Osei recognized with OWL award

Lee Anna Osei will graduate from Laurier with a lengthy list of accolades under her belt. On March 25, she was selected as the 2015 Outstanding Woman of Laurier.

Osei, a fifth-year women’s basketball guard, was the recipient of the OWL award, which recognizes the female who best combines athletics, academics and community involvement. The ceremony took place last Wednesday night at the 10th annual reception. The other finalists included Osei’s fellow teammate Samantha Jacobs and Emily Brown from women’s soccer.

Osei caps off an impressive run at Laurier since 2012-2013, where she was a two-time Canadian Interuniversity Sport academic all-Canadian, the Ontario University Athletics second team all-star and the OUA recipient of the Joy Bellinger award, presented to a student-athlete who excels in academics, athletics and community service.

She was also an integral part of the women’s basketball squad this year, having their best regular season in history.

“I’m ecstatic,” she said Wednesday. “It still really hasn’t hit me yet. I’m honoured to have been standing up there with Samantha Jacobs and Emily Brown, they’re awesome student-athletes.”

While her playing career has come to an end, Osei is not done with Laurier. She will be returning in the fall to pursue her master’s degree in history, while being a coach and trainer for the men’s and women’s basketball team.

“It’s something that I’ll take moving forward. It’s something that I never could have possibly dreamt when I enrolled [at Laurier] in 2012,” she said. “My goal is to take everything I’ve learned here and take it with me.”

The event had its biggest crowd since 2006. Approximately $25,000 was raised through the event for women’s athletic initiatives, scholarships and mentoring programs.

“Laurier is very big on athletics and academics, combining that kind of love and passion for both fields, with the support you get from your team and your professors, just creates an environment that’s conducive to success,” Osei said.