OFSAA Presents 2025 Brian Maxwell Scholarship Awards
Seated – Left to right: Julia Tremeer, Nari Hwang
(Absent – Heike Clarke)
OFSAA and members of the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship Fund were on hand for a special awards reception on Friday, August 15, 2025. Five of the six honourees and their families were on hand at the Emerald Hills Golf Club in Stouffville, Ontario.
These student-athletes, with a track and field or cross country pedigree in high school, will continue their post-secondary education at a Canadian college or university. The scholar-athletes display qualities of honesty, integrity, compassion and an unwavering quest to accomplish the best academically and athletically while supporting fellow team members. These were all qualities of Brian Maxwell. Each recipient will receive $5,000.
The scholarship fund is in memory of Brian Maxwell, a successful distance runner. Brian competed in track and field and cross country and achieved success as an OFSAA champion, and a Canadian junior, juvenile and senior champion. In 1980, he was selected to the Canadian Olympic team and later became a successful entrepreneur who, with his wife, Jennifer, co-founded the nutritional supplement PowerBar.
Brian was born with a defective heart valve and in 2004, at only 51 years of age, died of a heart attack.
OFSAA is proud to offer the Brian Maxwell Memorial Scholarship each year to support students continuing their education in Canada.
Congratulations and best of luck!
Meet our exceptional 2025 recipients:
Nathan Arsenault
A dedicated student-athlete and performer, Nathan Arsenault is an 8-time OFSAA qualifier in cross country and track & field for Leaside High School. He burst onto the scene in Grade 9, capturing OFSAA silver in the Novice Boys 3000m. As a Junior, he followed that up with a 5th-place finish in the same event. In cross country, Nathan placed 7th as a Grade 9 athlete and capped off his high school cross country career with a strong 22nd-place finish at OFSAA in Ottawa.
Nathan is as well-rounded as they come. A high-achieving student graduating with a 90s average, he will be attending Queen’s University in the fall to pursue Honours Life Sciences. He has received annual awards for outstanding achievement in Mathematics at Leaside and is known by his teachers and coaches for his maturity, responsibility, and exceptional work ethic.
Beyond academics and athletics, Nathan is a passionate performing artist, involved in musical theatre and playing the clarinet. He has volunteered with the Toronto Fringe Festival, supporting inclusive arts programming, and at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, where he helped develop a mobile app now used by pediatric cancer patients.
Nathan credits running with helping him overcome anxiety and build resilience. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, travelling, and giving back to his community.
Nolan Buie
A 10-time OFSAA competitor in cross country and track & field, Nolan Buie has left a lasting legacy at Brooklin High School. His standout achievement came in 2025, when he captured OFSAA gold in the 2000m Steeplechase with a remarkable time of 5:53.14. He also earned OFSAA silver in the event in 2024 and won bronze in the 3000m as a junior. In cross country, Nolan’s best individual finish was 14th, helping lead Brooklin to team gold this past fall.
Nolan recently competed at the New Balance Nationals in Philadelphia, placing an impressive 6th. He was named Brooklin’s Athlete of the Year in 2024 and served as assistant captain of the school’s OFSAA-winning team this past March. He also captained the junior football team to a LOSSA title in 2023.
Beyond athletics, Nolan has made meaningful contributions through leadership and service. He was a key organizer of the 2024 Relay for Life fundraiser and helped run the Terry Fox Run. A member of the school’s Recreation and Leadership team, he has volunteered with youth hockey and local track programs.
Graduating with a mid-90s average, Nolan will attend the University of Guelph to study Marketing Management and compete for the Gryphons. He credits his drive and values to his parents and his late Great Grandmother, a full-status Ojibwe, and is proud of his Indigenous heritage.
Heike Clarke
A standout student-athlete and leader, Heike Clarke graduates from Pickering High School with a 90+ average and an inspiring resume across sport, academics, and community service. Originally turning to running during COVID to stay in shape for soccer, she quickly excelled, qualifying for OFSAA Track & Field and Cross Country nine times.
On the track, Heike has competed in the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m, earning six top-10 finishes, including a 5th place in the 1500m in Grade 9 and three 7th-place finishes across multiple events. In cross country, her top finish was 35th in Grade 11. She credits running for building her mental toughness and accountability—traits that now fuel her athletic and academic pursuits.
