Asher Mayan (L) and Matthew Hamilton in their TRU WolfPack headshots. (Image Credit: TRU WolfPack)

By Victor Kaisar

WolfPack Canada West Awards

WolfPack athletes Mayan, Hamilton win Canada West Community Service awards

Mar 15, 2025 | 12:27 PM

KAMLOOPS — A pair of graduating Thompson Rivers University (TRU) WolfPack athletes were named recipients of Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service awards earlier this month.

Matthew Hamilton of the men’s volleyball team and Asher Mayan of the men’s basketball team took home the conference-wide award. It’s the second time a pair of TRU players won community service awards in the same season after Kendra Finch and Michael Rouault in 2019-20.

Hamilton, a Lethbridge native, serves as a leader in the TRU PACE program, where he helps mentor fellow WolfPack student-athletes in their academic journeys. He is also actively involved with Motionball helping to raise funds and awareness for the Special Olympics as well as helping to raise funds for literacy programs through the Raise-a-Reader initiative.

Hamilton has also volunteered to help coach the next generation of volleyball players with the Kamloops Volleyball Association.

“I think this is the most important award any student-athlete can win and it’s a great honour Matthew and our program to receive this honour,” WolfPack men’s volleyball head coach Pat Hennelly said. “I’m absolutely happy for Hamilton, his transformation from year one to now has been incredible.”

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“He’s been great in the classroom obviously with five U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian honours, he’s been great in the weight room, as a volleyball player he’s transformed himself and to cap it off, he’s become a great leader for us.”

Mayan, meanwhile, is heavily involved with coaching in his hometown of Langley, where he works with both Impact Hoops and Fraser Valley Elite programs. In Kamloops, he has also serves as a volunteer coach with the Kamloops Alliance Church summer camps and is also a leader in the TRU PACE program.

“Throughout his career with the WolfPack, Asher has demonstrated what it truly means to be a student athlete,” WolfPack men’s basketball head coach Chad Jacobson said. “On the court, in the classroom, and in the community, Asher has not only strived for excellence but has impacted all those around him in a long-lasting and positive way.”

“I am extremely proud of what he Asher accomplished and how he has represented not only our program, but WolfPack Athletics and Thompson Rivers University. It’s an incredible and well-deserved honour.”

You can read more about Hamilton’s award here and more about Mayan’s award here.