The nominees for the Joe Mullins Award of Distinction are Noelle Kenny and Colin Lynch.
Noelle Kenny
Head coach Keith Lundgren calls Noelle Kenny the compassionate leader of his women's volleyball team.
Kenny is a member of Lundgren's Northern Alberta Institute of Technology women's volleyball team in the Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference - a 12-team two-division college women's volleyball league.
"She's extremely competitive, but has the great ability to be compassionate with the athletes," Lundgren said of the Corner Brook native.
"She's been just tremendous for us and we're so excited she is coming back with us next year."
Kenny, a native of Corner Brook, was rewarded for her stellar play on the hardcourt in her first season with NAIT as she was named to the ACAC all-conference team in the North Division.
Kenny is in her first year of the medical laboratory science program at NAIT. She was honoured to be named to the all-star contingent.
"To be named to this team means my efforts and dedication to the sport has been noticed and I just felt proud to represent my school," Kenny said.
Lundgren said Kenny has been a tower of strength for his team all season and played quite well in the playoffs. NAIT finished fifth out of six teams in the North Division when the regular campaign wrapped up. Eventually, the team lost a heartbreaker series in a crossover matchup against fourth-place Medicine Hat Rattlers in the South Division.
The 21-year-old towering blonde was pleased with how she performed in her first year,
although she feels she got stronger in the second half of the season.
"Of course, there are always things to improve on and you always wish you had done something better, but I think I was able to manage volleyball, school and a new city very well," she said.
Kenny, who graduated from Regina High School in 2005, played three years of volleyball at Cape Breton University prior to making the move out west. While she had an amazing experience at CBU, Kenny opted to attend NAIT in 2008 because they offered the program she was interested in taking and she was excited about playing her sport in a province renowned for volleyball. She is eager to finish off her college volleyball career at NAIT.
"There is an amazing opportunity for this team next year and I can't wait to be a part of it," she said. "The school has a great athletics program and the entire school supports NAIT and its teams. All of my instructors are extremely supportive of me playing volleyball and
want to help me succeed in both academics and athletics.
Colin Lynch
Lynch has been one of Corner Brook's top athletes for the past 12 years. He was one of Corner Brook's best soccer players in this time period and led the Corner Brook team in Challenge Cup for many years and has led the Curling Rangers to its success during this same time frame.
Lynch has several strengths including his great drive and determination. He is a leader on the field and, in addition to this important attribute, his skills are superior and this has been important in his scoring important goals and in stopping the other team from scoring.
In addition to his soccer strengths,
Lynch has been an important team player for his broomball and touch football teams.
