OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly
announced Monday the student-athletes honoured as Desjardins Top
Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2008-09 season.
Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized
as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained a grade point average
(GPA) of 80 percent or better over the academic year while
competing for one - or more - of their university’s varsity
teams.
In 2008-09, a record 2,256 students achieved the prestigious
status. The previous mark of 2,126 dated back to the 2005-06
academic year.
Four CIS schools had over 100 Academic All-Canadians last year
including Laval (141), McGill (131), Alberta (111) and Western
Ontario (101). Queen’s, which has reached the century mark
four times since the Academic All-Canadian program was launched in
1990-91, had 99.
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male
student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are
selected annually as Desjardins Top Eight Academic
All-Canadians.
The recipients for 2008-09 include UNB soccer player and
biochemistry student Isabelle Miles of Fredericton, as well as
Saint Mary’s hockey player and criminology student
Christopher Morrison of Cambridge, Ont., representing Atlantic
University Sport (AUS).
Representing the Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) are Laval
swimmer and masters in orthophony student Paméla
Filiatrault-Veilleux of Lévis, Que., and Montreal volleyball
player and administration student Emmanuel André-Morin of
Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, Que.
The recipients from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Windsor
track and field athlete and nursing student Noelle Montcalm of
Windsor, Ont., as well as Waterloo swimmer and masters in applied
health sciences student Keith Beavers of Orangeville, Ont.
Victoria basketball player and kinesiology student Kayla Dykstra of
Calgary is representing the Canada West Universities Athletic
Association (CWUAA), along with Regina hockey player and business
administration student Kyle Ross of Regina.
“This was a record-breaking year in terms of the number of
student-athletes who achieved 80 percent. This reflects not only
the hard work of the students themselves, but also the commitment
of coaches and athletic departments to ensure success in the
classroom and playing field,” said CIS chief executive
officer, Marg McGregor.
“This year’s Top Eight recipients have accomplished
great things and symbolize the many outstanding student-athletes,
coaches and universities across Canada. I look forward to hearing
great things about them in the years to come as they graduate and
become leaders in our communities.”
Following is a profile on each 2008-09 CIS Desjardins Top Eight
Academic All-Canadian recipient.
ATLANTIC
UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)
Name: Isabelle Miles
Hometown: Fredericton, N.B.
University: New Brunswick (UNB)
Program: Science (biochemistry)
Sport: Soccer
Isabelle Miles was a team captain for three of her four seasons
with UNB’s soccer squad. The talented midfielder was the
team’s rookie of the year in 2005 and MVP in 2008, was an AUS
all-star on two occasions (2006, 2008), and led the Varsity Reds to
an AUS championship berth in 2006.
In the classroom, Miles earned CIS Academic All-Canadian status
each of her four years at UNB maintaining a perfect 4.3 grade point
average (A+) in the 149 credit hours she passed in biochemistry. A
multiple academic awards winner since 2005, she was the recipient
of the 2009 James Bayer Memorial Scholarship for excellence in
academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship,
the most prestigious award offered annually by Atlantic University
Sport. She graduated last spring and is currently attending medical
school at the University of Ottawa.
Over the years, Miles has been very involved in the Fredericton
community and on the UNB campus as a soccer coach and manager,
through the Read with the Reds program and her work at the
Fredericton Community Kitchen, and as a team representative on the
Varsity Reds Athletic Council.
Name: Christopher Morrison
Hometown: Cambridge, Ont.
University: Saint Mary’s
Program: Arts (Honours criminology), minor in psychology
Sport: Hockey
Chris Morrison has been an assistant captain for the Huskies the
last two seasons. Under his leadership, the Huskies have won 40 of
56 regular season games over that period and reached the AUS final
twice, capturing the conference title and advancing to the CIS
University Cup tournament in 2008-09. During his time at Saint
Mary’s, Morrison has logged more ice time than any other
player and has been voted as the team’s Unsung Hero, best
defensive defenceman and most dedicated player.
When it comes to his studies, Morrison has earned Academic
All-Canadian status each of the past three years and has a 4.05
cumulative GPA in 96 credit hours. He has received numerous
academic scholarships from Saint Mary’s, including the Alumni
Leadership Award, the Mike Kelly Memorial Scholarship, as well as
Academic Achievement Awards two consecutive years.
When he is not in the classroom or competing on the ice, Morrison
is part of the SMU Pals Program, which gives underprivileged kids
the experience of playing hockey and learning to skate. He is also
active in encouraging the importance of literacy to public school
children. During the summer months, he helps with the Meals on
Wheels program for senior citizens and coaches youth soccer.
QUEBEC STUDENT
SPORTS FEDERATION (QSSF)
Name: Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux
Hometown: Lévis, Que.
University: Laval
Program: Psychology (masters in orthophony)
Sport: swimming
In her third season with the Rouge et Or swim team in 2008-09,
Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux claimed an impressive six gold
medals at the QSSF championships, earning a spot on the
all-conference team. At the CIS championships, the 22-year-old
added three medals, including individual wins in the 200-metre
freestyle and in the 100 butterfly as well as bronze in the 4x100
free relay. In July, she represented Canada at the Summer
Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia.
In the classroom, the psychology student maintained a 4.20 GPA on a
scale of 4.33 during the fall semester and a 4.07 average in the
winter to finish her undergraduate degree with an overall GPA of
4.09.
Name: Emmanuel André-Morin
Hometown: Vaudreuil-sur-le-Lac, Que.
