Dalhousie University celebrates latest U SPORTS Academic All‑Canadians
After two years of virtual celebrations, the Dalhousie Tigers annual Academic All-Canadian Celebration was held in the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium on Thursday, (January 19)
A total of 158 Dalhousie varsity student-athletes achieved U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status during the 2021-22 school year. To qualify as an Academic All-Canadian, student-athletes must maintain a GPA of at least 3.50 over the academic year while competing in a varsity sport. Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and support are crucial in these students’ lives.
Tim Maloney, executive director of Athletics and Recreation, opened the celebration highlighting the support student-athletes receive from Dalhousie.
“This event is arguably my favourite of the year because it celebrates what we value the most — combined excellence in academics, athletics and community involvement,” he said. “It’s also a great opportunity for us to recognize all of those who play such an important role in helping our student-athletes be so successful including our academic leaders, faculty and staff who are understanding, supportive and play such important mentorship roles in our student-athletes’ academic success.”
While student-athletes are always students first, Maloney also spoke to the success they experienced in athletics.
“Fifty-eight percent of our student-athletes were Academic All-Canadians last year,” he added. “And not to take away from their academic performance, but we also care about winning here — those student-athletes played a big role in bringing home nine AUS championship banners as well.”
Recommended reading: Glen‑Carter named U SPORTS player of the week
Perseverance pays off
Dr. Frank Harvey, Dalhousie’s acting president and vice-chancellor, commended the perseverance of Dal’s student-athletes through the challenges brought on through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was particularly challenging for our student-athletes because sports, athletics, training and competition are all such important aspects of their lives, and their relationships and their identities,” he said. “So, for those who navigated the evolving restrictions and protocols and struggled through the restrictions to training and competition and so many other pandemic-related challenges, we are so incredibly impressed by your perseverance through all of it and the resiliency you showed to thrive and excel.”
And excel they did. The average GPA of the student-athletes who achieved Academic All-Canadian status last year was 3.92.
Women’s swimmer Mady Shivgulam and women’s hockey player Gabby Noordijk served as co-MCs for the event, referencing the achievements of the 91 student-athletes who were in attendance as they received their certificates.
It takes a village
At the end of the presentations, men’s basketball player Alex Carson spoke on behalf of the student-athletes.
A four-time Academic All-Canadian, Carson began by highlighting the challenges that student-athletes face including heading to study hall right after a long practice, late nights studying with early morning practice the next day and doing school work while travelling for competition.
“It’s not always easy, but through sacrifice and commitment, the 158 student-athletes who were Academic All-Canadians last year found a way to not only ‘get by’, but to excel in their sport and in the classroom, and that deserves to be celebrated,” he began.
Carson also spoke to the important role families play in their success very early on in their athletic careers. He also highlighted how vital the support student-athletes receive from each other, coaches, the Dalhousie Physiotherapy Clinic and the athletic department staff is to their continued success.
“Everyone works together to provide us with the best possible opportunities and experience and that will stick with us long after our time here at Dalhousie.”