OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and national law firm Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) announced Wednesday the eight finalists for the 23rd annual BLG Awards.

Among the finalists this year is University of Windsor Lancers basketball standout Korissa Williams, who helped lead the Lancers to their fifth straight CIS national championship title this year. The local product will be one of the eight national nominees who will be honoured on Monday, May 4th at the Martha Cohen Theatre in Calgary. The female and male winners will each receive a $10,000 post-graduate scholarship, while all finalists will return home with a commemorative gold ring and a watch from Timex, the official supplier of CIS.

The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with CIS. This year's event will mark the 20^th presentation of the awards gala in Calgary. Over the years, the event has also held been held in Toronto (2009, 2013) and Vancouver (2011). The 2015 ceremony will air nationally later this May on Sportsnet.

Although the 2015 recipients will be determined by the Canadian Athletic Foundation, a not-for-profit board which has selected the winners for the past 22 years, the general public is encouraged to vote as part as an online-voting pilot project. Fans can vote through the following websites:
 
CIS: www.cis-sic.ca
BLG Awards: www.blg.com/blgawards
Sportsnet: www.sportsnet.ca/cis
 
"We are extremely excited to be hosting the 23^rd BLG Awards in Calgary," said Doug Mitchell, National Co-Chair of BLG. "We continue to be amazed by the talents and accomplishments of these outstanding athletes. Each year, as we follow the past winners and hear about their accomplishments or what they are involved in, we realize how important their university sports background has been to them. We congratulate the universities who have provided the great education and athletic programs for these students to succeed in their careers."
 
"The BLG Awards represent the epitome of what it means to be a student-athlete, and this year's nominees more than meet that standard," said Thérèse Quigley, president of CIS. "Not only are these eight extraordinary athletes, each one is also a leader in the classroom and in the community."
 
The 2015 nominees for the Jim Thompson Trophy presented to the female BLG Award recipient are basketball standout Korissa Williams from the University of Windsor, rugby player Emma Taylor from St. Francis Xavier University, soccer player Jessica King from Trinity Western University, as well as Mariam Sylla from McGill University.

Williams, a fifth-year guard from Windsor, Ont., was voted MVP of the CIS championship for the second time in her career after she helped the Lancers tie the all-time record with their fifth straight Bronze Baby Trophy triumph and, along with teammate Jocelyn LaRocque, became the first players in history to win five CIS rings in women's basketball. Prior to the Final 8 tournament, the business student had been named the CIS defensive player of the year and a first-team CIS all-Canadian.
 
Taylor, a fifth-year lock from Scotsburn, N.S., was named MVP of the CIS championship after she helped the X-Women capture the Monilex Trophy for the third time in her five campaigns with the team. During the regular season, the business administration student led Atlantic University Sport (AUS) conference with 10 tries in six games en route to league MVP and first-team all-Canadian honours.
 
Sylla, a third-year centre from Conakry, Guinea, guided the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) champion Martlets to the best result in program history at the CIS championship, a silver medal. In league action, the pharmacology junior averaged a double-double with 12.4 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and was rewarded with the conference MVP trophy and a spot on the first all-Canadian team. 
 
King, a fifth-year midfielder from Liverpool, England, guided the Spartans to the Canada West title and a silver medal at the CIS championship. In regular season action, the psychology student scored 12 goals in 11 contests, including a CIS-leading seven game-winners, on her way to national player of the year honours.

On the men's side, the finalists for the Doug Mitchell Trophy are soccer player Justin Maheu from Cape Breton University, hockey player Cédric McNicoll from McGill University, cross country and track runner Ross Proudfoot from the University of Guelph and football player Andrew Buckley from the University of Calgary.
 
Maheu, a second-year striker from Ottawa, became the first male athlete from CBU – in any sport - to be named CIS player of the year after he scored 15 goals in only 11 league games, for a CIS-best average of 1.36 goals per outing. In the playoffs, the arts student helped the Capers reach the AUS championship final, where they suffered a heart-breaking 2-1 loss to UNB.
 
McNicoll, a second-year centre from Boucherville, Que., who was in his fifth year of CIS eligibility after playing three seasons at the professional level, helped the Redmen top the Ontario University Athletics East division standings and to a fourth-place finish in the conference playoffs. In league play, the management student tallied 34 points in 25 games en route to OUA East MVP and second-team all-Canadian status.
 
