OFSAA’s Character Athlete Award celebrates the efforts of the exceptional student-athletes in Ontario who best exemplify the characteristics that OFSAA is founded on. Selecting just one female and one male winner from the over 50 submissions is a difficult task, but these two individuals stood out for their commitment to OFSAA’s values of leadership, equity, respect, and sportsmanship. Each winner received a $1,000 grant from Jostens and a commemorative plaque to recognize this outstanding achievement.
Nader is a grade 12 student at Westminster Secondary School in London, Ontario.
During his four years of high school, Nader emerged as one of the school’s finest ambassadors and scholars. He demonstrated high academic achievement proficiency as a student while making an incredible impact on the athletic program, his school and his community.
Nader was an active participant across several sports. He showed tremendous work ethic as captain of Westminster’s volleyball, basketball and soccer teams. He represented his school in three sports in grades 9, 10 and 12 and he played at least two sports in all four of his high school years.
In the school community, Nader served as president of the Muslim School Association in grades 10 and 12 and he was the minister of internal affairs in the Student Parliament this past year. Nader took part in school plays as an actor and he was a peer tutor and a representative on the Student Athletic Association in each year of high school.
Nader’s skill and leadership were instrumental in the volleyball team’s participation at the 2018 OFSAA Championship. As a result of his leadership, teachers, administrators and coaches relied upon him to help run various school events both for the students of Westminster and students in the community. Nader volunteered on numerous occasions to visit our feeder schools and led team-building activities to promote Westminster S.S. He was able to make connections with the elementary students and he made them feel more confident and comfortable about attending high school. Nader was also the student lead in organizing and running grade nine orientation.
Additionally, the administration team and staff often relied on Nader to emcee school-wide events; such as, the Grade 8 Night, Grade 7/8 Workshops and pep rallies.
Nader assisted with the development of younger athletes and helped run tournaments while assisting with WOSSAA events and completing tasks in support of the school’s annual athletic banquet. Despite his own busy athletic schedule, he has helped out with One Run (a cancer fundraiser for Wellspring in London, On.), United Way events, as well as in-school fundraisers for various groups.
He has positively impacted the students and staff of Westminster and his work will continue to benefit the school after he graduates. Nader’s effort, model of excellent character, and dedication to the Westminster community makes him a very deserving recipient of this award.
Congratulations on the OFSAA Character Athlete Award for 2018-19, Nader!
