Student-athletes celebrated at annual Leadership Academy breakfast

ANTIGONISH, NS – The STFX Student-Athlete Leadership Academy recently wrapped up its 14^th year with a celebratory breakfast banquet where 112 student-athletes received leadership certificates for their work completed over the 2025-26 academic year.

Established in 2012, the STFX Athletics Leadership Academy strives to challenge, develop, and support STFX student-athletes through comprehensive leadership training and development.

The Academy founder and director is STFX Director of Athletics & Recreation, Leo MacPherson, who delivers the curriculum alongside associate director of the Academy and STFX Human Kinetics Professor Dr. Angie Kolen.

The Academy is comprised of three primary classifications, which are as follows:

Rising Leaders: Designed for a select group of high potential second and third year student-athletes (and select first year student-athletes). Through a number of ongoing workshops and interactive exercises, the Rising Leaders program provides a strong leadership by example foundation for student-athletes to develop into effective leaders.

Veteran Leaders: Designed for team captains and veteran student-athletes, this program focuses on leading with STFX Athletics and team values to effectively lead others. The program assists student-athletes in developing the skills and knowledge essential to be an effective vocal leader as they navigate the ongoing challenges and responsibilities of team leadership. The program also provides a strong focus on accountability and team standards to effectively build and enhance team culture.      

Elite Leaders: Designed for senior leaders who have successfully completed both Rising and Veteran Leaders programs. The Elite Leaders program focuses on applying leadership skills to positively impact the team, athletic department, campus and community at large. A significant component of the Elite Leaders program is for each leader to undergo a 360 degree evaluation of their leadership skills.  There is also a focus on life after sport and how to transition leadership skills from sport to career.

This year there were 21 student-athletes who received Leader of Distinction Awards, the highest honour bestowed by the STFX Athletics Leadership Academy following a rigorous evaluation process. These student-athletes have earned the utmost respect from their teammates, coaches and themselves. The 2025-26 recipients of the Leader of Distinction Awards are:

Caroline Ash, X-Women Cross Country/Track
Damian DeDekker, X-Men Soccer
Emily Dodge, X-Women Rugby
Luke Green, X-Men Soccer
Zachary Houde, X-Men Football
Caden Lee, X-Women Cross Country/Track
Meghan Linegar, X-Women Soccer
Aidan Miller, X-Women Soccer
Kya Moss, X-Women Hockey
Terryn Mozes, X-Women Hockey
Katie Murphy, X-Women Rugby
Lauren Neeve, X-Women Basketball
Brooklyn Oakes, X-Women Hockey
Liam Patterson, X-Men Cross Country/Track
Payton Plesh, X-Men Football           
Quincy Rotsaert-Smith, X-Women Cross Country/Track
Mali Straker, X-Women Basketball  
Maxwell Thomson, X-Men Football 
Valerie von Muehldorfer, X-Women Rugby 
Tristan Watrych, X-Men Football
Sierra Wood, X-Women Rugby

The 2025-26 Elite Leaders are as follows:

Akwaima Akpan
Caroline Ash
Samuel Barrowcliffe
Charlie Callaghan
Tyler Carlson
Meghan Cole
Krissy Cooper
Damian DeDekker
Emily Dodge
Luke Green
Zachary Houde
DJ Jackson
Kilian Kelly
Will Kubas
Caden Lee
Meghan Linegar
Rylin Matheson
Liam McCullagh
Kya Moss
Terryn Mozes
Katie Murphy
Lauren Neeve
Jeff Ngandu
Brooklyn Oakes
Liam Patterson
Gabriel Pelletier
Payton Plesh
Quincy Rotsaert-Smith
Cole Stewart
Mali Straker
Samuel Taylor
Maxwell Thomson
Valerie von Muehldorfer
Tristan Watrych
Raegan Wiles
Sierra Wood

The 2025-26 Veteran Leaders are as follows:

Ava Bangs
Drew Bell
Reegan Bell
Tim Bilek
Cheyenne Bower
Ella Brazier
Jonathan Burgess
Kate Childs
Ava Elgood
Griffin Gamble
Shona Galloway
Nico Goldsztein
Kai Grose
Rebecca Haney
Kalle Hastman
Brad Hulton
Hailey Jones
Lainey Joyce
Musa Kamara
Brett King
Mathew Lawton
Patrick Leaver
Zoe Lenci
Andrew Lupenette
Bree MacPherson
Joanna Martinson
Ireland McCloskey
Macy McDonell
Sam Morrison
Téa Pearce
Jessie Penney
Zoe Power
Louise Rouse
Oluwatobiloba Sokunbi
Ryan Struthers
Koat Thomas
Isaac VanWychen
Owen Watrych
Sarah Watson
Giancarlo Wylie 

The 2025-26 Rising Leaders are as follows:

Deion Blackwood      
Katie Bohonos
Aaron Brown
Jorja Burrows
Malcom Cameron
Bryn Canning
Claire Carruthers
Landyn Cooke-Bithrey
Des Crawford
Logan Cunningham
Ashlee Delaney
Erica Doyle
Owen Frayne
Ryan Gerrard
Toby Graham
Elizabeth Hardy
Macy Harper
Eden Hildebrand
Jordan Hughesman
Mikaela James
Christian Lamb
Mackenzie Lothian
Conlan MacKenzie
Ava MacNutt
Drew Maddigan
Ainsley McDonell
Gabriel Menendez-Garcia
Cameron Mercer
Poppy Moon
Zachary Morissette
Nic Niare
Ty Ochitwa
Ali Oluyole
Jack Owen
Ayres Perry
Bodey Pettifer
Grace Robinson
Avery Rogers
Poppy Thomson
Feron Wallace
Ayla White
Brown'nesha Willis-Glasgow
Phoenyx Wyse