In varsity sports at UBC Okanagan, Veronika Fagan and Mitch McCaw set the bar high in 2016-17.

On Tuesday night at the Heat乌鸦传媒檚 annual awards banquet, the two were rewarded with the institution乌鸦传媒檚 highest athletic honours.

Fagan, a cross country runner, was named UBCO乌鸦传媒檚 outstanding female athlete of the year, while McCaw, a keeper for the Heat men乌鸦传媒檚 soccer team, earned the outstanding male award.

Fagan, a Mt. Boucherie grad, paced the Heat women乌鸦传媒檚 team to a CCAA cross country title last fall, finishing fourth overall at the national championships.

Fagan, who was also named an all-Canadian, was not only thrilled with the award but encouraged by the rise of the cross country program over the past two seasons.

乌鸦传媒淭he work ethic of my team has brought me to this,乌鸦传媒� said Fagan, a second-year nursing student. 乌鸦传媒淚 think being part of this in general, coming from high school and just knowing this university wasn乌鸦传媒檛 a cross country institution, I really wanted to help push the program here and bring it to its potential.

乌鸦传媒淚 feel so thankful to get this award, and I feel very good competing against such good athletes here.乌鸦传媒�

A native of Calgary, McCaw transferred to UBC Okanagan in the fall of 2016 from Concordia University in Portland, Ore.

The 6-foot-2 keeper made an immediate impact with the Heat program, posting five shutouts, six wins and earning Canada West first-team all-star honours.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 incredible,乌鸦传媒� McCaw said of the award. 乌鸦传媒淚 couldn乌鸦传媒檛 have done it without the support of not only the teammates and the coaching staff, but the community around UBC Okanagan. The first year has been incredible, I can乌鸦传媒檛 thank the people around me enough.

乌鸦传媒淓ven though it乌鸦传媒檚 an individual award, it乌鸦传媒檚 a tribute to a lot of people in the Okanagan community and UBCO, so I can乌鸦传媒檛 be more grateful,乌鸦传媒� he said.

The 0ther major award winners were:

乌鸦传媒� Student Athlete of the Year (male)乌鸦传媒擫ars Bornemann, men乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

The fourth-year engineering student led the Heat in kills with 290, and has been named an academic All-Canadian three straight years.

乌鸦传媒� Student Athlete of the Year (female)乌鸦传媒擲iobhan Fitzpatrick, women乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

An academic all-Canadian the past two seasons, Fitzpatrick led the Heat with 256 kills.

乌鸦传媒� Graduating player of the year (male)乌鸦传媒擜lex Swiatlowski, men乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

Swiatlowski played over 300 sets for the Heat during his career, the second most all-time.

乌鸦传媒� Graduating player of the year (female)乌鸦传媒擬egan Festival, women乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

乌鸦传媒� Rookie of the year (male)乌鸦传媒擪yle Hinchey, men乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

Third in team kills this past season (74), Hinchey was named to the Canada West all-rookie team.

乌鸦传媒� Rookie of the year (female)乌鸦传媒擲ara McCreary, women乌鸦传媒檚 volleyball

Finished second on the Heat with 344 assists, while helping the team to a fourth straight Canada West final four appearance.

See all the award winners and finalists