32 UQ student-athletes received recognition for their sporting achievements across 18 different sports at the 2025 UQ Blues Awards.
The event marked the 113th Blues Awards ceremony and the first time Ice Hockey and Rope Skipping were awarded Full Blues.
Ice Hockey Blue Lindsey Kiliwnik said: “I’m very proud to be the first Ice Hockey Blue recipient. I think it’s very special to be part of this award ceremony because all the athletes in the room have likely been to many awards evenings with our respective sports, but being able to stand together as athletes from different sporting disciplines and receive recognition on the same stage is a great honour.”
Rugby Union Blue Tiarah Minns spoke of her journey to receiving a Blue: “The award isn’t just about the success or accolades we are celebrating tonight, it’s the journey we have all taken to get to today.”
“Striving for success in both my sport and study, has come with lots of highs and also lows that I’ve had to overcome. I believe overcoming these adversities and barriers is what has shaped us all today and is part of the reason we have all shared success in our respective fields.”
Special guest speaker and Brisbane Lions co-captain Lachie Neale was full of praise for the young student-athletes receiving recognition and presented the awards on stage. The two-time Brisbane Lions premiership winner concluded his time on stage with a message for the young awardees.
“Keep loving your sport and lean on others. As an athlete, you have so many things swirling in your head, so don’t be afraid to open up to people.”
2025 UQ Blue recipients:
Aiden Frick – Gymnastics
Caitlyn Blade – Touch Football
Daniel Miller – Lifesaving
Jasmine Fleming – Beach Volleyball
Lindsey Kiliwnik – Ice Hockey
Monty Martin – Rowing
Naomi Tucker – Rope Skipping
Nicole Connacher – Softball
Ruby Harris – Hockey
Tiarah Minns – Rugby Union
2025 UQ Half Blue recipients:
Alex Arbuthnot – Athletics
Alyssa West – Water Polo
Anja Nayar – Tennis
Blaise Prendergast – Touch Football
Caitlin Teakle – Touch Football
Connor Latouf – Athletics
Elly Ready – Rowing
Emily Zoitsas – Canoe Polo
Finnian Beck-Veldman – Tennis
Frances Beebe – Sailing
Ivy Matthews – Hockey
Isabella Nasser – Rugby Union
Isabella Vincent – Swimming
Joseph Thynne – Rowing
Marissa Hanlon – Athletics
Mickayla Crust – Cheer and Dance
Mitchell Owen – Rowing
Nancy Duncan-Banks – Rowing
Piper Adolphe – Karate
Sinead Murphy – Touch Football
Thomas Stevens – Rowing
Tom Robinson – Rugby Union
