Bartolillo strikes again, landing a Major National award

Last week, Francesco Bartolillo won the Canada West Student-Athlete Community Service award.

This week, Bartolillo is the recipient of the U-SPORTS Student-Athlete Community Service Award.

The all-time leading goal scorer in UNBC men’s soccer history is the first player with the UNBC Timberwolves to capture a U-Sports national award.

What an HONOUR. For the first time in @UNBC history, a Timberwolf has been honoured by @USPORTSca with a major award. Congrats to @F_Bartolillo of @UNBCMSoccer, the NATIONAL Student-Athlete Community Service Award winner. We are incredibly proud of you, Fran. Well deserved. pic.twitter.com/UjYy9uGXTZ

— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) November 8, 2018

Along with coaching youth soccer, and founding a soccer tennis tournament to benefit KidSport BC, Bartolillo created the Timberwolves Student-Athlete Society.

Last year, the fifth-year Business Administration student from Calgary 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.

More than $10,000 have been raised and donated over the past two years.

“Fran’s contribution to the Timberwolves, the University, and the city of Prince George is admirable and deserves recognition. 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,” said Timberwolves head coach Steve Simonson in a media release.

“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,” added Simonson.

The four-time Academic All-Canadian led the Timberwolves this season in scoring with 10 points, including six goals.

Congratulations to all our ?⚽️ award winners ?? #ChampSZN

Félicitations à tous les lauréats du Prix U SPORTS de soccer masculin 2018 ??

? EN: https://t.co/qY0wyRmlu1 // ? FR: https://t.co/PSm8jKyF5K pic.twitter.com/Gx8tLUaNDo

— U SPORTS (@USPORTSca) November 8, 2018