Volleyball BC is proud to celebrate the recipients of this year’s Outstanding Student Referee Awards: Arnold Acosta, Joshua Matsui, Jonah Violini and Brooklyn Delaney.
Offered annually to recognize registered student-referees who exhibit exemplary leadership and community involvement both on and off the court, the $1,000 award is made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor via the Vancouver Foundation to assist recipients with their education-related expenses.
Among this year’s outstanding recipients is Brooklyn Delaney, a Level 2 referee whose dedication to community and passion for officiating embodies the true spirit of the award.
Now working toward her Level 3 certification, Delaney uses refereeing as an outlet for her competitive spirit:
“The thing I enjoy most is the feeling you get before a big game,” says Delaney. “Your hands are all sweaty and [there’s] a knot in your stomach…It’s the exact same pre-game nerves you get as a player, a feeling I never thought I’d be able to experience again.”
On-top of her duties on the ref stand, Delaney has shown an extraordinary commitment to giving back to her community. Over the past five years, Brooklyn has helped coach school teams at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary and mentored young athletes through Cougar Volleyball across house leagues, skills camps, and beach programs. Off the court, her focus shifts to healthcare – logging over 110 volunteer hours across four years at Baillie House long-term care facility, gaining vital hands-on experience for her aspiring career as a nurse.
Juggling academics, community work, and high-stakes officiating is no small feat, but Delaney credits the referee community with providing a supportive foundation:
“Being a student referee has taught me how to juggle school, refing, and life,” says Delaney. “It has helped me find a place that feels like home thanks to all the amazing refs who make this community so great.”
Looking ahead, Brooklyn plans to use her $1,000 award directly toward her nursing school tuition. “Reffing has taught me skills I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I thank everyone who made this possible for me and continuously pushes me to be better.”
Also recognized this year is Arnold Acosta, who started refereeing at 16 after his high school athletic director encouraged him to become an official.
For Acosta, officiating has become a meaningful way to stay connected to the sport and give back to a community that positively impacted him as a player:
“What I enjoy most is seeing the laughter and joy of athletes who love the game, and leaving a positive experience for the athletes like previous referees have done for me,” says Acosta.
Beyond officiating, Acosta has spent nine years coaching recreational, high school, and club volleyball, including year-round coaching at his former high school, Sir Charles Tupper Secondary. Off the court, he works at BCIT Recreation to create barrier-free opportunities for individuals to participate in recreation, fostering a welcoming and inclusive community.
Balancing his studies with refereeing has taught him valuable life skills that will support his future career goals:
“Being a student referee has taught me accountability and adaptability,” says Acosta. “It has also shown me that becoming a better official is an ongoing process that requires reflection, humility, and a willingness to keep learning.”
As a Recreation Management student at Langara College, Acosta plans to use his $1,000 award toward his education expenses as he pursues a career in recreation, coaching, and sport leadership to help others build skills and meaningful relationships through sport.
Recipient Joshua Matsui began officiating indoor volleyball in 2017 and beach volleyball in 2018 as a way to stay involved in a sport he enjoys.
Since then, officiating has taken him across the country to national championships, though his passion remains grounded in mentorship:
“What I enjoy most is the constant learning and the opportunity to mentor newer officials and help them grow in the sport,” says Matsui.
Matsui’s dedication to the officiating community includes serving as Allocations Manager for the Lower Mainland Volleyball Officials Association since 2019 and sitting on Volleyball BC’s Referee Development Team, where he supports officials through training, clinics, and mentorship.
Juggling his referee commitments alongside a demanding academic schedule at UBC has helped sharpen key leadership qualities:
“Balancing refereeing with my Doctor of Pharmacy degree at UBC has taught me responsibility, time management, leadership, and how to make decisions under pressure,” says Matsui.
Looking ahead, Matsui will apply his $1,000 award toward his tuition as he works toward a career in pharmacy, with goals to continue mentoring local officials and one day officiate internationally.
Completing this year’s group of award recipients is Jonah Violini, who transitioned into refereeing after playing varsity volleyball for several years.
Violini sought a new perspective on the sport and found a rewarding way to give back:
“What I enjoy most is staying connected to volleyball, its community, and hopefully creating a good experience for athletes,” says Violini.
Violini’s community involvement spans both coaching and official development across the region. He has helped coach junior, senior, and club teams from U14 to U18 levels, while also coordinating referee development in the North Okanagan and training minor officials in local schools.
The experience on the referee stand has played an important role in his personal and professional growth:
“My experience as a student referee has helped me grow both personally and within the BC volleyball community,” says Violini. “It has allowed me to stay involved in a sport I love while building connections with incredible athletes, coaches, and fellow officials.”
Looking forward, Violini will direct his $1,000 award toward his education as he pursues a career in education. “I am grateful to be part of a community that has given me so many opportunities to learn and grow.”