The Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize graduates who have achieved outstanding accomplishments in their professional and personal lives, and who have been an inspiration to fellow alumni, current students and the community, both close to home and around the globe.

The 2017 University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Award recipient for Outstanding Young Alumni is Bison women's soccer alum Desiree Scott.

Scott, 29, has won two bronze medals (2012, 2016) at the Olympic Games with Team Canada has now made 124 appearances with 89 starts, as of April 9, 2017, for Canada's national women's soccer senior team since 2010 after making a huge imprint on the Manitoba Bisons women's soccer program as a player during her illustrious five-year university career (2005-09). Her career playing highlights with Canada includes a starter role during the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015.

The Winnipeg native resume is vast as she was selected as 2012 Manitoba's Female Athlete of the Year by the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association. The 2009-10 Bison Sports Female Athlete of the Year, Scott earned four total conference All-Star recognition (First Team: 2008, 2009; Second Team: 2005, 2006) along with being named 2005 Canada West Rookie of the Year plus 2009, 2008 CIS First Team All-Canadian. The midfielder has registered the most points and assists in a Bison career with 56 points (31 goals, 25 assists) in 64 conference regular season games while team MVP three times (2005, '06, '10). Scott also was part of the Bison women's soccer coaching staff during the 2011 and 2012 season.

Scott [BA/16] is in her third season as a midfielder for the FC Kansas City Blues in the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL).


The six recipients (John Patkau, Patricia Patkau, Reva Stone, Sr. Lesley Sacouman, Isabella Wiebe and Desiree Scott) of the 2017 University of Manitoba Distinguished Alumni Awards have been selected, representing graduates who are outstanding in their professional and personal lives. These honourees encompass a wide range of achievement, innovation and community service and inspire fellow alumni, current students and the community. They will all be recognized for this prestigious honour on May 2 at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre.