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CMU student-athletes awarded for leadership and community work
Gode Katembo and Lauren Ens
CMU Blazers athletes were two of only six students across the country to receive a Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Torchbearer Scholarship last year.
The award recognizes student-athletes who exemplify leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship in their schools, sports teams, and wider communities.
Gode Katembo and Lauren Ens each earned the award for their initiatives and passion for helping people. Katembo develops programming that breaks down barriers in sports and Ens supports individuals experiencing homelessness, addictions, and other challenges.
The two CMU students each received $1,000 scholarships and were featured in CCAA videos. They were selected out of thousands of applications made by student-athletes from the 98 member institutions of the CCAA.
"Receiving the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship acknowledges not only my personal achievements but also highlights the importance of...making a difference in the lives of others," Katembo said. "It motivates me to continue my journey of serving others and pushing myself to reach new heights."
Katembo, now an alumnus of CMU ('23), studied social science and played defender on the Blazers men's soccer team. Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he lived in a refugee camp in Uganda for seven years before immigrating to Canada. Sports have played a vital role throughout his life, especially during his first years as a newcomer. As he faced language barriers, racism, financial strain, and other challenges familiar to newcomers, soccer provided him with mentors and a community of support.
His experience compelled him to create several organizations to spread that positive impact. Sports Without Boundaries runs free and affordable sporting programs for kids ages seven to 18, so that every child can access opportunities to play, learn, and grow. This includes a variety of specific programs, like Beyond Sports, a program for teens that combines sports with life skills training and guidance for post-high school life. Katembo also founded the Canada African Cup of Nations in 2019, a variety of annual soccer tournaments that bring together diverse cultures and share music, art, and food. The tournaments feature hundreds of players and thousands of spectators.
"These projects have allowed me to combine my love for sports, cultural exchange, and community engagement," he said. "I find great joy in fostering unity, promoting inclusivity, and empowering individuals through the power of sports."
Ens is currently a fifth-year CMU student studying psychology and a libero on the Blazers women's volleyball team. She grew up in Winnipeg and at One88 Community Church located downtown, which aims to be a place where people find belonging, especially those neglected and forgotten by society. Through One88, she has spent over a decade walking alongside vulnerable populations dealing with poverty, mental illness, and other personal and systemic struggles. She often volunteered at the weekday drop-in that provides services like showers, laundry, meals, and supplies.
"I am passionate about using the resources and vision I have for restored purpose and life within my One88 community particularly when it comes to those experiencing homelessness and overcoming addictions," Ens said. "I believe that when you are in community with others it means walking alongside each other through different life experiences and supporting each other in whatever way possible."
She recently formed a young adults group at One88, wanting to connect her peers with meaningful volunteer opportunities and increase the centre's roster of helping hands. When the supply of material resources was strained, the group worked at gathering donations of clothing, food, and hygiene products. Ens called other churches and local businesses and put out a call for all Blazers athletes and fans to bring donations to CMU home games. Soon, visiting teams from across the athletic conference were also bringing items to give to the cause.
Ens' worlds of service and sports overlap in other ways, too. Upon invitation from her team's Head Coach Jayme Menzies, Ens helped out with Agoojin Volleyball, a culturally-safe volleyball program for Indigenous female and two-spirit youth from across Manitoba. She has mentored assistant coaches and participated in hosting volleyball skills camps and pizza parties with First Nations high school teams.
"CMU has given me opportunity to grow as a leader...through both offering experiences to lead and mentors to guide me as I do so," Ens said. "I have been under the leadership and care of my coach Jayme Menzies who inspires her athletes to use our platform to create positive change in the community around us. She does this not only through encouraging us and providing opportunities for us but also through example. Having role models like her has helped shape how I view being a leader."
Katembo's various involvements at CMU influenced how he moved into the expansive work he's doing now: "CMU has been instrumental in shaping my ability to demonstrate leadership, drive, and integrity in my community and beyond," he said. "Through its rigorous academic programs, supportive faculty, and diverse student body, CMU has provided me with opportunities to engage in impactful projects, collaborate with like-minded individuals, and develop the necessary skills to make a positive difference in various communities."
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