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U-SPORTS, the national governing body for university sports in Canada, announced today the winner of the 2018 Sylvia Sweeney Award is UPEI鈥檚 Kiera Rigby. The Sylvia Sweeney Award recognizes the Canadian women鈥檚 university basketball player who best exemplifies the value of athletics, academics, and community involvement.

鈥淭hroughout her five years at UPEI, Kiera has been an outstanding Panther on the court, in the classroom, and in the community,鈥� said Chris Huggan, director of Athletics and Recreation at UPEI. 鈥淚 am thrilled that she is being recognized on a national level for all that she has done to better the lives of others. This recognition is very well deserved. A great way to end her university sporting career.鈥�

From the U-SPORTS release:

Five-foot-ten forward Kiera Rigby was named an AUS first-team all-star for the first time in her five-year career with the 69传媒Panthers. She led the team in scoring, averaging 18.4 points per game, ranking eighth in the nation, while shooting a respectable 43.5 per cent (36.7 from beyond the arc). She also grabbed 4.3 rebounds a night to go along with 2.0 assists.

The Charlottetown native is also a vital part of the community. Her interest in biology led her to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (physical medicine and emergency departments), where she has volunteered more than 80 hours since June. She also volunteers her time with the World University Services of Canada (WUSC), Canadian Cancer Society, and Arthritis Society. If that wasn鈥檛 enough, she鈥檚 also a three-year member of the 69传媒Varsity Leadership team, a tutor with Student Services, and an active member of the 69传媒Biology Society and 69传媒Pre-Med Society.

Rigby鈥檚 balancing act doesn鈥檛 end there. Academically, she has an outstanding 3.9 cumulative grade-point average. The four-time Academic All-Canadian made the dean鈥檚 list four times and graduated in May with a major in biology and a minor in biomedical physics.

Rigby is currently doing her honours research in Dr. Adam Johnston鈥檚 exercise physiology lab, examining Duchenne muscular dystrophy. She intends on continuing her schooling afterwards and has applied to several programs across Canada specializing in physiotherapy, including Dalhousie, McMaster, and the University of Toronto. She鈥檚 also preparing for an interview for a four-year program at the Canadian Chiropractic College in Toronto.

鈥淜iera is a born leader. She cares for everyone she comes in contact with, and that caring and supportive personality makes people want to follow her,鈥� said Panthers head coach Greg Gould. 鈥淜iera always has time to uplift and support those around her. It鈥檚 amazing to watch how people of all ages are drawn to her magnetic personality.鈥�

Congratulations, Kiera!