EDMONTON, ALTA. - The NAIT Ooks hosted the 56th annual NAIT Athletics Awards night on Thursday night. Leah Vandenboogaard (women's basketball) took home the Athletic Director's Award, while Mitch Lewington (men's volleyball) and Eyota Kwan (badminton) earned Male and Female Athlete of the Year honours.

Leah Vandenboogaard takes home the Athletic Directors Award of excellence after playing her full five years of eligibility at NAIT. In her time with Ooks she has not only grown from a rookie into a leader not only for her teammates but for other student-athletes as well. She maintains a quality GPA all the while being a large contributor both on and off the court. Leah has played over 100 games for the NAIT Ooks women's basketball team (only the seventh player in the program's history to do so). She also managed to win an ACAC Championship and CCAA National bronze medal in the 2015-2016 season.

Mitch Lewington takes home Male Athlete of the Year following a stellar season which was cut short by injury in the final regular season game of the year. The setter was named ACAC North player of the Year along with CCAA All-Canadian and MVP of his team. Mitch also has a 4.0 GPA which gave him CCAA Academic All-Canadian honours. "He's a remarkable athlete, an excellent blocker, and a tenacious defender whose easy-going attitude and relaxed demeanor makes him a pleasure to coach and play with," said head coach Doug Anton. Lewington is a third-year Architectural Technology student from Perth, Australia.

Eyota Kwan earns Female Athlete of the Year honours after a season where she was crowned both ACAC and CCAA National Champion. in her second year with the Ooks Eyota was named ACAC All-Conference and also maintained a 3.6 GPA in the Chemical Engineering Technology program at NAIT. " With little to say on and off the court, there is no question that when she begins her games there is nothing she can't persevere through in competition," said head coach Sinead Cheah.

To view photos from the night click here