Ravens Announce Female Athlete of the Year Nominees

OTTAWA (Mar. 25, 2026) – Carleton Athletics is pleased to announce the deserving nominees for the 2026 Ruth Coe Memorial Award Female Athlete of the Year. The award winner will be announced at tomorrow's Varsity Banquet.  

The Ruth Coe Memorial Award was named in memory of Frances Ruth Coe, a 23-year-old physical education teacher at Hillcrest High School who passed away in 1965. At Carleton, Ruth played basketball for three years for the Carleton University Robins, as the Lady Ravens were known then, from 1960-1963. The 1960-61 team won the Stewart Trophy, which was awarded to the top team in the Central Canada Women's Intercollegiate League. 

This award winner is chosen from all student-athletes who have represented Carleton University in inter-university competitions. The major criterion is the demonstration of outstanding athletic ability during the current year in Carleton's interuniversity program. In addition, contributions towards the athletic program at Carleton are considered for this award.  

2026 Female Athlete of the Year Nominees  

Helen McCulligh – Nordic Ski  

Helen won the OUA championship gold medal with the Nordic ski team this season. She was named to the OUA First Team All-Star and named as team MVP. She secured silver in the 15km classic, silver in the 9km interval start, and gold in the team relay at the OUA Championships. At nationals, Helen placed second in the skate sprint and fourth in the 20km mass start. 

Rosemary O'Brien – Rowing  

Rosemary won an OUA gold individual medal, was named as an OUA Most Valuable Athlete, and won bronze at the Canadian Rowing Championships. She was the first Ravens women's rower to win OUA Gold and the first Ravens rower to win a medal at the Canadian Championship in 11 years. She and teammate Hailey Murray ended a 25-year drought since the last time a Ravens' women's rower had medalled at nationals.  

Kyana-Jade Poulin – Basketball  

Kyana-Jade is an OUA silver medallist, OUA First Team All-Star, U SPORTS Second Team All-Canadian, and FISU America 3x3 Basketball University champion. Poulin set the Carleton record for most points in a single season with 436 points and the most field goals in a single season with 153. Kyana-Jade recorded five out of the top 20 regular-season game scoring performances in Ravens program history in 2025-26.