Top 8 Academic All-Canadians: CIS announces 2010-2011 recipients

OTTAWA (CIS) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly announced Tuesday the student-athletes honoured as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2010-2011 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 2010-2011, a record 2,398 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,299 set a year ago.

Four universities had over 100 CIS Academic All-Canadians last year including Laval (127), Alberta (124), Western Ontario (110) and Queen’s (108). Rounding out the national top 10 were McGill (98), Waterloo (98), Dalhousie (95), Calgary (85), Acadia (85) and Manitoba (80).

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four CIS regional associations are selected annually as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians.

The 2010-2011 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are Heather Ambery of Ottawa, a soccer player and kinesiology student at UNB, as well as Daniel You of Calgary, a volleyball player and biology student at Dalhousie.

Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) are Alexandra Lojen of Montreal, a volleyball player and masters student (law) at Montreal, and Marc-André Dorion of St-Hubert, Que., a hockey player and education student at McGill.

The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Erika Reiser of Windsor, Ont., a pole vaulter and kinesiology student at Windsor, as well as Shujon Mazumder of Toronto, a wrestler and education student at the UofT.

From the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA), this year’s recipients are Hayley Wickenheiser of Shaunavon, Sask., a hockey player and kinesiology student at Calgary, along with Darren Mazzei of Regina, a cross country and track and field athlete and education student at Victoria.

“The high number of student-athletes who achieved 80 per cent is something all universities across Canada can be proud of. It 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 symbolize the many outstanding student-athletes 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 of each 2010-2011 CIS Top Eight Academic All-Canadian recipient, as well as a list of all-time winners.

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)

Name: Heather Ambery
Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.
University: New Brunswick (UNB)
Faculty: Kinesiology
Program: Recreation & Sports Studies
Sport: Soccer

Heather Ambery is currently in her fourth season with UNB’s women’s soccer squad. A team captain with the Varsity Reds, the midfielder tied for the team lead with four goals in 2010 when she was named an AUS all-star.

In the classroom, Ambery has achieved Academic All-Canadian status each of her first three years at UNB and shows a perfect grade point average of 4.3 going into her fourth year in sport management. Since 2008, she has received an impressive list of awards including the William and Lois Paine Founders’ Scholarship on four occasions, a pair of Alumni Merit Awards, the Edwin Jacob Special University Scholarship, the UNB Fredericton Residence Scholarship, the Barry Thompson Prize, the Pepsi Merit Award, the John F. Bassett Memorial Scholarship, the UNBF Student Union Academic Achievement Scholarship, as well as the Annual Eastern Canada Student Recreation Conference Award.

Ambery is also very involved in the community both in Ottawa and Fredericton. In the last two summers, she designed and ran a weekly sports program for underprivileged children at a community centre in Ottawa. Last spring, she volunteered at a high school in Fredericton, where she created a club whose goal was to increase physical activity of young females. At UNB, she is vice president of the school’s athletics council, executive of the Varsity Reds’ Red Brigade fan club, co-president of the Kinesiology Club and co-president and co-founder of UNB’s Right to Play University Club.

Name: Daniel You
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.
University: Dalhousie
Faculty: Science
Program: Biology
Sport: Volleyball

Daniel You enters his fourth season with Dalhousie’s men’s volleyball team. The 6-foot-7 middle, who was born in Saskatoon but calls Calgary home, has helped the Tigers reach the AUS final in each of his first three campaigns, winning two of them to advance to the CIS championship in 2009 and 2010. He was named his team’s rookie of the year back in 2008-09.

A biology student who hopes to pursue a career in medicine, You has a cumulative grade point average of 4.26 out of 4.3 since he arrived on the Halifax campus, including a perfect 4.3 in 2010-11. Already a three-time Academic All-Canadian and Dean’s List member, he earned a number of academic distinctions over the past year including the Biology Department Scholarship, the Dalhousie University President’s Award and the Best Summer Student Scientific Abstract Award.

In the community, You volunteers weekly as a clinic assistant at the Halifax IWK Orthopedic Clinic, is a tutor for first year Dalhousie students through Students Offering Support (SOS), is a member of League of Volunteers Extraordinaire (LOVE) in Calgary, and volunteered at various Kidsport events this past summer, also in his Alberta hometown. He also shares his passion for his sport as a coach with the Tigers Volleyball Club in Halifax and the Elite West Volleyball Club in Calgary, and is co-president and the men’s volleyball representative on the Dalhousie Varsity Sport Council.

