UNBC Timberwolves soccer player Francesco Bartolillo was awarded the Student-Athlete Community Service award as the national award winners were celebrated at the annual All-Canadian gala recently.
The all-time leading goal scorer in UNBC men’s soccer history, Francesco Bartolillo paced the Timberwolves this season in goals (six), assists (four), and points (10).
But his achievements off the pitch are even more impressive.
A four-time Academic All-Canadian, Bartolillo will forever leave his fingerprints on the Prince George community. Along with coaching youth soccer, and founding a soccer tennis tournament to benefit KidSport BC, Bartolillo created the Timberwolves Student Athlete Society.
In 2017, he created the MVP of the Month initiative, which identifies a youth in the community who is battling cancer. Fundraising events and awareness campaigns are focused around the selected child, with funds raised donated to the child, and to cancer research. Over the past two years, using the funds from events like the Fill the Bus Bottle Drive, and the TSAS Flag Football Tournament, more than $10,000 has been raised and donated.
“Fran’s contribution to the Timberwolves, the university, and the city of Prince George is admirable and deserves recognition,” said UNBC head coach Steve Simonson. “His on field actions speak for themselves, but his selfless actions off the field for his fellow athletes, and members of the community is why he is truly a successful student-athlete at UNBC. The MVP of the Month and other community initiatives that Fran has led, and what they mean to the families involved, far outweighs anything that happens on the soccer field.”
