusiasm and ability, both on and off the field, and earlier this year was a co-recipient of his team’s Leadership Award. He has also been one of the chairs of #studentsletsact Mental health awareness initiative as well as volunteering with the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival, Fredericton Marathon and STU Food Drive.
“Eric is the definition of a student-athlete, doing so much on and off the field for his team and the entire STU community,” said Tommies head coach, John-Ryan Morrison. “His lasting legacy has been to raise the bar for every STU athlete who follows in his footsteps on just how one should positively represent the green and gold of the Tommies.”
Leroy Washburn Community Service Award
The 2019-20 recipient of the Leroy Washburn Community Servivce Award is the women’s hockey team.
The women’s hockey team totaled over a very impressive 502 total volunteer hours throughout the year. Some of the initiatives they partook in include: minor hockey clinics and practices, Think Pink bake sale, Hygiene Product Drive for Crysalis House and Women’s Shelter, STUSAC Food Drive, and school visits.
“The women’s hockey team are a committed group and I am so pleased with their contribution in the community as well as their success on the ice and in the classroom,” said St. Thomas Director of Athletics, Michael Eagles. “Credit needs to be given to Peter for establishing the culture that enables his team to be strong in all three of these areas.”