Chaput named Outstanding Woman of Laurier

Bree Chaput knows how to capture a room.

At the ninth annual Outstanding Women of Laurier (OWL) luncheon, Chaput, a fouth-year women’s basketball guard, took home the honour for 2013-14 and captured the room full of sponsors, athletes, donors and administration with her inspiring acceptance speech.

The other three nominees for this year’s award were Doreen Bonsu also from women’s basketball, and Emily Brown and Kelsey Tikka from women’s soccer.

“It’s such an honour and privilege, especially at such an amazing institute like Laurier and to be nominated with such amazing people,” Chaput said. “Doreen, Kelsey and Emily are all fantastic people, so just to be grouped with that group of girls and to be here today was such an honour.”

Chaput is in her fourth year of kinesiology and physical education at Laurier. She finished her last season with the Hawks at nationals in Windsor earlier in the month after a strong year with the women’s basketball team. Chaput went to nationals twice with Laurier and earned an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) bronze medal this year.

Off the court, Chaput is an excelled student and a three-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) academic all-Canada. She was honoured this year with the prestigious McGraw-Hill Ryerson Student Scholarship, given out to only 20 students across the country. Her community service includes being a voluneer at Big Brother Big Sister Waterloo helping her match with socialization and academics, and helping with the Special Olympic track and field athletes as well as Laurier’s athlete academic success program.

When Chaput talked to The Cord when she was first named a finalist, she mentioned that her goal from first year was to be a well-rounded student-athlete, which included community involvement.

Kelly Murumets, current president and CEO of Tennis Canada and former icon from ParticpACTION, was this year’s keynote speaker. She spoke of being an inspiration to women athletes and young girls in the community by being role models, while using her personal story as a guide to success.

Chaput joins an elite group of Laurier female athletes who have won the award, which includes last year’s participant Fiona Lester and 2011-12 recipient, Laura Crocker.