General Athletics | 4/3/2015 2:51:00 PM

BURNABY, BC. –Clan student-athletes were recognized at the 50th annual Clan Athletic Gala this week at the Hilton Vancouver Metrotown where the evening's highlight award, Athlete of the Year, was highly contested but ultimately shared by basketball player Erin Chambers and middle distance runner Lindsey Butterworth on the women's side while soccer player Jovan Blagojevic received Male Athlete of the Year honours.
 
VIDEO: Male Athlete of the Year Finalists - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wt5WzQ2ES8c
VIDEO: Female Athlete of the Year Finalists - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBzHw478fWM
 
Butterworth and Blagojevic also received the Lorne Davies Senior Award, given to a graduating senior who excels in competition, in the classroom and in the community. The award is named in honour of the Clan's founding athletic director who recently passed away.
 
VIDEO: Lorne Davies Senior Award - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTHDo4-cEbI
 
The Terry Fox Awards for Inspiration went to middle distance runners and teammates Jennifer Johnson and Cameron Proceviat.
 
VIDEO: Terry Fox Award for Inspiration - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEsqhOudM1g
 
Johnson overcame a series of injuries, including a broken pelvis and fibula, to finally achieve All-American honours in cross country and indoor track and field as a graduate student. Johnson inspires her teammates with her work ethic and leadership while also carring a 3.89 grade point average (GPA).
 
This season Proceviat won his first ever GNAC title in the mile and won three GNAC Indoor championships in the 800 metres, Distance Medley Relay and  4x400 m relay. He earned all-conference honours in outdoor track and was a key member of the men's cross country team that qualified for nationals for the first time ever. Proceviat is the president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, volunteers as a learning coach and tutor and carries a 3.85 GPA.
 
In 2015, the President's Academic Team of the Year Award went to the women's volleyball team with a team GPA of 3.14 while enjoying the program's first winning record and best season since joining the NCAA.
 
It was a historic season for the women's cross country team, winning its first-ever GNAC and West Region crowns, and then coming seventh at nationals, its highest finish ever. The team was awarded the President's Athletic Achievement Team of the Year Award
 
Cross country was also honoured with the Clan's Department Scholar Athlete Award, presented to Lorenzo Smith with the highest overall grade point average of 4.21 out of a possible 4.5.
 
Kelsie Hawkins received the Rick Jones Award for Courage, which recognizes an athlete who has overcome adversity.
 
VIDEO: Rick Jones Award for Courage - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_JMCVNCyHI
 
As a freshman pitcher on the Clan softball team, Hawkins withdrew from school to return home to spend time with her mother who was diagnosed with late stage brain cancer.  They spent precious time together before her mom passed away a short time later.  Last season was supposed to be Hawkins senior year but she suffered a back injury and missed the entire season.  Although not yet 100%, Hawkins has returned for her senior season and is once again one of the most dominant pitchers in the GNAC.
 
Brandon Watson, a goalkeeper on the men's soccer team, who carries a 4.1 GPA in Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology and made the GNAC All-Conference team, received the Bill DeVries Award for Outstanding Academic and Athletic Achievement.
 
VIDEO: Bill DeVries Award - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvFLihXeDX0
 
This year the SFU Athletics department introduced a new award called the Margaret Jones Lifetime Achievement Award to honour individuals who, during their lifetimes, have made incredible contributions to the legacy of Clan athletics. This august, Margaret, an administrator in Athletics will have worked at SFU for 50 years, pouring her heart and soul into making the university experience more enjoyable for students.
 
The first recipient of the Margaret Jones Lifetime Achievement Award went to Laurie Freebairn, the senior women's administrator and head athletic therapist, who treated varsity athletes for almost 30 years. Laurie also worked with the Canadian National Basketball, Wrestling and Softball teams and she has represented Canada at two Olympic Games. Laurie is retiring in May.
 
Mike Lionello, director of football operations and running backs coach, from the football team, received the Fred Dietrich Award for dedication to Clan Athletics.
 
The VW Kip Dougherty Award, given to a SFU student trainer or manager who has made a great contribution to an athletic program, went Darren Corea, Steven McGee and Jeffery Yu from the football training staff.