University: Montreal
Program: HEC (administration – public accounting)
Sport: Volleyball
Emmanuel André-Morin is the leader of the Carabins
men’s volleyball team. The Quebec conference MVP each of the
past two campaigns, he had been named QSSF and CIS rookie of the
year back in 2006-07. A first-team QSSF all-star each of his three
university seasons, he received the same honour at the national
level in both 2007-08 and 2008-09.
André-Morin also excels in the classroom. He is a three-time
Academic All-Canadian in three years with the Carabins and
maintained an impressive 4.1 GPA on a scale of 4.3 while completing
90 credit hours in public accounting at HEC Montreal. He was the
Carabins student-athlete of the year in both 2007-08 and 2008-09
and last year was the QSSF nominee for the Dale Iwanoczko award
presented to the CIS men’s volleyball player who best
combines athletics, academics and community involvement.
In the community, André-Morin is involved with youth
volleyball through numerous clinics and school visits. Last year,
he also volunteered with HEC Montreal’s tax services, a
program which helps students gain experience by filling tax forms
for the underprivileged.
ONTARIO
UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)
Name: Noelle Montcalm
Hometown: Windsor, Ont.
University: Windsor
Program: Nursing
Sport: Track and field
An All-Canadian each of her three years at Windsor, Noelle Montcalm
had a spectacular season in 2008-09 winning three gold medals at
the OUA championships and adding four medals, including gold in the
4x200-metre relay, at the CIS championships. She earned over a
quarter of the team’s points at the CIS meet to help the
Lancers capture the women’s team title.
Montcalm is also a very strong student in Windsor’s Faculty
of Nursing program. She holds an 11.5 GPA and captured the
prestigious DeMarco Award as the Lancers top female academic
student-athlete in 2008-09.
Name: Keith Beavers
Hometown: Orangeville, Ont.
University: Waterloo
Program: Masters applied health sciences (kinesiology,
cardiovascular physiology)
Sport: Swimming
Two-time Olympian (2008, 2004) Keith Beavers made the transition
from international competition to the varsity ranks with a huge
splash in 2008-09. At the OUA championships, he claimed three gold
medals and two silvers, including individual wins in the 200-metre
breaststroke and 200 medley. At the CIS championships, he captured
gold in the 200 IM and set school records in each of his six swims.
In July, the 2008 Olympic finalist represented Canada at the Summer
Universiade in Belgrade, Serbia, where he claimed silver in the 200
IM and bronze with the 4x200 freestyle relay.
While re-writing the Warriors records book, Beavers was completing
his three-year Masters program in applied health sciences and
finished with an outstanding 91.5% average. He has received a
number of academic awards and scholarships including the Applied
Health Sciences Dean’s Entrance Scholarship on three
occasions, the 2006-2007 Graduate Studies Endowment Fund
(Department of Kinesiology), the President’s Graduate
Scholarship Top Up Award, and the CIHR Sir Frederick Banting &
Dr. Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship.
Away from the classroom, Beavers has been a tireless promoter of
swimming at numerous public speaking events, worked with a variety
of different local community clubs by visiting their programs,
swimming with their groups, offering coaching tips to kids and
speaking at club banquets all over the province of Ontario. He has
also been a guest coach at many Swim Ontario camps.
CANADA WEST
UNIVERSITIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (CWUAA)
Name: Kayla Dykstra
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
University: Victoria
Program: Education (kinesiology)
Sport: Basketball
Kayla Dykstra received the Nan Copp award as CIS women’s
basketball most valuable player in 2008-09, becoming the first UVic
player to claim the trophy in over two decades. The 6-foot-2
forward led the nation in field goal percentage (68.7%), finished
second in scoring (18.6 points per game) and was third in
rebounding (11.2 per game), all tops in the ultra-competitive
Canada West. Her performance landed her a spot on Team
Canada’s entry in the 2009 FISU Summer Universiade in
Belgrade, Serbia.
In the classroom, Dykstra has earned CIS Academic All-Canadian
status in each of the past three years while studying in
UVic’s demanding kinesiology program. In 2008-09, she had an
8.05 GPA on a 9.0 scale. Her cumulative GPA is 7.14.
Away from the court, Dykstra, a Calgary native who spent her entire
childhood riding horses, volunteers with the Victoria Riding for
the Disabled Association, assisting those with physical, mental or
emotional challenges climb into the saddle in an effort to help
them regain their mobility and their confidence. She volunteers
every Thursday morning, four hours a week.
Name: Kyle Ross
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
University: Regina
Program: Business administration
Sport: Hockey
Kyle Ross was named a Canada West second-team all-star in 2008-09
after leading the Cougars with 21 points in 26 conference games.
Last February, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound forward represented Canada
at the Winter Universiade in Harbin, China, where he was one of the
team’s most prolific players tallying four goals and eight
points the help the national entry claim a silver medal.
Ross, who transferred to the University of Saskatchewan this year
to pursue a law degree, was an Academic All-Canadian in both of his
seasons at the U of R, holding a cumulative GPA of well over 90
percent in business administration. In his final year at Regina, he
was awarded Canada West Hockey’s Dr. Randy Gregg Award as the
conference’s top student-athlete and received the University
of Regina Continuing Excellence Scholarship, an award given to the
top-ranked student in each faculty.
In the community, Ross made several visits to Regina-area
elementary schools, where he spoke to students and took part in
floor hockey games.
-CIS-