UOIT rower Shannon Galea to be honoured at the eighth annual OUA Women of Influence Luncheon

UOIT rower Shannon Galea, a first-year Education student, is being recognized as one of the top female scholar athletes in Ontario University Athletics (OUA). Galea will receive her award on Wednesday, March 2 at the eighth annual Women of Influence Luncheon at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (South Building - Hall G), 255 Front Street West in Toronto.

Galea was a member of the Ridgebacks novice women's eight crew on the water this season. At the OUA championship, she and her crew went on to win the first OUA medal in UOIT Ridgeback rowing program history, a bronze. Leading up to the OUA championship, the women's novice eight crew won a gold medal at the Guelph Invitational and gold at the Brock Invitational.

Galea doesn't only excel at rowing; she will also become the first person to represent UOIT at the OUA Squash Championships in March. The Oshawa, Ontario native was also formerly named an Ontario Intercollegiate Women's Fast Pitch Association (OIWFA) All-Star and MVP with McMaster University and won the 2009 OIWFA Championship. The honour roll student's extracurricular activities include her involvement on the UOIT Ridgebacks' rowing executive and serving as co-ordinator of the UOIT extramural women's flag football team.

Rikki Palmateer (women's hockey), Chrissy Tereshyn (women's hockey) and Jessica Bosse (women's rowing) are the Ridgebacks' past recipients of the award.

The OUA Women of Influence event honours female student-athletes who have excelled in their chosen sports, fields of study and community involvement. This year's guest speaker will be tennis star Venus Williams. The legendary tennis star is a winner of five Wimbledon titles, seven Grand Slams, 41 WTA tour titles and three Olympic gold medals.

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