In recognition of all of her achievements and contributions both in and out of the pool, Trent University varsity swimmer Daniela Sheinin has been selected as one of the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) 2011/12 Women of Influence, an award that honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement.

Ms. Sheinin and the other top female athletes from across the province was honoured at a luncheon on May 8 during the OUA meetings at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario. This year's guest speaker was dual-sport national athlete, Olympic gold medalist, and OUA alumnus Heather Moyse.

Ms. Sheinin, a Peterborough native, is a graduating fourth-year student at Trent University who recently completed an undergraduate degree in History. A team captain of the varsity swim team, this year she posted qualifying times for the 2011 CIS Championships.

Swimming competitively since the age of eight, Ms. Sheinin joined the varsity team at Trent University when she started attending in 2009. In her three years on the team, she has been a strong leader and competitive force, qualifying for her first senior provincials in her first year at Trent. The following year she qualified for the Eastern Canadian Championships and the Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Championships – the first Trent representative at the national championship in four years. Always striving for the top, Ms. Sheinin broke the school records in the 50 and 100 butterfly and was a key member of the school record setting 400 free relay team. In recognition of her accomplishments, last year she was named the Huronia Region Athletes Representative for Swim Ontario.

A shining example of what a student-athlete should be, she excels in the classroom, was named an Academic All-Canadian for two straight years and has presented her work to the Middle Atlantic Council of Latin American Studies. Away from campus she volunteers for numerous non-profit committees with particular emphasis on helping St. John’s Ambulance. She regularly teaches courses to youth in the community, including Jamaica Self Help and is active in the Service for Seniors program, lending a hand to senior citizens in the area.

In the fall, Ms. Sheinin will begin her MA in American History at the University of Toronto. Following that, she hopes to eventually complete a PhD and move into a career in academia.