Proudfoot, a fifth-year runner from Sudbury, Ont., began his final university season last fall with a gold-medal performance at the CIS cross country championships, where he helped the Gryphon men claim the team banner for the fifth time. In the winter, the human kinetics master's student was named male MVP of the CIS indoor track and field championships after he dominated his two events, the 1500 and 3000-metre races.
 
Buckley, a fourth-year quarterback from Calgary who amassed 18 touchdown passes and 10 rushing majors in eight league games, became the first player in history to receive both the Hec Crighton Trophy as CIS player of the year and the Russ Jackson Award, honouring success on the football field, in the classroom and in the community. The kinesiology student helped the Dinos reach the Canada West final, where they were upset by Manitoba.
 
2015 Female BLG Award Nominees (Jim Thompson Trophy):
 
OUA: Korissa Williams, basketball, Windsor (Windsor, Ont.)
AUS: Emma Taylor, rugby, StFX (Scotsburn, N.S.)
RSEQ: Mariam Sylla, basketball, McGill (Conakry, Guinea)
CWUAA: Jessica King, soccer, Trinity Western (Liverpool, England)
 
2015 Male BLG Award Nominees (Doug Mitchell Trophy):
 
AUS: Justin Maheu, soccer, Cape Breton (Ottawa, Ont.)
RSEQ: Cédric McNicoll, hockey, McGill (Boucherville, Que.)
OUA: Ross Proudfoot, cross country / track & field, Guelph (Sudbury, Ont.)
CWUAA: Andrew Buckley, football, Calgary (Calgary, Alta.)
 
Past BLG Award Winners:
 
2013-14: Justine Colley – Saint Mary's (basketball) / Philip Scrubb – Carleton (basketball)
2012-13: Shanice Marcelle - UBC (volleyball) / Kyle Quinlan - McMaster (football)
2011-12: Ann-Sophie Bettez - McGill (hockey) / Marc-André Dorion - McGill (hockey)
2010-11: Jessica Clemençon - Windsor (basketball) / Tyson Hinz - Carleton (basketball)
2009-10: Liz Cordonier - UBC (volleyball) / Erik Glavic - Calgary (football)
2008-09: Annamay Pierse - UBC (swimming) / Joel Schmuland - Alberta (volleyball)
2007-08: Laetitia Tchoualack - Montreal (volleyball) / Rob Hennigar - UNB (hockey)
2006-07: Jessica Zelinka - Calgary (track & field) / Josh Howatson - Trinity Western (volleyball)
2005-06: Marylène Laplante - Laval (volleyball) / Osvaldo Jeanty - Carleton (basketball)
2004-05: Adrienne Power - Dalhousie (track & field) / Jesse Lumsden - McMaster (football)
2003-04: Joanna Niemczewska - Calgary (volleyball) / Adam Ens - Saskatchewan (volleyball)
2002-03: Kim St-Pierre - McGill (hockey) / Ryan McKenzie - Windsor (cross country & T&F)
2001-02: Elizabeth Warden - Toronto (swimming) / Brian Johns - UBC (swimming)
2000-01: Leighann Doan - Calgary (basketball) / Kojo Aidoo - McMaster (football)
1999-00: Jenny Cartmell - Alberta (volleyball) / Michael Potts - Western (soccer)
1998-99: Corinne Swirsky - Concordia (hockey) / Alexandre Marchand - Sherbrooke (T&F)
1997-98: Foy Williams - Toronto (track & field) / Titus Channer - McMaster (basketball)
1996-97: Terri-Lee Johannesson - Manitoba (basketball) / Curtis Myden - Calgary (swimming)
1995-96: Justine Ellison - Toronto (basketball) / Don Blair - Calgary (football)
1994-95: Linda Thyer - McGill (track & field) / Bill Kubas - Wilfrid Laurier (football)
1993-94: Sandra Carroll - Winnipeg (basketball) / Tim Tindale - Western (football)
1992-93: Diane Scott - Winnipeg (volleyball) / Andy Cameron - Calgary (volleyball)
 
2014-2015 FEMALE BLG AWARD NOMINEE - KORISSA WILLIAMS (Jim Thompson Trophy)

Korissa Williams
University of Windsor
Sport: Basketball
Year of eligibility: 5
Academic program: Business
Hometown: Windsor, Ont.
 
