2010-11 NEWS RELEASES

UOIT Ridgebacks Media Release
Monday, April 26, 2010

Rikki Palmateer to be honoured at the seventh annual OUA Women of Influence Luncheon

HAMILTON, Ont. – Ontario University Athletics (OUA) will recognize the top female scholar-athletes from across the province at the seventh annual Women of Influence Luncheon on Friday, April 30, 2010 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (North Building), 255 Front Street West in Toronto, Ont.

The event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports and fields of study. This year's guest speaker will be former prima ballerina and arts advocate Karen Kain.

Acknowledged as one of the leading classical ballerinas of her time, Kain is also one of Canada's foremost arts advocates, bringing the same passion and dedication she exemplified as a dancer to her roles as a spokesperson for Canadian culture and as the artistic director of The National Ballet of Canada.

Tickets to the luncheon are $88.20 each (taxes included) and can be purchased by calling Stephanie White at 416-923-1688 ext. 21 or via e-mail at info@womenofinfluenceinc.ca <http://info@womenofinfluenceinc.ca> .

OUA will profile its top female scholar athletes on a daily basis on OUA.ca leading up to the luncheon. OUA recognizes the following sponsors for their support of this event; belairdirect, Canadian Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity, Centaur Products, Pioneer Petroleums and Wilson Sports Equipment of Canada.

Chrissy Tereshyn (women’s hockey) and Jessica Bosse (women’s rowing) are the Ridgebacks past recipients of the award.

Name: Rikki Palmateer
School: University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT)
Sport: Hockey
Academic Program: Criminology Justice and Policy Studies
Hometown: Cobourg, Ont.

Rikki Palmateer is a third year student-athlete in criminology justice and policy studies at UOIT. The Cobourg, Ont. native joined the Ridgebacks in 2007-08 for their inaugural season in the OUA and has been an exceptional leader on and off the ice since day one.  

Rikki is a true campus leader and individual champion. In the classroom, she is an honour student in a very competitive program. She has done so much to help put the Ridgebacks women's hockey team on the map in the OUA and thus is truly deserving of this special recognition.

Palmateer was also the recipient of the inaugural James-Baun Cup at the fourth annual UOIT Ridgebacks athletic banquet. The James-Baun Cup is presented to a student-athlete on the men’s and women’s hockey teams who show commitment, dedication, perseverance, academic responsibility, leadership and is a great teammate in the pursuit of excellence. The Cup is named after Bobby Baun and his long time friend Don James and is presented annually as part of the UOIT hockey awards program.

Q: What is your proudest academic achievement?

A: My proudest academic achievement as of now would have to be receiving the Women of Influence award.

Q: What is your proudest athletic achievement?

A: Playing hockey since I was four years old, it is hard to say what my proudest athletic achievement is. As a team I would say my proudest athletic achievement was winning provincials when I played for Cobourg without getting one goal scored against us in five games. Individually, it would probably be receiving MVP for the UOIT Ridgebacks women's hockey team in the 2008-09 season.

Q: What is your most memorable community-related moment?

A: My most memorable community-related moment was raising money for one of my friends who was diagnosed with leukemia. The whole town got together when I lived in Newcastle and raised money for him.

Q: What are your future plans?

A: As of now it is still up in the air career-wise. Academically right now I am at UOIT taking the criminology justice and policy program but would like to further my education when I graduate.  Athletically, once school is over I would still like to play hockey somewhere even if it is just for fun, and continue playing baseball as well.

Q: What woman has most influenced you?

A: My mom.

Q: If you could sit down to dinner with any woman, who would it be?

A: Ellen Degeneres.

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ABOUT ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS:
Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and its 19 member institutions are developing Champions For Life. Giving 9,000 student-athletes the opportunity to excel academically and on the playing field, while preparing for life after university. For more information, visit OUA.ca.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Scott Dennis
Sports Information and Marketing Coordinator
Durham College and UOIT Athletics
905.721.2000 Ext. 2784 (P)
905.721.3117 (F)
scott.dennis@dc-uoit.ca