Four York University Lions student-athletes have been selected as the recipients of the 2021 Lions Legacy Awards. They will be recognized for their achievements at the online varsity banquet on Thursday, April 8.
These awards are presented to the graduating student-athletes who have, throughout the undergraduate years, made outstanding contributions to varsity sport at York University. Leadership, dedication, enthusiasm and participation in all aspects of varsity sport are considered qualifications for this award.
This year’s recipients of a Lions Legacy Award are men’s hockey player Kaleb Dahlgren, women’s hockey standout Lauren Dubie, women’s soccer player Teni Odetoyinbo and track and field athlete Monique Simon-Tucker.
The top male and female student-athletes from this group, as selected by the awards committee, will be presented with Athletics & Recreation’s top graduating awards. The male winner will receive the Outstanding Male Graduate Award and the female winner will receive the Bryce M. Taylor Award.
Kaleb Dahlgren – Hockey
- Has not played due to lack of medical clearance but there is precedence from U SPORTS to waving this component, with regards to being eligible for the academic all-Canadian awards
- Three-time academic all-Canadian
- Member of York Sport Council and BIVSAA
- Regular volunteer at the Hockey HEROS skates
- Took part in the Shoreham school clinics
- Created his own foundation, Dahlgren’s Diabeauties, to connect with children who have Type 1 diabetes and has helped other schools host diabetes awareness events as well (specifically Ontario Tech)
- A JDRF ambassador for many years and has made many appearances as a motivational speaker
- Recently completed a memoir Crossroads that was released internationally in March
Lauren Dubie – Hockey
- Starting goaltender in all five years with the Lions
- Backstopped the program to the OUA finals and national championships in 2019-20
- Two-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian
- Member of the team’s leadership group even though she cannot officially wear a letter
- PAWS mentor – mentor for the mentors
- Member of York Sport Council and this year serves on the executive; she has helped with Bell Let’s Talk, Pride Month and Lions 4 Lions
- Major driver of the team’s involvement in Lions 4 Lions, helping the team win the Roar Cup three times in four seasons
Teni Odetoyinbo – Soccer
- OUA champion
- York female athlete of the year
- U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian
- Two-time OUA West first-team all-star
- Team captain
- Studying in the Schulich School of Business
- PAWS mentor
- Co-founder and co-president of BIVSAA
- Part of the OUA’s Black, Biracial and Indigenous (BBI) Task Force
- Panel speaker at upcoming Women and Girls Leadership in Sport Conference
Monique Simon-Tucker – Track & Field
- OUA silver medallist (60) and OUA bronze medallist (4 x 200m)
- OUA second-team all-star
- Team captain
- York University Renewable Athletic Scholarship recipient
- Co-founder and co-president of BIVSAA
- PAWS mentor
- Member of York Sport Council and serves on the executive
- Student intern at City of Toronto community development unit
- Executive member, community navigator coordinator at York University’s Social Work Student Association
- Attended every OUA BBI Task Force town hall to provide input
- Program developer for One Kenton Place (home for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients)
- School fitness instructor at MT Fitness
- Level 1 track and field official; she helps out at meets when she isn’t competing
- Work/study student with Events
- Travelled to the Dominican Republic to build houses and teach English to primary school students
Stay tuned to yorkulions.ca on Thursday night for the announcement of all major award winners.