GEORGE BROWN COLLEGE 2013-14 ATHLETIC AWARDS

TORONTO - George Brown College turned to its veterans this year for the prestigious annual athlete of the year awards given for sports excellence.

And both were from the sport of basketball.

Vadim Halimov and Aria Charles were honoured in the 45th annual gala event held at the Toronto Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel. George Brown president Anne Sado attended the event along with an array of special guests that included Perdita Felicien, a former Olympian and Canada's golden girl of the hurdles.

The Honourable Bal Gosal, Canada's Federal Minister of State responsible for Sport handed out awards, as did The Honourable Michael Chan, Ontario Minister of Sport and Responsible for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games. Amy Williams, a George Brown graduate and now working with the Canadian Olympic Committee and veteran sports announcer as well as Gemini award winner Brian Williams, also participated in honouring George Brown student athletes.

It was the finale to a sports year highlighting excellent achievements by athletes, coaches and others involved in one of the most successful seasons in sport in the college's history.

Halimov, with a remarkable year as a shooting guard, piled up a more than 12 awards in his final year of eligibility - including Canadian college player of the year as well as three Ontario Colleges Athletic Association records. Poised, confident and feisty, the performance of the 6-foot-3 Halimov was powerful on the basketball hardwood and he was instrumental in the Huskies posting a 15-5 record.

The 25-year old business marketing student, a four-time all-star, was also nominated for athlete of the year in Ontario and Canada. Halimov, an academic all-Canadian, also did well in the classroom pulling off one of the highest academic averages. On the hardwood, averaging 31.2 points a game and No. 1 in the country - he set provincial records in all-time career points, single-season scoring and free throw shooting.

Charles, from Toronto, is skilled and gifted capping her George Brown basketball career in fine fashion.

A multi-provincial all-star, the 24-year old forward was team captain had the best shooting average from the field, was the Huskies top rebounder finishing 11th in the OCAA and tied for top spot in scoring on the team averaging 10.3 points a game.

Graduating this year from the youth worker program, Charles is also a repeat winner of the Huskies athlete of the week awards and had a season-high 25 points in a win over Fleming.

She has had many accomplishments in her George Brown career including a first-team all-star two years ago, a two-time team MVP and twice led the Huskies in scoring during her four year playing career. She was also a key member of the George Brown team that won an OCAA bronze medal in the 2011-12 season.

"Two outstanding athletes, committed to excellence in sport and academics as well as being wonderful role models," said Ed Mark, manager of athletics and recreation at George Brown. "Superb performances in sport, but you can see them as successful contributors to society and destined for great careers - you can't ask for anything more."

Mark also recognized the support system - from coaches to assistants, therapists to managers - who devoted countless hours to the success of all George Brown athletes.

George Brown College also won several major awards from the OCAA including all-star selection for Halimov and Charles along with Rana Aziz and Elena Arevalo (women's soccer), Justin Bettencourt and Artsiom Biba (men's soccer), McKenzie Smikle and Jamie Lennox (baseball), Yujia (Nina) Chen and Yunji Kim (badminton), Jaime Janssen (women's basketball), John Luu and Richard Serote (men's volleyball) and Patricia Niengue (women's volleyball).

Other George Brown Huskies winning awards were those chosen as most valuable players for their respective teams: 

Badminton: Kent Cao and Ogyen Dorjee
Basketball (Men): Vadim Halimov
Basketball (Women): Aria Charles and Quichell Barriffe
Baseball: Jamie Lennox
Cross Country: Sean Sweeney
Soccer (Men): Justin Bettencourt (Outdoor) and Milad Khani (Indoor)
Soccer (Women): Elena Arevalo (Outdoor and Indoor) and Kasey Aukstakalnis (Indoor)
Volleyball (Women): Brittany Gee
Volleyball (Men): Edwin Sheon

A series of special awards were also announced with the Alex Barbier Bursary, presented to a student-athlete for outstanding leadership in their sport of student life involvement, Masini McDermott.

The Michael "Pinball" Clemons award for academic excellence went to soccer player Rana Aziz while the George Brown College Student Association athletic awards for excellence in academics went to soccer player Andria Valente while the men's award was shared between Kyle Taitt in soccer and distance runner Mitchell Visser.

The Husky merit award, given to a student who has made an all-around outstanding contribution to varsity athletics programming at George Brown College went to basketball's Vadim Halimov.

Volleyball player Edwin Sheon won the KC fitness award, recognizing an outstanding student athlete on any varsity team who has maintained an excellent academic standing within their program and also has made significant contribution to a team.

The contribution to athletics award, sponsored by Vital CPR, was given to individuals who demonstrated Huskies spirit considered to be beyond expectation. They were Vane Kuzmanov, Lenore Johnson and Bonnie Tran.

Source: George Brown College