Trent University’s Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated student athletic achievement at the 42nd annual Athletic Awards Ceremony, held in the Great Hall at Champlain College on March 30, 2011. During the event, students were honoured with the following awards: Team Sport Awards; Campus Recreation Awards; Varsity Community Betterment Award; Gary Wolff Leadership Award; Excalibur Awards of Distinction; University Athletic Awards; and the Arthur Cup.

Varsity rugby player Kristine Boyles and Varsity rower Brent Holmes (pictured here) were awarded the Arthur Cup, the University’s most prestigious award for graduates who have demonstrated outstanding contribution, sportsmanship, participation, and leadership in the athletic programs.

Kristine (Krissy) Boyles, a Peterborough native, has been the captain of the Excalibur Women’s Rugby team for two years. Set to graduate from Trent this Spring with a degree in Biology, Krissy leaves the University as the Excalibur's all-time leading scorer and only All-Canadian – an honour she was been awarded twice. She has also twice been an OUA All-Star and the OUA Most Valuable Player once. She holds the Trent records for most points in a season with 27 and career with 78. For the last four seasons she has consistently ranked among the top kickers in all of Canadian University Rugby. Krissy’s coach, Craig Harris, describes her as “a fiery competitor whose bite is worse than her considerable bark.” He adds, “There will be other people playing "10" for Trent, but there will never be another Krissy Boyles.”

Brent Holmes is a prized member of the Trent University Rowing Club. As a Peterborough native, Brent started rowing in high school and went straight onto the varsity team when he arrived at Trent to study Philosophy and Economics. In 2010-11, Brent placed first in the men’s heavyweight single at the OUAs, the Head of the Rideau and the Brock Invitational. With the heavyweight varsity eight, he rowed to a first place finish at Head of the Rideau and a second place finish at Head of the Trent (off the first place team by less than a second). Brent has trained and competed at the national level and represented Canada in the Under 23 4+ in 2006 and at the 2007 PanAm Games in the 4- where he won a bronze medal. In 2008, he won gold in pairs at the nationals with partner Mark Basterfield. Off the water, Brent is also an avid volunteer and community contributor. In 2005 and 2006 he was elected president of the Trent University Rowing Club (TURC). Over the past season Brent was also a key participant in TURC Thanksgiving food drive and Christmas toy drive.

“Krissy and Brent have distinguished both Trent and themselves throughout their careers at the University,” said Director of Athletics Bill Byrick. “Both have worked hard, been supportive team members and contributed to improving the overall quality of our varsity program. These are outstanding athletes competing at the national and international level, who are always striving to improve. They are both outstanding individuals and we are proud of their achievements at Trent.”

Another prestigious award, the Gary Wolff Leadership Award, was presented to Khalil Ajram, a varsity rugby player from Newmarket, Ontario. The award is presented each year to a student athlete who has demonstrated determination and leadership through balancing sport, community involvement and academic performance. This award was established by the Trent University Alumni Association in June 2002 to commemorate the service of Gary Wolff, chair of the Board of Governors from 1997 to 2002. Khalil Ajram, a key member of the men’s varsity rugby team since 2008, will graduate from Trent this spring with a degree in Business Administration. As a team leader, Khalil has been in charge of the team’s finances and has organized major team events and fundraisers, including participation in the Movember campaign to support prostate cancer research. Under his leadership, the team raised $1,500 for the cause and Khalil was the top individual fundraiser. He is co-chair of the Trent Varsity Athletic Committee and varsity rep on the Athletics Advisory Committee. Most recently he helped chair this committee and aided in presenting the budget for the past academic year. In addition to all of these various roles, Khalil is also a mentor and tutor for many of his teammates, helping them succeed in balancing both academic and athletic demands.

The Varsity Community Betterment Award, a new award presented for only the second time, was presented to the Trent rowing team in recognition of significant community contributions and active involvement towards the betterment of social, economical, and/or environmental issues within Peterborough. Over the past season, the TURC led several community projects with amazing results. Their Thanksgiving food drive, which set out to raise the equivalent of the men’s heavy eight team, exceeded the goal and raised over 2,260 pounds of non-perishable food items for Kawartha Food Share. A partnership with St. Mary’s Public School resulted in Christmas baskets filled with sweaters, toothbrushes, hats and mitts and more for over 30 families in need. The team also made a $250 donation to a Breastacular event supporting breast cancer research, in addition to an impressive $65,000 donation over five years to support the naming of the Carol Love Rowing/Paddling Tank.

In addition, the following students were honoured with the University Athletic Award, presented to third- and fourth-year students who have demonstrated a significant contribution to the varsity and campus recreation programs:

Jessica Clancy – Woodbridge, ON (Volleyball)
Candice Cook – Peterborough, ON (Rowing)
Ben Kinzett – Newmarket, Ontario (Volleyball)
Brock Koczka – Peterborough, ON (Lacrosse)
Hannah Lewis – Guelph, ON (Rowing)
Joshua Neadow – Parham, ON (Volleyball)
Paul Nopper – Merrickville, ON (Rugby)
Brock O’Reilly – Barry’s Bay, ON (Rowing)
Christine Rivest – Belle River, ON (Fencing)
Maija Robinson – Kimberley, ON (Rowing)
Alexandra (Alex) Thompson – Peterborough, ON (Volleyball)

Many varsity athletes were also honoured with Team Sport Awards, for outstanding commitment and dedication to their respective sports.

View the complete list of winners here.