<COLOUR AWARDS VIDEOS>

KINGSTON, Ont. (March 28, 2012) – Natalie Gray (Volleyball) of Oshawa, Ont., and Osie Ukwuoma (Football) of Mississauga, Ont., were named the top student-athletes for the 2011-12 season at the 76th annual Colour Awards Varsity Team athletic banquet Wednesday night at the Ambassador Hotel.

Gray, this year's PHE '55 Alumnae Award winner, is a true student-athlete, having shown her commitment to not only her team but also to her studies and her community during her four seasons as a Gael.

The fourth year nursing student was named to the OUA All-Rookie team in her first year and she built on her early success in her second season as she was named an OUA first team All-Star, a feat she repeated twice more to grab OUA recognition in each of her four seasons.

She was simply dominant on the court in her final season, topping the 200 kill mark for the second time in her career and setting a new career high in digs with 218. She finished the 2011-12 season as the OUA's top player, an OUA first team All-Star, the OUA award of merit winner, a CIS second team All-Canadian and was the first Gael to be named winner of the CIS Therese Quigley award which recognizes academics, athletics and community service. Her efforts helped to lead her team through the OUA playoffs and to the team's first OUA Championship title. 

Ukwuoma was awarded the Jenkins Trophy as the top male senior student-athlete. The second year law student was a surprise addition to training camp this season as he returned to the Gaels for his fifth and final CIS season to cap off one of the best defensive careers in Gaels football history.

During his career as a Gael, Ukwuoma has been recognized amongst the countries best – collecting many accolades  - a three-time All-Canadian, four time OUA first team All-Star and two time winner of the OUA J.P. Metras award for top lineman. Osie was a key member of the 2009 team that went on to win the Yates Cup and Vanier Cup finishing the playoff run with 13 solo and seven assisted tackles.
 
This season Osie was an unstoppable force, leading a defense that went the entire regular season and an additional playoff game without allowing a rushing touchdown, a truly remarkable feat. He led the OUA in sacks with 6 and tackles for a loss with 12 on his way to being named a 2012 OUA first team All-Star and winning his second JP Metras award as the top lineman in the OUA.

With a number of standout performances by individual athletes in 2011-12, the Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY) honour was awarded to Joren Zeeman (Volleyball) of Cambridge, Ont.

After representing Canada at the FISU games this past summer, Zeeman was one of the most dominant players in the CIS this season. He ranked among the top attackers in kills, kills per set, and points. He was the catalyst for a men's volleyball team that achieved the highest finish in program history as they finished fourth at the CIS Championship.

Zeeman will graduate this year as the most decorated player in team history as he set the record for scoring in both a season and a career with 1,111 kills over his five seasons and 226 kills in a single season. He also holds the team record for kills in a game with 31.

His outstanding performacne throughout the course of the year earned him numerous honours, including OUA Athlete of the Week, OUA first team All-Star, OUA Player of the Yeas and CIS first team All-Canadian status. 

The Alfie Pierce Trophy recipients for top male and female rookie of the year were Jessie De Boer (Soccer) of North Vancouver, B.C., and Matt Christie (Rowing) of Ottawa.

De Boer quickly established her place as one of the most versatile players on the squad, playing every position except goaltender during the teams' second consecutive run to a national championship. Scoring five goals, while playing in all 16 games in the regular season, she was named OUA East Rookie of the Year and also earned a place on the OUA East All-Star second team.

Christie made his debut with the men's rowing team this season and immediately became their top ranked rower, helping the team to a third place provincial finish and fourth place nationally. After capturing a bronze medal in the lightweight eight at the OUA Championships, Matt followed that up with a gold medal at the Canadian University Rowing Championships in the lightweight men's single race.

The Jim Tait Trophy, is presented annually to the top performing Varsity Team. The award was presented Wednesday night to the CIS Champion women's soccer team.

After the success of 2010, the Women's Soccer team was expecting great things for the 2011 season.  A force to be reckoned with from the opening kick-off, the squad cruised through the regular season, posting a record of 13-1-2 while scoring 46 goals and limiting their opponents to just 12. The Gaels met their OUA West rivals - the Laurier Golden Hawks - in the OUA Championship game where they won their first OUA championship since 2002, defeating the Golden Hawks 5-4 in penalty kicks.

Entering the CIS tournament as the No. 4 ranked team in the nation, the Gaels took down the No. 9 Alberta Pandas in their first game and followed with a victory over their divisional rivals, the Ottawa Gee-Gees, 3-2 in penalty kicks to advance to the finals.

In the final, they met the No. 1 Montreal Carabins. After a scoreless game penalty kicks were needed to decide a Champion. Keeper Chantel Marson of London, Ont. stopped three of four Montreal kicks while Queen's only needed three attempts to win the shootout 3-1 and capture back-to-back National Championships.

Women's soccer's national championship victory, their second in as many years, was also unveiled as the top moment of the 2011-12 season as voted on by the fans, beating out over 40 other moments from the year.

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

Also honoured Wednesday night were Queen's Athletics long time doctors, Dr. Wayne Spotswood, Dr. David Walker and Dr. Steve Bagg who were honoured with the Michael J. Rodden Award for distinguished service to athletics.  The Queen's Special Recognition Award was given to Ann Browne, Bob Polegato, David Crabb, and Claude Bellarose from Physical Plant Services.

On Tuesday, Queen's Athletics and Recreation honoured its top athletes in the Varsity Club stream. Emily Young (Figure Skating) of Calgary and Michael Nishiyama of Edmonton, claimed the top senior student-athlete awards while Men's Fencing earned Varsity Club of the Year.  Haley Smith (Cycling) of Uxbridge, Ont., and Al Quinsey (Fencing) of Kingston, Ont., claimed rookie of the year awards.

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY TEAM AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2011-12

Jenkins Trophy: Osie Ukwuoma (Football)
PHE '55 Alumnae Award: Natalie Gray (Volleyball)
Outstanding Performance of the Year (OPY): Joren Zeeman (Volleyball)
Jim Tait Trophy: Women's Soccer
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Male): Matt Christie
Alfie Pierce Trophy (Female): Jessie De Boer
Hal Dunlop Shield: Leah Franco
Michael J. Rodden Award (Distinguished Service): Dr. Wayne Spotswood, Dr. David Walker, Dr. Steve Bagg
Special Recognition Awards: Ann Browne, Bob Polegato, David Crabb, and Claude Bellarose (Physical Plant Services)

QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS & RECREATION VARSITY CLUB AWARD RECIPIENTS FOR 2011-12