Every student-athlete wants to leave it all on the court in their final CIS season and University of Windsor basketball standout Korissa Williams can say "mission accomplished".
 
The 23-year old native of Windsor was a dominating force during the regular season as she ranked in the top five nationally in points (19.3), assists (4.7) and steals (3.6) per game while leading the Lancers to a CIS-best 19-1 record. After being named an OUA all-star for the third straight year, the 5-foot-9 guard registered an 18-point, 10-assist double-double in the conference final to help Windsor claim the OUA banner.
 
At the national level, she was honoured as a first-team All-Canadian and as the CIS defensive player of the year prior to the Final 8 championship. In Quebec City, Williams turned it up a notch and was virtually unstoppable as she garnered CIS tournament MVP honours for the second time in her career en route to guiding the Lancers to their record-tying fifth straight national title. Over three contests, she was named Windsor game MVP twice and averaged 23.7 points, 12 rebounds and 6.3 assists per outing.
 
With the triumph, Williams, along with teammate Jocelyn LaRocque, became the first players in CIS women's basketball history to win five national championship rings.
 
Over the years, Williams has also showcased her remarkable talent on the international stage.
 
After representing Canada at the world under-19 championship in 2011, she was selected to play at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Russia, and might very well wear the red and white colours again this summer when the FISU world university games are staged in Gwangju, South Korea. Williams has been a member of the Canadian national program for the past four seasons and last year was named captain of the senior B national team at the 36^th William Jones International Basketball Tournament in Taipei, Taiwan, where Canada went 5-0.
 
"This year, Korissa took her game to a whole new level. She combined her tremendous athleticism with a desire to be the best at both ends of the floor," says Windsor head coach and two-time CIS coach of the year, Chantal Vallée. "One of her amazing abilities is that she can dominate a game in a variety of ways, including with her defensive play, rebounding or passing ability.
 
"Off the court, she's an amazing person. Her fun and outgoing personality has endeared her to her teammates, coaches and our fans both on campus and in the community. I feel truly blessed to have been able to coach her for the past five years."
 
About the BLG Awards
 
The BLG Awards were established in 1993 to recognize the top female and male athletes from universities affiliated with Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). The Awards are based on athletic accomplishments, outstanding sportsmanship and leadership. Each of the 56 CIS schools nominates one female and one male athlete of the year. From these nominees, one female and one male athlete are chosen within each of the four regional associations: Atlantic University Sport (AUS), Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ), Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA). To be eligible, a student-athlete must have competed in a CIS sport for a minimum of two years and cannot be a previous recipient of a BLG Award.
 
All nominees receive a commemorative gold ring and a watch from Timex – the official supplier of CIS - and winners are presented with a trophy and a $10,000 scholarship to attend a Canadian university graduate school. Winners are selected by the Canadian Athletic Foundation (CAF), a not-for-profit board established for the purpose of administering the BLG Awards and protecting the integrity of the selection process. The CAF Board of Trustees consists of 19 members from five Canadian cities representing major corporations from across the country who are committed to ensuring that Canadian university athletes receive the recognition they deserve.
 

About Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

 
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP (BLG) is a leading, national, full-service Canadian law firm focusing on business law, commercial litigation and arbitration, and intellectual property solutions for our clients. BLG is the country's largest law firm with more than 750 lawyers, intellectual property agents and other professionals in five cities across Canada. We assist clients with their legal needs, from major litigation to financing to trademark and patent registration. For further information, please visit www.blg.com.
 

About Canadian Interuniversity Sport

 
Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada. Every year, over 11,500 student-athletes and 700 coaches from 56 universities and four regional associations vie for 21 national championships in 12 different sports. CIS also provides high performance international opportunities for Canadian student-athletes at Winter and Summer Universiades, as well as numerous world university championships. For further information, visit www.cis-sic.ca or follow us on:
 
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For further information, please contact:
 
Michel Bélanger        
Communications & Media Relations
Canadian Interuniversity Sport
Off: (613) 562-5670 ext. 25
Cell: (613) 447-6334
belanger@universitysport.ca
 
Peter Watts
Media Officer
BLG Awards
Off: (403) 444-4377
Cell: (403) 862-2919
peter.watts@corusent.com