VICTORIA - U SPORTS announced a rebranding of its Athlete of the Year program alongside the launch of its Alumni of the Year Awards thanks to long-time Canadian university sport supporters, The Honourable Lois and Doug Mitchell.

The annual Athlete of the Year Awards, renamed The Honourable Lois Mitchell and Doug Mitchell U SPORTS Athlete of the Year Awards Presented by Makadiff Sports, begins next season.

"The U SPORTS new Athlete of the Year format and Alumni of the Year Awards are reflective of Doug and Lois Mitchell's incredible support and belief in Canadian university sport. The Mitchell's steadfast and enduring belief in the power of athletics to develop next-generation leaders across our country is a reminder to all of us of why university sport matters in Canada," said Director of Vikes Athletics and Recreation, Clint Hamilton.

"The Mitchell's have been and continue to be role models in giving back to university sport. The new Alumni of the Year award they are sponsoring is a terrific platform for all U SPORTS members to provide added recognition of valued alumni who impact our programs and support our student-athletes."

With the U SPORTS 2020-21 competitive season's cancellation, the top male and female Student-Athletes of the Year will not be honoured this year. Instead, 16 current U SPORTS student-athletes will receive a dynamic leadership training session. The Canadian Athletic Foundation will select participants – a not-for-profit Board of Trustees from across Canada, formed by Chairman Doug Mitchell to provide more recognition for Canadian university student-athletes.

The University of Calgary's Dr. Cari Din – an Olympic silver medalist in synchronized swimming with a PhD in leadership behaviour, will lead the four-hour training session.

Makadiff Sports will present the awards and will announce the recipients virtually on May 20.

The new Mitchell Family Alumni of the Year Awards will celebrate eight former varsity athletes who have become leaders in their communities and recognize the continued contributions by each alumnus to their alma mater. The female and male alumni of the year will receive the Jim Thompson Trophy and the opportunity to donate a leadership training session provided by Blueprint for a group of deserving students at the institution of their choice.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Mitchell family for their rich and generous support of U SPORTS and our members. They are an inspiration to all of us, and we greatly appreciate all they do to champion university sport in Canada."