KINGSTON, Ont. (March 31, 2010) – Matt Hulse (Track & Field/Cross Country) of Hartington, Ont., and Charly Thivierge-Lortie (Rowing) of Montreal, were named Queen's top student-athletes for the 2009-10 season at the 74th annual Colour Awards Wednesday night.

Hulse was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as the top male graduating student-athlete. The fourth year physical and health education major has been the star of the men's track and field team since his arrival in 2006 when he led the 4x800m relay team to a silver medal at the OUA Championships.

Since that time, he has gone on to win multiple medals at both the OUA and CIS Championships, including a gold and two silvers at the 2010 OUA Track & Field Championships. This total represents the most medals a Queen's athlete has captured a single OUA championship. He followed up that performance with a gold medal in the 1,000m race and a silver in the 1,500m race at the 2010 CIS Championships.

Hulse not only competed for the track and field team, he was also one of the Gaels top performers on the cross country team. He led the team to three third-place finishes at the OUA Championships during his tenure at Queen's.

Thivierge-Lortie, who was awarded the PHE'55 Alumnae Trophy, competed in the lightweight fours and lightweight eights categories where she won four gold and two silver medals in her three years competing at the OUA Championships, twice helping the women capture an OUA banner. At the national level, the results are nearly identical as she has two gold, two silver and a bronze medal, leading the Gaels to a national championship in 2007.

Winner of the rowing team's Botterel Award, which recognizes her leadership qualities, Thivierge-Lortie is the third consecutive rower, and fourth in five years, to earn the PHE'55 trophy. The previous two winners were former teammates Kristine Matusiak (Glenburnie, Ont.) and Connie Dayboll (Grimsby, Ont.), while Jenny Hogsden (Waterdown, Ont.) earned the honour in 2005-06.

A new major award for the 2009-10 season was unveiled by Athletics & Recreation recognizing the outstanding performance of the year. The inaugural recipient of the award was Yates Cup and Vanier Cup MVP Danny Brannagan of Burlington, Ont.

The Gaels quarterback guided the football team to a 7-1 regular season record, eventually capturing the Yates Cup and Vanier Cup championships. On top of those incredible honours, Brannagan became the first OUA quarterback to throw for 10,000 yards in a career, was named the OUA Athlete of the Week four times, the CIS Offensive Player of the Week six times and was nominated for the Lou Marsh Award as Canada's top male athlete for 2009. To cap it all off, he became the first CIS quarterback since former Gael Tom Denison (Beamsville, Ont.) to sign a professional contract, signing with the CFL's Toronto Argonauts in March.

The Alfie Pierce award recipients as the top rookies for this year were Payton Liske of Welland, Ont., from men's hockey, and Erin Roberts of Calgary, from women's squash. Liske was an offensive force for the Gaels in his first year in the OUA, leading the team and all OUA rookies in scoring with 40 points. Roberts led the Gaels to a 23-1 record and the OUA Championship title while being named the OUA Rookie of the Year and a first team all-star.

The accolades for the football team continued as Scott Valberg of Kingston, Ont., was honoured with the Jim Tait Memorial Award, presented to the outstanding male athlete in a team sport. Valberg enjoyed a tremendous five-year career, highlighted by his performance over the past two years. The two-time CIS All-Canadian led the nation in receiving yards in each of the last two seasons and finishes his career second on the Gaels all-time receiving yards list. This season, he capped off his career with a Yates Cup and Vanier Cup championship, recording two touchdowns for the Gaels in the national title game win against the Calgary Dinos.

Renee MacLellan of Kingston, Ont., was announced as the Award of Merit winner, awarded to the outstanding female athlete in a team sport. The three-time OUA East First Team All-Star twice led the Gaels to the CIS Championship tournament and was named a tournament all-star in 2006 when the team finished second in the country. This year, she goes out on top as she was named the OUA East MVP and the CIS Player of the Year after scoring 12 goals and leading her team to the best record in the OUA.

The Jack Jarvis Trophy and Marion Ross Award recipients were both members of this year's rowing squad. These trophies, awarded to the outstanding male and female athletes in individual sports, were awarded to Ryan Meyers of Kingston, Ont., and Caylen Heckel of Fort Erie, Ont.

Meyers has had an outstanding career as a member of the lightweight four's team. He has won one gold and two silver medals at the past three OUA Championships to go along with a gold and a silver at the Canadian University Rowing Championships. Last season, Ryan joined the lightweight eight's team where he earned gold at the OUA Championships as well as at the prestigious Head of Charles regatta in Boston, Mass.

Heckel was a member of the OUA Championship team after winning gold in the lightweight eight's and lightweight two's and added a gold in the lightweight four's at the national championships. This season, she won two silver medals at the provincial championships before adding a silver and a bronze at the national championships.

Hilary Felice was honoured with the Hal Dunlop trophy which is given annually to a student trainer who has made significant contribution to Athletic Therapy at Queen's.

Also unveiled at the annual awards banquet was the top moment of the 2009-10 season. The football team's run to the Vanier Cup championship was voted by the fans as the top moment from an original list of 35.

Two weeks ago, Queen's honoured two individuals at the Competitive Club Awards Banquet. Justin Murphy of Perth, Ont., and Veronica Johnston of Calgary, were named the top male and female athlete of the year for Competitive Clubs.

ATHLETICS & RECREATION MAJOR AWARD WINNERS FOR 2009-10

Jenkins Trophy: Matt Hulse (Cross Country/Track & Field)
PHE'55 Alumnae Award: Charly Thivierge-Lortie (Rowing)
Oustanding Performer of the Year (OPY): Danny Brannagan (Football)
Jim Tait Trophy: Scott Valberg (Football)
Award of Merity Trophy: Renee MacLellan (Soccer)
Jack Jarvis Trophy: Ryan Meyers (Rowing)
Marion Ross Trophy: Caylen Heckel (Rowing)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Payton Liske (Hockey)
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Erin Roberts (Squash)
Hal Dunlop Shield: Hilary Felice