RÉSEAU DU SPORT ÉTUDIANT DU QUÉBEC (RSEQ)

Name: Alexandra Lojen
Hometown: Montreal, Que.
University: Montreal
Faculty: Law
Program: Masters
Sport: Volleyball

Alexandra Lojen goes into her fifth and final season with the Carabins’ women’s volleyball with a resume that is already second to none. Named the Quebec conference player of the year in 2009-10, the 5-foot-10 setter is a three-time RSEQ all-star and a first-team all-Canadian each of the past two campaigns. She has helped Montreal capture three RSEQ banners and a pair of CIS championship medals, including silver in 2007-08 and bronze a year later. The 23-year-old has also represented Canada at the 2009 and 2011 Summer Universiade.

A CIS Academic All-Canadian each of the past two years, Lojen completed her law degree in the winter of 2010 and enters the second year of her masters program. She has a cumulative grade point average of 3.7 out of 4.3 at the UofM.

As part of her community involvement, the native of Montreal and her Carabins teammates took part in a fundraising event for the Quebec chapter of the Special Olympics, during which they pulled a 72,000-kilo plane. She also gave a number of speeches to high school students about her life as a student-athlete, and volunteered with the Celtique volleyball club through coaching and motivational speeches.

Name: Marc-André Dorion
Hometown: St-Hubert, Que.
University: McGill
Faculty: Education
Program: Physical Education & Health
Sport: Hockey

In only three seasons with McGill’s men’s hockey team, Marc-André Dorion is already one of the most decorated players in the program’s storied history. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound rearguard claimed the inaugural CIS defenceman-of-the-year trophy back in 2009-10 and last season earned his second straight nod as a first-team all-Canadian, as well as a second consecutive OUA top-defenceman award. The alternate captain has led the Redmen to back-to-back Queen's Cup titles as OUA champions, three CIS championship appearances in as many years and to the best result in team history at the 2011 University Cup with a silver-medal finish. Dorion, who helped Canada claim bronze at last winter’s Universiade in Turkey, recently attended the Phoenix Coyotes’ rookie camp and also had NHL tryouts with Toronto (2010) and Dallas (2008).

An Academic All-Canadian and a member of the Principal’s Student-Athlete Honour Roll each of his first three years at McGill, Dorion achieved a sessional grade point average of 3.78 out of 4.00 in physical education and health. In 2009, he received the Prix d’Excellence Guy Lafleur for his outstanding achievement in academics and hockey.

In the community, the native of St-Hubert, Que., has been involved with a number of off-ice volunteer projects, including helping minor hockey by doing evaluations for atom, pee-wee, bantam and midget in the Marieville-Chambly region on the south shore of Montreal. He has also volunteered with the annual McGill Varsity Council food drive for the Sun Youth Community Centre.

ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)

Name: Erika Reiser
Hometown: Windsor, Ont.
University: Windsor
Faculty: Human Kinetics
Program: Kinesiology (Movement Science)
Sport: Track and Field

Erika Reiser, a 22-year-old pole vaulter, wrapped up her four-year career with the Lancers’ track and field program with a bang last winter claiming OUA gold and CIS silver individually, while leading the Windsor women to the conference and national team banners. She finished her four seasons at Windsor with four individual medals and as many team titles at the OUA level, as well as three CIS podiums and a trio of national championship banners. She ranks second in Lancer history with a personal best vault of 3.95 meters.

A four-time Academic All-Canadian and member of the Dean’s Honour List, Reiser graduated in kinesiology (movement science) last spring with a remarkable 12.4 grade point average on a 13-point scale. In 2011, she captured the prestigious DeMarco Trophy as the Lancers’ top female student-athlete and was awarded the school’s highest honour, receiving the President’s Medal as the top overall student at the University of Windsor in terms of academic achievement and contribution to campus and community. She is now enrolled in medical school at the University of Toronto with a career goal of becoming a doctor with a specialization in sports medicine.

An integral part of the Windsor community throughout her career, Reiser was a volunteer and contributor with the Windsor-Essex Cardiac Rehab Program for the past two years, as well as an emergency department volunteer at Windsor Regional Hospital. A four-year student mentor at her university, she also helped organize and run Lancer youth track and field events and summer camps, and has been a volunteer at a number of major track and field events held in the city.

