Following a challenging year for university sports across Canada, U SPORTS is proud to announce the launch of the inaugural Mitchell Family U SPORTS Alumni of the Year Awards.
The new award honours the long-time champions of the U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Program, The Honourable Lois and Doug Mitchell, and will celebrate eight former varsity athletes who have become leaders in their communities, and recognize the continued contributions by each alumnus to their alma mater.
The female and male Alumni of the Year will receive the Jim Thompson Trophy, and the opportunity to donate a leadership training session provided by Blueprint for a group of deserving students at the institution of their choice.
“Our goal with this award is to create a culture and legacy of giving back. We are pleased to showcase inspirational community leaders that attribute their success, in part, to the lessons they learned and skills they developed as university athletes. These awards will recognize the essential role that university sports play in shaping Canada’s leaders. We hope this becomes an inspiration for not just students and future students but for all Canadians and we are grateful for the opportunity to share these stories on a national scale.”
The Honourable Lois and Doug Mitchell
The winners will be selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation – a not-for-profit Board of Trustees from across Canada, formed by Chairman Doug Mitchell in 1993, for the purpose of providing more recognition for Canadian university student-athletes.
The awards are Presented by Makadiff Sports and the recipients will be announced virtually on May 20.
“We appreciate the continued support of The Honourable Lois and Doug Mitchell in helping us showcase and mentor our talented and accomplished student-athletes for nearly three decades,” said U SPORTS Interim CEO Dick White. “This new award presents a terrific opportunity to highlight their achievements that were cultivated from success experienced both in the classroom and on the field of play, while also empowering the next generation to emulate these role models in our society.”