Heike is the captain of the Guyana National U20 Women’s Soccer Team and will continue her soccer journey this fall at the University of British Columbia. She aspires to become a Sports Medicine Physician, combining her passion for sport and science.
In school, Heike is known as a dedicated, coachable, and driven student. She’s served as a peer tutor in science and math and is always willing to help others. Beyond the classroom, she’s a certified lifeguard and swim instructor who runs her own mobile swim school business.
One of her proudest accomplishments is co-leading her school’s annual Girls in Sports Day, impacting over 250 young girls by promoting lifelong engagement in sport and physical activity.
Nari Hwang
Graduating from Eastview Secondary School with an outstanding 98% average, Nari Hwang is an exceptional student, athlete, musician, and environmental advocate who believes in her ability to make a difference in the world. Passionate about protecting Lake Simcoe, Nari has spoken at WE Day, the David Suzuki Foundation Climate Event, and to several Members of Provincial Parliament to raise awareness about preserving the lake’s environment. She also volunteers annually at the Laugh for Lake Simcoe fundraiser at the Orillia Opera House and has dedicated time to Camp Mini-Yo-We.
A 9-time OFSAA qualifier in track & field and cross country, Nari’s athletic highlights include a 2nd-place finish in the 2000m Steeplechase in Grade 11 and 5th in her final year. In cross country, she placed 10th in Grade 10 and 12th in Grade 12, helping Eastview to top-10 team finishes in both years. She also helped grow the sport by founding the Shanty Bay Running Club to promote healthy lifestyles among youth.
At school, Nari is a valued member of the Nordic ski team, the Link Crew, the knitting club, and the school orchestra, where she plays the trumpet. Her teachers describe her as thoughtful, driven, and generous with her time—always putting her heart into everything she does.
Saul Taler
Graduating with a mid-90s average from Glebe Collegiate Institute, Saul Taler has excelled in academics, athletics, and leadership. A 10-time OFSAA qualifier in cross country and track & field, Saul won the OFSAA cross country title in Grade 10 and followed it with top 12 finishes in each of the next two years. In Grade 11, he led Glebe as their top runner on the way to an OFSAA team gold. On the track, his wide-ranging talent is evident with OFSAA finishes of 5th and 7th in the 1500m, 6th in the 3000m, and a qualification in the 800m.
Beyond sport, Saul has been a leader at Glebe as an active member of the Athletic Council and Co-Chair of the Grad Committee. However, his proudest contribution has been with the Unified Sports program, which brings together students with and without intellectual disabilities. Saul’s efforts in creating an inclusive environment have made a lasting impact, and he is recognized by staff and peers as a unifying presence in the school.
Saul will attend Queen’s University this fall to study Kinesiology while continuing his running career with the Queen’s Gaels.
In the community, he has served as a junior coach with the Ottawa Lions, a tennis instructor, referee with the Ottawa Shooting Stars, and even as a volunteer newspaper deliverer—showing his commitment to giving back in every aspect of his life.
Julia Tremeer
Julia Tremeer graduates from Notre Dame College School having made a lasting impression through her leadership, perseverance, and positivity. She will attend McMaster University this fall, where she will study Business and compete for the Marauders in cross country and track & field.
A 10-time OFSAA qualifier in both disciplines, Julia’s top finishes include 10th place in Novice Girls Cross Country and 7th in the 800m in Grade 9. Her journey as a runner began in Grade 3 when she would run alongside her dad—bonding, connecting, and sharing tunes (especially Meatloaf). That early connection to sport grew into a lifelong passion.
At Notre Dame, Julia was involved in far more than just athletics. She played on the lacrosse team, was a proud member of the Mathletes, Social Climate Committee, Homework Club, and participated in the school’s annual Pilgrimage. She embraced new opportunities, picking up lacrosse on a whim and sticking with it—even when it was tough—developing resilience and lessons that carried into her running.
Julia is deeply committed to serving others and helping those around her thrive. She volunteered at the Athletics events during the 2022 Canada Summer Games and has consistently put others first. Her teachers and coaches admire her ability to balance academics, athletics, part-time work, and family life, all with grace, humour, and strong communication.