Name: Shujon Mazumder
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.
University: Toronto
Faculty: OISE
Program: Education
Sport: Wrestling

Shujon Mazumder only started wrestling at the varsity level after his graduation from the University of Waterloo in 2007. He joined the Varsity Blues’ program the following year and went on to enjoy tremendous success including three individual medals at the OUA championships and one at the CIS meet. His most successful season came in 2009-10 when he was named OUA and CIS male wrestler of the year after claiming the conference and national titles in the 54-kilogram weight class. He was once again named the Blues’ most valuable wrestler in 2010-11.

In 2010-11, in his first year of a Bachelor of Education, Mazumder maintained a sessional grade point average of 3.91 out of 4.3. He merited the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Faculty of Education Award, one year after receiving the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre Shinki-Kai scholarship.

A six-time national champion in judo, including three titles at the senior level, Mazumder has been a volunteer judo instructor at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre since 2006. He is also a member of Parks & Recreation Ontario.

CANADA WEST UNIVERSITIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (CWUAA)

Name: Hayley Wickenheiser
Hometown: Shaunavon, Sask.
University: Calgary
Faculty: Kinesiology
Program: Kinesiology
Sport: Hockey

Hayley Wickenheiser’s achievements with the Canadian senior national women’s hockey team are well documented. She has taken part in four Olympic Winter Games, leading Canada to three gold medals and one silver, and 10 IIHF world championships, claiming six titles and earning four silver medals. The highest-scoring player in national team history, she was named tournament MVP at the 2002 and 2006 Olympics. In the fall of 2010, the talented forward resumed her studies after a 10-year absence from school and quickly made her mark on the CIS circuit as a member of the Calgary Dinos, averaging a CIS-best 2.67 points per game and claiming the Brodrick Trophy as player of the year.

In her return to school, Wickenheiser enrolled in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the UofC and plans to attend medical school following her undergraduate degree. In 2010-11, she maintained a remarkable 3.94 grade point average out of 4.0, easily achieving Academic All-Canadian status.

Through her Wickenheiser Foundation, she supports organizations such as KidSport, Right to Play, Dreams Take Flight, Clean Air Champions, and Spread the Net. She contributed to the World Hockey Summit in 2010 as a keynote speaker and hosted the inaugural Wickenheiser International Women’s Hockey Festival in November 2010 in Burnaby, B.C. Named an Officer of the Order of Canada on June 30, 2011 “for her achievements as an athlete and for her contributions to the growth of women’s hockey”, Wickenheiser was in Ghana at the time, working as an athlete ambassador for Right to Play.

Name: Darren Mazzei
Hometown: Regina, Sask.
University: Victoria
Faculty: Education
Program: Education
Sports: Cross-Country and Track & Field

Darren Mazzei completed a successful five-year career with the Vikes’ cross country running and track and field teams in 2010-11. A two-time Canada West track champion on 1,000 metres, he helped the UVic men’s relay to four straight conference titles and five consecutive CIS championship medals in the 4x800 race. He was a Canada West all-star and CIS All-Canadian in track and field each of his five seasons with the Vikes.

In the classroom, Mazzei, who aspires to be a physiotherapist, maintained an 8.14 grade point average out of 9.0 in education. In 2010-11, he received the CIS Student-Athlete Community Service Award in track and field, as well as UVic’s prestigious Chancellor’s Award, presented annually to a student-athlete who makes an outstanding contribution in and out of the competition venue.

In the community, the native of Regina volunteers with the MS Society and Recreation Integration Victoria. A member of the Vikes Varsity Council for two years, he has also volunteered with the Victoria Running Academy – an elite high school program, UVic’s Shoot for the Cure event, as well as the Times Colonist Book Drive.

ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS

2010-2011
AUS: Heather Ambery, UNB (Soccer) / Daniel You, Dalhousie (Volleyball)
RSEQ: Alexandra Lojen, Montreal (Volleyball) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (Hockey)
OUA: Erika Reiser, Windsor (Track & Field) / Shujon Mazumber, Toronto (Wrestling)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (Hockey) / Darren Mazzei, Victoria (X-Country - T&F)

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-