CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Charlottetown’s Kiera Rigby won a national award.
The UPEI Panthers forward earned the Sylvia Sweeney award, which recognizes student-athlete community service, as U Sports handed out its year-end women’s basketball awards Wednesday in Regina.
“Kiera is a born leader,” head coach Greg Gould said. “She cares for everyone she comes in contact with, and that caring and supportive personality makes people want to follow her. Kiera always has time to uplift and support those around her. It’s amazing to watch how people of all ages are drawn to her magnetic personality.”
The fifth-year senior averaged 18.4 points, 4.3 rebounds and two assists per game.
She has volunteered more than 80 hours since June at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and volunteers with the World University Services of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society and Arthritis Society.
She’s also a three-year member of the UPEI varsity leadership team, a tutor with student services and an active member of UPEI’s biology and pre-med societies.
She had a 3.9 cumulative grade-point average.
UPEI guard Reese Baxendale, a Sussex, N.B., native, made the U Sports all-rookie team after taking home Atlantic University Sport rookie of the year honours last week.
Acadia guard Paloma Anderson was named the player of the year and was joined on the first all-star team by Cape Breton’s senior forward Alison Keough.