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April 4^th, 2025 – The Department of Athletics and Recreation hosted our 10^th annual Part-Time Staff Appreciation Banquet. Annually, we bring together all the units that run our facilities, events and programs for the Department of Athletics and the community of Guelph in our facilities. There were many highlights and all of our teams and staff should be congratulated for a busy and full year of serving our students, members and community.

Congratulations to all our award winners.

Matrix Student Leadership Award

This award is presented to the part-time employee who is a current full-time post-secondary undergraduate student and acts as a role model for their peers. This person is a leader within the department and demonstrates the following qualities:

• Someone who makes coming to work enjoyable
• Motivates their coworkers
• Takes on a mentorship role among their peers
• Looks for ways to improve their work environment
• Leads by modelling a friendly, inclusive and professional attitude
• Encourages cross-unit co-worker bonding and development
• Supportive and encouraging of the spirit of arc (athletics and recreation committee)
• Has worked a minimum of 2 semesters for the Department

Nominees:

Lauren St. John from Fitness & Sal Curto from Facilities

The Winner:

Lauren St. John is the recipient of the Matrix Student Leadership Award for her exceptional dedication, leadership, and professionalism. While balancing full-time studies, she shaped a new staff structure, mentored peers, refined operations, and built strong team relationships—leaving a lasting impact and setting a high standard for others to follow.

Service and Dedication Award

This award is presented to the part-time employee who puts service first in their daily job tasks. This person understands the value of excellent customer service for both internal and external customers. The characteristics of this employee are:

• Displays enthusiasm and dedication to their work unit and the department as a whole
• Greets all members and customers with a smile and takes the time to get to know them
• Extremely reliable
• Interacts with other campus organizations on behalf of the Department

Nominees:

Eva Gabler from Client Services, Lexi Runstedler from Fitness & Ijeoma Nwafor from Facilities

The Winner:

Ijeoma is the recipient of the Service and Dedication Award for her outstanding leadership, care, and commitment. From mentoring staff to managing major events, she elevates every role she takes on. Her positivity, professionalism, and ability to connect with others have made a lasting impact across our team and community.

Directors Award

This award is presented to the part-time employee who exemplifies the true nature of the department of athletics. This person is an individual who conducts themselves as an ambassador of athletics at all times. The characteristics of this employee are:

• Ambassador for athletics throughout the campus and city communities
• Excellent leadership within the department
• Goes above and beyond and conducts themselves with maturity
• Creates a sense of teamwork within their units
• Has worked a minimum of 3 semesters for the Department

The Winner:

Nolan Pitt receives this year’s Director’s Award for his outstanding leadership, initiative, and dedication. Over two years, he has expertly led swim meet operations, ensured safety, and supported colleagues with professionalism and poise. His reliability, teamwork, and strong relationships have made him an invaluable part of our aquatics team.

Unit Awards

The GryphVision MVP 2024-25 Award – Will Shuya
Fitness – Rookie of the Year Award 2024-25 – Madeline Patrick
Fitness Centre Staff of the Year 2024-25 – Claire MacDougall
Fitness – Heart Award 2024-25 – Matteo Puga
Fitness – Growth and Development Award 2024-25 – Alexis Runstedler
Fitness Instructor of the Year Award 2024-25 – Alanna Wolf
Personal Trainer of the Year Award 2024-25 – Indigo Walker
Fitness MVP of the Year Award 2024-25 – Nika Di Summa

Fields Rookie of the Year 2024-25 – Cale Topham
Fields MVP 2024-25 – Connor Chumbley

Fieldhouse Rookie of the Year Award 2024-25 – Zeynab Razavi
Fieldhouse MVP Award 2024-25 – Raquel Cuzen

GGAC Rookie of the Year Award 2024-25 – Celia Harvie
GGAC MVP Award 2024-25 – Marwan Al Zouabi

Gryphon Centre Arena Rookie of the Year 2024-25 – Jackson Carpendale
Gryphon Centre Arena MVP 2024-25 – Scott Cremasco

Client Services Rookie of the Year Award 2024-25 – Claire Kelterborn
Client Services MVP Award 2024-25 – Justine Babin
Client Services Team Player of the Year Award 2024-25 – Maxine Braganza
Client Services Client Care Champion Award 2024-25 – Amy Coppolino

Rookie Official of the Year Award 2024-25 – Evia Chase
Outstanding Intramural Achievement Award 2024-25 – Meghan Roe
Intramural Administrator of the Year Award 2024-25 – Ellen Manderville

Aquatics Rookie of the Year 2024-25 – Madison Castle
Aquatics Instructor of the Year 2024-25 – Kalina Russell
Aquatics Instructor of the Year 2024-25 – Bethany Edwards
Aquatics Lifeguard of the Year 2024-25 – Grace Child
Aquatics Lifeguard of the Year 2024-25 – Caelia Moulton

Event Staff Rookie of the Year Award 2024-25 – Lindsay Bouwman
Event Staff MVP Award 2024-25 – Holly Moore
Game Day Manager MVP 2024-25 – Grace Segato

The Stats MVP Award 2024-25 – Charlie Francuz
Active Kids Trailblazer Award 2024-25 – Megan LeBlanc
Gryphon Activity Camps Staff People’s Choice Award 2024 – Graham Gould

Climbing Wall Monitor Impact Award 2024-25 – Mya Trombley
Climbing Wall Monitor Visionary Award 2024-25 – Matthew Newman