KINGSTON, Ont. (March 27, 2024) - As part of the 88th annual Colour Awards, Queen's Athletics & Recreation recognizes leadership, contribution and dedication to the success of Gaels Varsity Sports with the Support Service Awards.
The Varsity Support Service Awards are presented annually to recognize the individuals who have demonstrated dedication and leadership while making a significant contribution to the success of the Queen's Varsity Sport Program.
The Support Service Award recipients for the 2023-24 season are Izzy Shih (Strength & Conditioning Intern of the Year), Payton Bottomley (Hal Dunlop Shield - Athletic Therapy), and Jocelyn Danby (Academic Support Award).
Strength & Conditioning Intern of the Year - Izzy Shih
The group of senior interns made it a very difficult decision for Colin, Dani, Evan, and myself this year. This year's Strength and Conditioning intern of the year was given a specific challenge at the end of last year, and to say that she's crushed that challenge would be an understatement. This individual has gone far above and beyond the requirement for our interns, putting in countless hours, being an exceptional mentor to the younger interns, and really blossoming tin to somebody that I would be more than happy to recommend for any job. Fortunately, this individual will be pursuing her Master's degree at Queen's, so we'll hopefully have her around for at least a couple more years. I'm proud to announce that this year's recipient for the Varsity Support Service Award for the Strength and Conditioning Intern of the Year goes to Izzy Shih.
Hal Dunlop Shield (Athletic Therapy) - Payton Bottomley
This year, 44 Student Trainers dedicated 10,000 hours to the health and success of Varsity Student Athletes. While I recognize and appreciate each and every one of them, one stood above the crowd for her exceptional care and dedication to the Men's Hockey Team last year and the Women's Soccer Team this year. This year's recipient of the Hal Dunlop Award is Payton Bottomley.
Academic Support Award - Jocelyn Danby
This year's recipient of the Athlete Services award is a remarkable individual who has worked with many units within Athletics and Recreation. From Marketing to Strength and Conditioning Intern, to an S&C Trainer, this person has always approached new opportunities with a strong work ethic and a smile. After completing her varsity rowing career, she began her journey within Athlete Services as the High Performance staff SWEP student back in the summer of 2022. Over the past two years, Jocelyn has been deeply involved in enhancing the academic support programs for Queen's student-athletes. She has been a Student-Athlete Academic Mentor, a Gaels Tutor, and a Tutor Coordinator. Her versatility is evident from the range of roles she has held over her time at Queen's, though we are sad to see her go, we are excited for her bright future and will always remember her as the "Joce of all trades". Congratulations to this year's recipient, Jocelyn Danby.
