OUA'S WOMEN OF INFLUENCE: Queen's Katie Matthews

HAMILTON, Ont. - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will recognize the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at a luncheon on Tuesday, May 8, 2012 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ont.

The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be dual-sport national athlete, Olympic gold medalist and OUA alumnus Heather Moyse.

Name: Katie Matthews
School: Queen's University Gaels
Sport: Volleyball
Year of study: 4
Program: Bachelor of Science degree with a Specialization in Life Sciences, with honours

Since making the women’s volleyball team as a walk-on in her rookie season, Katie Matthews exemplified what it means to be a student-athlete. She not only performed on the court, but in the classroom as well. Her hard work and commitment to being the best she can be was reflected in her continued improvement over her final four seasons at Queen’s.

Awarded the most improved player award by her teammates following her rookie campaign, Katie was selected Team Captain in her second year. That season, she earned her first OUA All-Star selection as she was named to the OUA East Second Team and was also honoured as an Academic All-Canadian.

In her third season, she repeated those accolades while helping to lead Queen’s to their first OUA Final Four appearance in six years. Katie capped off her career with a remarkable performance in her final season, earning OUA First Team All-Star status after leading the country in solo blocks.

Her play at the university level has also garnered her attention with Volleyball Canada. For her last two seasons as a Gael, Katie was invited to train with the FISU women’s volleyball team during the summer.

Last spring, Katie, a three-time Academic All-Canadian, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with a Specialization in Life Sciences, with honours. Congratulations Katie!

What is your proudest academic achievement?

My proudest academic achievement is being named a CIS Academic All-Star for my 2nd, 3rd and 4th years as a member of the Queen’s women’s volleyball team.

What is your proudest athletic achievement?

My proudest athletic achievement is winning the PHE ’55 Female Athlete of the Year Award in my final year as a Queen’s varsity volleyball player. The PHE ’55 Award is given to a female athlete in her 4th or 5th year who best displays qualities of scholastic achievement, competitiveness, leadership, sportsmanship, dedication and exceptional contributions to her team.

What is your most memorable community related moment?

Every Thursday afternoon of my 4th year at Queen’s I volunteered in the renal unit at Kingston General Hospital. I would bring refreshments around to each of the patients and sit and chat with them while they were undergoing dialysis. I really enjoyed talking with each person and hearing all of their stories. During my time there, I made some good friends who I looked forward to visiting each week and it was hard to say goodbye when my time in Kingston came to an end.

What woman has most influenced you, and why?

My mom is the woman who has most influenced me. She has been a constant source of support in all parts of my life for as far back as I can remember. Especially when it came to volleyball, she always encouraged me to go for it and try out for a team that I thought was out of my reach. Without her encouragement, I would never have tried out for the Queen’s women’s volleyball team in my first year and I would have missed out on the most incredible journey of my life. Even now, when things get tough at school, she inspires me to overcome each challenge just as she did all those years during volleyball.

What are your future plans?

I am currently in my first year of medical school at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University. I am not sure what type of physician I would like to be yet, but I still have time to make that decision. Right now I am just enjoying every moment of medical school. Most of this year I have taken off from volleyball in order to get settled in my new life as a med student. Now, I would like to get back into volleyball and get involved in the volleyball community of London. Next year, I would love to assistant coach a young girls volleyball team in London and help them develop a love for the sport that has given me so much.

Join OUA as Heather speaks about her career on and off the field, and inspires a unique group of accomplished young women to continue to pursue excellence in sport and in life. Tickets are $55 each or $400 for a table of eight. To purchase tickets please contact Samantha Magalas at samantha.magalas@oua.ca

OUA recognizes the following sponsors for their support of this event; belairdirect, Centaur Products, Pioneer Energy, Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada and Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS).