OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly
announced Tuesday the student-athletes honoured as Desjardins Top
Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2009-2010 season.
Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized
as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained an average of 80 per
cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or
more - of their university’s varsity teams.
In 2009-2010, a record 2,299 students achieved the prestigious
status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,256 set a year ago.
Five universities had over 100 CIS Academic All-Canadians last year
including McGill (135), Laval (132), Alberta (128), Queen’s
(118) and Western Ontario (113).
Rounding out the national top 10 were Dalhousie (97), Waterloo
(92), Calgary (89), Guelph (85) and Saskatchewan (77).
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 2009-2010 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are
Alex Legge of Mahone Bay, N.S., a basketball player and medicine
student at Dalhousie, as well as Jacob Kilpatrick of Saint John, a
volleyball player and civil engineering student at UNB.
Representing the Quebec Student Sports Federation (QSSF) are
Marie-Michelle Genois of Cap-Santé, Que., a basketball
player and masters of cellular and molecular biology student at
Laval, and Steven Bielby of Pointe-Claire, Que., a swimmer and
electrical engineering student at McGill.
The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Megan Brown
of Guelph, Ont., a cross-country and track runner and physical
education and health student at Toronto, as well as Dillon Heap of
Waterloo, Ont., a football player and business administration
student at Wilfrid Laurier.
From the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA),
this year’s recipients are Jennifer Hinze of Vancouver, a
volleyball player and cellular biology and genetics student at UBC,
along with Thomas Hall of Winnipeg, at football player and
kinesiology student at Manitoba.
“The high number of student-athletes who achieved 80 per cent
reflects the commitment of coaches and athletics 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
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 2009-2010 CIS Desjardins Top Eight
Academic All-Canadian recipient, following by a list of all-time
winners.
ATLANTIC
UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)
Name: Alex Legge
Hometown: Mahone Bay, N.S.
University: Dalhousie
Program: Doctor of Medicine
Sport: Basketball
Alex Legge suited up for Dalhousie’s women’s basketball
team for four campaigns from 2006-07 to 2009-10, before moving into
an assistant coach position with the Tigers this season. Over her
outstanding university career, she was named AUS rookie of the
year, an AUS first-team all-star (in her sophomore season) and was
the recipient of the conference’s Student Athlete &
Community Service Award in her final campaign. She led the Tigers
to a pair of AUS silver medals and to a fourth-place finish at the
2007 CIS championship.
In the classroom, Legge, who started her studies in medicine in
August, was an Academic All-Canadian and a member of the Faculty of
Science Dean’s List each of her first four years at
Dalhousie. In 2007-08, she earned the highest mark in cellular
biology in a class of 235 students and received the Douglas Russell
Memorial Book Prize for highest mark in introductory biochemistry
in a class of 172. She was the 2008-09 recipient of the Dalhousie
University President’s Award for excellence in athletics,
academics, leadership and community service, and was the winner of
the 2009-10 James Bayer Memorial Scholarship, the most prestigious
recognition presented to an AUS student-athlete.
Very involved in the Halifax community and on campus, she was a
volunteer at the South Shore Regional Hospital in 2008, a research
assistant in the IWK Neuropsychology Department in 2008-09 and a
Dalhousie Varsity Council member for four years. She also organized
the Tigers women’s basketball team’s Run for the Cure
in October of 2009.
Name: Jacob Kilpatrick
Hometown: Saint John, N.B.
University: New Brunswick (UNB)
Program: Civil Engineering
Sport: Volleyball
In his first four seasons with UNB’s men’s volleyball
team, Jacob Kilpatrick was twice named the AUS nominee for the
prestigious CIS Dale Iwanoczko Award for excellence in athletics,
academics and community involvement and, in 2009-10, was both an
AUS all-star and the Varsity Reds team MVP. The 21-year-old is back
with the V-Reds in 2010-11 for his fifth and final year of CIS
eligibility.
A four-time Academic All-Canadian and two-time Dean’s List
student in his first four years at UNB, Kilpatrick graduated last
spring with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and resumed his
studies this fall in a Diploma in Technology Management
Entrepreneur. He has been the recipient of close to 30 scholarships
and awards since arriving on the Fredericton campus in 2006, most
recently the 2010-11 John Gilchrist Associated Alumni Engineering
Scholarship, H.E. McKeen Scholarship, MRDC Athletic Award and Dirk
Kiy Leadership Award.
The president of the UNB Athletes Council for the third straight
year in 2010-11, he was the coordinator of the Varsity Reds
fundraiser for the Fredericton Boys and Girls Club the past two
years and has been actively involved since 2006 in the Heads Up
with the Reds and Read with the Reds programs.
QUEBEC STUDENT
SPORTS FEDERATION (QSSF)
Name: Marie-Michelle Genois
Hometown: Cap-Santé, Que.
University: Laval
Program: Masters of Cellular and Molecular Biology
Sport: Basketball
One of the most decorated athletes in Rouge et Or women’s
basketball history, Marie-Michelle Genois has been named a CIS
All-Canadian each of her first four seasons at Laval, including
first-team nods in 2007-08 and 2009-10, when she claimed a pair of
Quebec league MVP titles. A Team Canada member in 2009 at the
Summer Universiade in Serbia and the Jeux de la Francophonie in
Lebanon, she has guided the Rouge et Or to four straight QSSF
banners and as many CIS championship appearances.
A four-time Academic All-Canadian, Genois began a Masters in
cellular and molecular biology in the fall of 2009 after graduating
in biochemistry. In her first year in the program, she maintained a
remarkable grade point average of 4.18 out of a possible 4.33,
which earned her Rouge et Or female student-athlete of the year
honours (team sport).
Despite a busy schedule that includes, among other things, 40 hours
of lab work per week, she found time to participate in many
promotional activities during the past season and was her
team’s representative on the Rouge et Or Varsity
Council.
Name: Steven Bielby
Hometown: Pointe-Claire, Que.
University: McGill
Program: Electrical Engineering
Sport: Swimming
Steven Bielby, a 5-foot-8 middle distance sprinter, was voted Team
MVP in his second season with the Redmen in 2009-10. He was a
five-time medallist at last winter’s QSSF championships and
added four podium finishes at the CIS championships, including a
gold medal (1500m freestyle), one silver (400 IM) and a pair of
bronzes (200 IM, 400 free). His time in the grueling 1500 free was
15 minutes, 22.71 seconds, a Quebec university record.
Bielby’s performance at the CIS meet earned him first-team
All-Canadian honours for the second straight year and qualified him
to compete at the 2010 Mare Nostrum Series, a high-profile European
tour of World Cup meets.
In the classroom, Bielby achieved a stellar 3.86 grade-point
average out of 4.0 in electrical engineering - the equivalent of a
96.5 per cent academic average – good for a second
consecutive Academic All-Canadian nod. He qualified for the
Principal’s student-athlete honour roll and received the
Uldis Auders memorial award, presented to the McGill sophomore who
best combines academics with athletics.
ONTARIO
UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)
Name: Megan Brown
Hometown: Guelph, Ont.
University: Toronto
Program: Physical Education & Health
Sport: Cross Country & Track and field
Megan Brown wrapped up a superb university career in 2009-10 when
she captured her third CIS individual title in cross-country
running and three individual medals at the CIS indoor track and
field championships, including gold on 1500 metres and a pair of
silvers. The Varsity Blues female MVP in both cross country and
track and field and the UofT’s female athlete of the year,
she also claimed OUA gold in cross country and a pair of
first-place finishes at the conference’s track meet, on 1000
and 3000 metres.
In 2009-10, she maintained a 3.90 grade point average in the final
year of her physical education and health degree. She received the
Tom Longboat Award as well as the Hector Phillips Scholarship,
which recognizes excellence in athletics, academics and
leadership.
Brown, whose dream is to pursue a career as both a motivational
speaker and mentor for young girls in sport, was chosen as an
Ambassador for the last Canada Summer Games. Currently involved in
public speaking in the community, she hopes to obtain a PhD from
the University of Toronto and would like to write a book targeted
at adolescent females.
Name: Dillon Heap
Hometown: Waterloo, Ont.
University: Wilfrid Laurier
Program: Business Administration
Sport: Football
Dillon Heap was sensational in 2009 in his third season with
Wilfrid Laurier’s football team. Named a first-team OUA
all-star as both a receiver and kick returner and a CIS first-team
all-Canadian on special teams, he set no less than five school
records, established a single-season CIS mark for most punt return
yards (912) and ranked first in the country in all-purpose yards,
885 more than any other player. He went on to receive the
President’s Award as WLU’s male athlete of the
year.
A two-time Academic All-Canadian, Heap achieved a 10.17 grade point
average out of 12 in 2009-10 in his third year of a business
administration degree. He received the Academic Achievement Award
which combines top academic achievement with outstanding athletic
performance.
As a member of The Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, he left
Wilfrid Laurier to complete a two-year mission in Chile from
September of 2006 to September of 2008. He is currently an academic
mentor at WLU as part of the Athlete Academic Success Program
(AASP).
CANADA WEST
UNIVERSITIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (CWUAA)
Name: Jennifer Hinze
Hometown: Vancouver, B.C.
University: British Columbia (UBC)
Program: Cellular Biology and Genetics
Sport: Volleyball
A member of UBC’s women’s volleyball squad for the past
four seasons, middle Jennifer Hinze was named a first-team CIS
all-Canadian in 2009-10 after she led the country in hitting
percentage (.395), 38 points ahead of the second-ranked player. She
helped the Thunderbirds to an undefeated campaign (25-0) and earned
a spot on the CIS championship all-star team as UBC captured its
third straight national title. Selected to the senior national team
during the summer of 2009, she helped Canada qualify for the 2010
world championship.
A four-time Academic All-Canadian in as many years at UBC, Hinze
maintained an 88.8 per cent average in cellular biology and
genetics in 2009-10. During the past season, she volunteered at the
International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), a spinal
cord injury research centre at Vancouver General Hospital. In
addition, she coached at various volleyball camps and volunteered
to speak to the under-18 competitors at the National Team Challenge
Cup about playing on Canada’s senior team.
Name: Thomas Hall
Hometown: Winnipeg, Man.
University: Manitoba
Program: Kinesiology
Sport: Football
Thomas Hall shone in 2009 in his second season with
Manitoba’s football team, his first full campaign as a
starter. The 6-foot-3, 223-pound linebacker led the Bisons and tied
for 13th in Canada West in tackles (38.5), scored a touchdown on a
59-yard interception return and tied for third in the conference
with two forced fumbles in eight games. Last May, he played in the
annual East West Bowl, a showcase for CIS players who will be
eligible for the CFL Canadian Draft the following year.
Hall earned Academic All-Canadian status for the second time in as
many years in 2009-10 thanks to a 4.14 grade point average in
kinesiology. He received the University of Manitoba Student’s
Union Scholarship based on academic record and was the winner of
the Bison Sports Male Student-Athlete Leadership and Community
Development Award for the second year in a row.
Last November, he became the first Bison to accept the
prestigious Russ Jackson Award, presented annually to the CIS
football player who best exemplifies the attributes of academic
achievement, football skills and citizenship. The co-chair of the
Bisons Against Bullying program, he was also the recipient of the
2009 Nick Laping Memorial Award for his commitment to the community
as a true leader on and off the field. In 2008, Hall was
instrumental in creating a new annual event called “The
Challenge for Life” for CancerCare Manitoba, a program which
has raised over $2 million in its first two years of
existence.
ALL-TIME
RECIPIENTS
2009-2010
AUS: Alex Legge, Dalhousie (Basketball) / Jacob Kilpatrick, UNB
(Volleyball)
QSSF: Marie-Michelle Genois, Laval (Basketball) / Steven Bielby,
McGill (Swimming)
OUA: Megan Brown, Toronto (X-Country - T&F) / Dillon Heap,
Wilfrid Laurier (Football)
CWUAA: Jennifer Hinze, UBC (Volleyball) / Thomas Hall, Manitoba
(Football)
2008-2009
AUS: Isabelle Miles, UNB (Soccer) / Christopher Morrison, Saint
Mary’s (Hockey)
QSSF: Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux, Laval (Swimming) /
Emmanuel André-Morin, Montreal (Volleyball)
OUA: Noelle Montcalm, Windsor (Track & Field) / Keith Beavers,
Waterloo (Swimming)
CWUAA: Kayla Dykstra, Victoria (Basketball) / Kyle Ross, Regina
(Hockey)
2007-2008
AUS: Justine McMillan, Acadia (Cross Country) / Niklas Rademacher,
Dalhousie (Volleyball)
QSSF: Jennifer Thomson, McGill (Volleyball) / Tyler Marghetis,
Concordia (Wrestling)
OUA: Brae Anne McArthur, Guelph (Track & Field) / Brad Rootes,
Brock (Basketball)
CWUAA: Adrianne Vangool, Saskatchewan (T&F) / Benjamin
Schellenberg, Winnipeg (Volleyball)
2006-2007
AUS: Katie Hollinshead, Dalhousie (Soccer) / Colin Sinclair, UNB
(Hockey)
QSSF: Audrey Lacroix, Montreal (Swimming) / David Foley, Sherbrooke
(Track & Field)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Justin Hall,
Queen’s (X-Country - T&F)
CWUAA: Katie Davidson, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Jay Langager,
Lethbridge (Hockey)
2005-2006
AUS: Christine Terese Chislom, StFX (Cross Country) / Jeff Weiler,
Dalhousie (Volleyball)
QSSF: Marylène Laplante, Laval (Volleyball) / Nicolas
Murray, Laval (Swimming)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (X-Country - T&F) / Joel Scherban,
Lakehead (Hockey)
CWUAA: Kristen Hagg, Alberta (Hockey) / Chris Meehan, Trinity
Western (Volleyball)
2004-2005
AUS: Hilary Burn, Dalhousie (X-Country - T&F) / Tyler Dyck,
StFX (Hockey)
QSSF: Danielle Day, McGill (Soccer) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia
(Wrestling)
OUA: Allison Oosterhuis, Western Ontario (Soccer) / Ian MacLeod,
Toronto (Swimming)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (Hockey) / Paul Deniset,
Manitoba (Hockey)
2003-2004
AUS: Natalie Oake, St. Thomas (Hockey) / Daniel Hudgin, Moncton
(Hockey)
QSSF: Carolyn McCabe, McGill (Swimming) / Simon Therrien, UQTR
(Soccer)
OUA: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (Wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western
Ontario (Basketball)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (Hockey) / Adam Ens,
Saskatchewan (Volleyball)
2002-2003
AUS: Marieke Gardner, Dalhousie (Soccer) / Kjetil Vaage, UNB
(Soccer)
QSSF: Marie-Hélène Giasson, Laval (Swimming) /
Alexandre Pichette, McGill (Swimming)
OUA: Alison Mills, McMaster (Volleyball) / Robert Smart, Carleton
(Basketball)
CWUAA: Maria Gallo, Alberta (Rugby) / Blair St. Martin, Alberta
(Hockey)
2001-2002
AUS: Andrea Faryniuk, Dalhousie (Track & Field) / Tim Mullen,
Saint Mary’s (Soccer)
QSSF: Sarah Ali-Khan, McGill (X-Country & T&F) / Strachan
Hartley, McGill (Football)
OUA: Lauren Fratesi, Ottawa (Swimming) / Alexandre Hayes, Ottawa
(Swimming)
CWUAA: Jacqueline Lavallee, Saskatchewan (Basketball) / Jeff Zorn,
Alberta (Hockey)
2000-2001
AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (Basketball) / Steve Gallace, Saint
Mary’s (Hockey)
QSSF: Catherine Foley, Sherbrooke (Track & Field) / Strachan
Hartley, McGill (Football)
OUA: Karina Verdon, Ottawa (Hockey) / Andrew Kwiatkowski, Western
Ontario (Basketball)
GPAC: Brandy West, Regina (Hockey) / Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba
(Football)
CWUAA: Jen Dowdeswell, UBC (Field Hockey) / Mark Versfeld, UBC
(Swimming)
1999-2000
AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (Basketball) / Aaron Barkhouse,
Dalhousie (Soccer)
QSSF: Sara Russo-Garrido, Laval (Soccer) / Yannick Demers, Montreal
(Swimming)
OUA: Kristine Spekkens, Queen’s (Volleyball) / Alex Hayes,
Ottawa (Swimming)
GPAC: Erin Soroko, Winnipeg (Basketball) / Shawn Peters, Regina
(Track & Field)
CWUAA: Kelly Matheson, Calgary (Soccer) / Spencer Holt, Lethbridge
(Basketball)
1998-1999
AUAA: Jolene Bourgeois, UNB (Field Hockey) / Jan Trojanowski,
Acadia (Basketball)
QSSF: Stephanie Welsh, McGill (Track & Field) / David Dufresne,
UQTR (Soccer)
OUA: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (X-Country - T&F) / Bob
McGill, Queen’s (X-Country - T&F)
GPAC: Nadia Melon, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Shawn Peters, Regina
(Track & Field)
CWUAA: Jessica Mills, UBC (Basketball) / Curtis Myden, Calgary
(Swimming)
1997-1998
AUAA: Tracy McGee, UPEI (Field Hockey) / Peter Benoite, Memorial
(Basketball)
QSSF: Wendy Whelan, McGill (Volleyball) / Alexandre Émond,
Montreal (Volleyball)
OUA: Rebecca Chambers, Toronto (Track & Field) / Tim Cowan,
McMaster (Swimming)
GPAC: Kathy Hrehirchuk, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Darreb Peters,
Regina (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (Soccer) / Mike Dalziel, UBC
(Volleyball)
1996-1997
AUAA: Rachelle Beaton, Dalhousie (Track & Field) / Chris
Diamond, UPEI (Soccer)
QSSF: Andrea Bacsfalusi, McGill (Swimming) / Pierre Hudon, Laval
(Football)
OWIAA / OUAA: Laurie Halfpenny, Guelph (Soccer) / Russell Jones,
Toronto (Swimming)
GPAC: Amanda Mlodzinski, Manitoba (Swimming) / Phil Peters,
Winnipeg (Volleyball)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (Soccer) / Mike Sieben, Alberta
(Volleyball)
1995-1996
AUAA: Carla Edwards, Mount Allison (Volleyball) / Chris
Diamond, UPEI (Soccer)
QSSF: Anna Leong, McGill (Swimming) / Alex Hutchinson, McGill
(Track & Field)
OWIAA / OUAA: Vicki White, Ottawa (Soccer) / David Kantor, Queen's
(Volleyball)
GPAC: Jackie Honey, Manitoba (Track & Field) / Mel McManus,
Manitoba (Track & Field)
CWUAA: Liz Smith, Alberta (Soccer) / John McArthur, UBC
(Swimming)
1994-1995
AUAA: Jill Lawless, Acadia (Volleyball) / Vojtech Kucera,
St. Thomas (Hockey)
QSSF: Caroline Vachon, Laval (Track & Field) / David O'Hara,
McGill (Cross Country)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / David Kantor,
Queen's (Volleyball)
GPAC: Renelda Friessen, Manitoba (Volleyball) / Wayne Weathers,
Manitoba (Football & Wrestling)
CWUAA: Adair Duncan, UBC (Basketball) / Todd Langley, Victoria
(Basketball)
1993-1994
AUAA: Kathy McNally, UPEI (Field Hockey) / Ron Whelan, StFX
(Soccer)
QSSF: Julia Maughan, McGill (Soccer) / Jason Della Rocca, Concordia
(Wrestling)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (Basketball) / Craig Donaldson,
Western Ontario (Hockey)
GPAC: Sandra Carroll, Winnipeg (Basketball) / Scott Koskie,
Winnipeg (Volleyball)
CWUAA: Erika Forster, UBC (Track & Field) / Curtis Myden,
Calgary (Swimming)
-CIS-