When Ontario Soccer welcomed the Dairy Farmers of Ontario as their newest community partner in early 2021, a shared dedication to youth leadership development was firmly atop the priority list.

Driven by DFO’s MilkUp campaign, the partners proceeded to create the MilkUP Ontario Soccer Future Leaders Program, which takes a holistic approach to leadership recognition and development, with an emphasis on growth. 

A key component of this program was the MilkUp Ontario Soccer Future Leaders Award created to support the education and development of young leaders within the Ontario Soccer community.

Celebrating the outstanding achievements of youth in the soccer community, the award acknowledges the selfless display of civic care, pride in one's sport and leadership, an attitude of resilience and strong work ethic, and a constant desire for impact and improvement.

As a new addition to Ontario Soccer’s prestigious Centre Circle Awards this year, this category recognizes five youth in their graduating year of high school, who have made an outstanding impact on the local soccer community as a leader, player, coach, match official or administrator.

As part of this award, each recipient will receive a $2,500 education bursary that will help to offset some of their post-secondary education costs.

The recipients are: Massimo Marrone (Northern Region – Sudbury), Karina Bolla (Central East Region – East Gwillimbury), Kaya Martin (Eastern Region – Eganville), Vanessa Ciofani (Central West – Oakville), and Patrick Ansell (Western Region – Chatham).

They were selected as 2020-21 high school graduates and active Ontario Soccer participants and are currently attending university.

Ontario Soccer congratulates each of the five recipients and is proud to have such impactful, driven, and impressive young leaders thrive within our soccer community.

For more information on the MilkUP Future Leaders award, please click here.