Inaugural Weider Awards handed out to 2 standout Stingers athletes

The Concordia students are no strangers to awards: Laganière recently won the RSEQ women’s hockey Leadership and Community Engagement Award, while Sylvain took home the RSEQ football conference’s Leadership and Community Engagement Award last November.

The Weider honours came with an engraved medal and financial support of up to $5,250 for tuition expenses.

This latest gesture by Lengvari, a Concordia Sports Hall of Famer, adds to a remarkable legacy of generosity at the university, said President Graham Carr. “George Lengvari is truly an inspiration to the Concordia community. Thank you for your generous and selfless service.”

Lengvari, who served as a senior vice-president and vice-chairman at Weider Health and Fitness from 1994 to 2009, remarked that “the Weiders were great friends, mentors and benefactors.”

“I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t have the opportunity to work with them. These awards in their honour are about creating a legacy. This is my thanks to Concordia. I’m not paying it forward — I’m paying it back.”

In her introduction of Laganière, women’s hockey coach Julie Chu said: “Brigitte worked hard to earn multiple academic and athletic All-Canadian honours. She not only does an amazing job on the hockey side but also on the community side — and that’s what we’re really proud of.”

Laganière, a therapeutic recreation graduate and current business administration graduate diploma candidate, thanked her coach and teammates.

“I take pride in saying that I play varsity sports. Six years ago, I almost didn’t come to Concordia because I was afraid that my lack of English would hold me back. Now I’m inspired to give back to the younger generation, especially in the promotion of girls and women’s hockey.”

Stingers football coach Brad Collinson, BA 05, said that Sylvain was a model player on and off the gridiron: “Malick is the first one to volunteer whenever we have a community event. He truly cares and has persevered in everything he has done.”

“This award is validation that I’m following the right path,” said Sylvain, a third-year Department of Religions and Cultures undergraduate. “I want to thank George Lengvari. It’s amazing what you’ve done for Concordia. I hope to make a similar contribution one day.”

Event emcee Paul Chesser, BA 94, GrDip 97, vice-president, Advancement said: “These awards will forever link Joe and Ben Weider — two Montreal fitness and business icons — to Concordia. Thanks to George Lengvari’s example of service and philanthropy, our student athletes will be inspired to give back as well.”