KINGSTON, Ont. (Jan. 27, 2022) – Queen's Athletics & Recreation is proud to announce Laura Yantha, Alex Pipchuk, Azalea Walc, and Rory McEwen as the recipients of the Nixon Academic Leadership Award for the 2020-21 academic year.

The Nixon Award is given out to the male and female athletes from both the varsity teams and clubs who have exemplified achievement in academics, community service and fair play in their sport. These awards are named in honour of Gord and Janet Nixon, two extraordinary benefactors to Athletics & Recreation.

Yantha (Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field | Arts & Science) and Pipchuk (Men's Rugby | Graduate Studies) are the recipients from varsity teams while Walc (Triathlon | Graduate Studies) and McEwen (Fencing | Graduate Studies) are the recipients from varsity teams.

"Congratulations to our Nixon Award recipients, and to each and every one of our record 502 Academic All-Stars who have displayed tremendous resiliency during a challenging year that did not allow full participation with their respective teams," said Leslie Dal Cin, Executive Director, Athletics & Recreation.

"Our Nixon Award winners for the 2020-21 season, Azalea, Rory, Laura and Alex, are outstanding student-athletes who have demonstrated the highest level of passion, dedication, academic talent, leadership and citizenship. They are truly inspiring and epitomize what it means to be a student-athlete."

In combination with Yantha's incredible achievements in the classroom, the fourth-year BScH (Biology) student has volunteered with a number of worthy causes during her time at Queen's, including Martha's Table, The Earth Centre at Queen's, Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, Hope for Wildlife as a wildlife rehabilitation volunteer, and Jecara Farms as a farm hand volunteer.

Yantha has also served as a swim instructor for Swimming With A Mission (S.W.A.M.) and as an Arts & Science Orientation Leader at Queen's.

As a member of Queen's Cross Country and Track & Field teams, Yantha has undertaken an active senior leadership role in communicating about the team environment and is a role model for both physical and mental health of teammates, as well as being a positive mentor and example for younger teammates.

Yantha was a member of Queen's U SPORTS Women's Cross Country Championship team in 2019 and showed perseverance to compete through injuries to compete in the 2021 U SPORTS Women's Cross Country Championship.

"I cannot say enough for her protective and caring attitude towards her teammates," said Cross Country and Track & Field Head Coach Mark Bomba. "Despite some injuries early in the season, she persevered to be one of our top runners at the U SPORTS Cross Country Championship.

Pipchuk has been an engaged participant and team leader in Men's Rugby's Run for the Cure fundraiser. As captain of the team's efforts, the second-year MSc student has coordinated registration, fundraising efforts, and participation of Queen's Men's Rugby in Run for the Cure. During Pipchuk's time at Queen's the Men's Rugby team has been the top fundraising team in Kingston ($30,437 in 2018, $20,275 in 2019, $12,984 in 2020, $18,678 in 2021). In 2021, Pipchuck also joined the Kingston Run for the Cure organizing committee as Community Outreach Lead. He was awarded a Trillium Award in 2019 for his work with Run for the Cure.

Pipchuk has also served as his team's Community Outreach Lead, where he developed a program where Queen's Men's Rugby players taught rugby at local middle schools, among other initiatives.

Pipchuk was an outreach volunteer for Queen's Genetically Engineered Machine (QGEM) team and participant in the Motionball Marathon of Sport.

On the pitch, Pipchuk has been a member of the Men's Rugby team leadership group, tasked with helping Head Coach Dave Butcher manage and support athletes on the team. He has been a regular on the First Team since 2017, helping Queen's win three gold medals and one silver medal at the OUA level, and two bronze medals in the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship.

"I cannot speak highly enough of Alex, not just as an athlete but an outstanding human being," said Butcher. "In my 16 years of coaching I have never met an athlete that has more drive and determination to succeed, but also ensures that everyone around him succeeds, and is selfless in ensuring that happens."

Walc has worked extensively with athletes and individuals with disabilities during her time at Queen's. The third-year MSc student has volunteered as personal trainer for individuals with identified disabilities with Revved Up, a physical activity coach for athletes with disabilities with Get in Motion, an event facilitator for children with disabilities with the Winter Adapted Games, and with athletes with disabilities with Motionball Marathon of Sport.

Walc has also donated her time as a volunteer Vice President of Promotions for Step Above Stigma for Mental Health, a volunteer performer for Project Red Charity Fashion Show for Hearth and Stroke Foundation, and a volunteer Executive Operations Manager and performer for Queen's Dancerama for Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Walc is Queen's Triathlon's VLC representative, participating in several initiatives including the team's Movember and Crush COVID fundraisers, and is the team's social media coordinator, helping spread awareness of the Canadian University Triathlon Virtual National Championship Series in 2021-22.

"From Day One Azalea has brought a great attitude to the sport," said Queen's Triathlon Head Coach Avery Ling. "Her intelligent approach to learning and growing in the sport combined with a fantastic work ethic helped her achieve a meteoric rise in triathlon, most notably earning two first-place finishes in national inter-university competition, and qualifying for the 2022 70.3 Ironman AG World Championships.

"Despite this success, Azalea treats herself as any other athlete on the team and strives for improvement the same as on Day One. When COVID-19 forced the team to train remotely, Azalea still never missed a workout and is well known to be the last to leave. This attitude and work ethic serve as a role model for other athletes to follow."

McEwen has served as a Research Assistant with a variety of labs while at Queen's and has passed along knowledge and training to new lab members after becoming a Graduate Researcher at Oleschuk Lab. The second-year MSc student taught more than 100 students fundamental chemistry concepts at Queen's.

Since starting with Queen's Men's Fencing in 2016, McEwen has consistently supported the program by sharing his knowledge and expertise gained by training with Olympic coaches from Brazil and the United States prior to attending Queen's.

A team captain, McEwen has led full team practices throughout his five years with the club and helped institute and develop a strength and conditioning program for the club.

"Rory McEwen joined Queen's Fencing in 2016 and quickly became an integral member of the team, said Rod Carter, Queen's Fencing Head Coach. "A leader and a role model, Rory was elected the Men's Epee captain for two years and the Men's Team captain. In his final two competitive seasons, he led the Epee team to silver medals in the OUA championships, which, in 2019-20, was a key factor in the Queen's team winning the bronze in the overall competition that year.

"On piste and off, Rory conducted himself with the highest level of fairness and integrity, earning the respect of his teammates, opponents, and officials."