KELOWNA, B.C. – Last month, the UBC Okanagan Department of Athletics and Recreation celebrated student-athlete academic excellence as they hosted their annual Academic All-Canadian/Heat Scholar breakfast on the UBCO campus.
In total, 93 student-athletes were recognized for achieving an 80 percent average in their academic studies during what was a challenging year for all students who returned to competition in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic while balancing both online and in-person classes.
Of the 93 student-athletes honoured, 58 were recognized as U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians while 35, from golf, women's softball and men's rugby, were celebrated as Heat Scholars as those sports don't fall under the jurisdiction of U SPORTS.
The total number represents 45 percent of the student-athlete population at UBC Okanagan last year, demonstrating a strong commitment to academic excellence across the varsity and club program offerings.
"Our Heat student-athletes continue to impress both on and off the field of play," said
Tom Huisman, UBCO's Director of Athletics and Recreation. "With the national average being 33 percent of student-athletes obtaining 80 percent or greater, and knowing that our Heat student-athletes are attending a world Top 40 institution, this academic accomplishment is just that much more impressive."
The reception was hosted by Huisman with representation from departments and faculties across campus. Dr. Lesley Cormack, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Principal of UBC Okanagan, was in attendance and spoke to the student-athletes to begin the event while Dale Mullings, Associate Vice-President, Students, presented each student-athlete in attendance with their Academic All-Canadian or Heat Scholar certificate.
Others in attendance included Dr. Marie Tarrant, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Social Development, Scott Reid, Associate Professor in the Department of Biology, Dr. Rehan Sadiq, Professor in the School of Engineering, Tanya Forneris, Acting Director with the School of Health and Exercise Sciences, and Dr. Wendy Klassen, Director, Undergraduate Programs with the School of Education.
2021-22 Academic All-Canadians/Heat Scholars By Sport
Basketball (M)
Gavin Ashworth,
Jonathan Haughton,
Elan Kimpton-Cuellar,
Keaton Souster,
Liban Yousef
Basketball (W)
Tessa Burton,
Melaina Corrado,
Kelsey Falk,
Lauren Foullong,
Rachel Hare,
Jaeli Ibbetson,
Emily Instant,
Tori Kaczynski,
Kasey Patchell,
Kelsey Watts
Cross Country (M)
Connor Baerg,
Christopher Crowe,
Caleb Graham,
Jacob Harris,
Reid Johnston,
Joshua Milliken,
Cameron Porter,
Turner Woodroff,
Joel Worman
Cross Country (W)
Joanna Brown,
Camille Galloway,
Emma Kearns,
Julia Kuipers,
Brooke Lawlor,
Lauren McNeil,
Kate Milne,
Lys Milne,
Sophia Ruckle,
Kristen Smith
Golf (M)
Nik Federko,
Ethan Hunt,
Liam Kightley-Kauser,
Jeremy Laverdiere,
Adrian Murray,
Justin Towill
Golf (W)
Hanna Chan,
Samantha Copeland,
Kendra Jones-Munk,
Lauren Nedo,
Rebecca Reitsma,
Symone Ripley,
Kayleigh Trowman
Rugby (M)
Mukhtar Abdsalami,
Matthew Bourget, Njabulo Dlamini,
Nicholas Gray
Soccer (M)
Aaron Mulama,
Taylor Piche,
Nicholas Reitsma, Alexander Sol,
Owen Spicker
Soccer (W)
Jessica Ambrosio,
Sophie Campbell,
Ciana Dawydiuk-Clozza,
Lauren Elmes,
Jaidyn McGrath,
Kacee Ougden,
Sophia Pol,
Sonia Sarai,
Holly Tarves,
Amanda White,
Stefanie Young
Softball (W)
Lauryn Dirks, Jessica Douglas, Brooke Hall-Eckes, Janessa Hanson, Janessa Hewitt, Gabriela Isaak, Jessica Porter
Volleyball (M)
Téo Ardanaz,
Jacob Dewolff,
Ben Magel,
Morgan Nichols
Volleyball (W)
Jade Bussard,
Abigail Dueck,
Natalie Funk,
Thea Gremmen,
Sydney Grills,
Sarah Hall,
Tessa Ivans,
Sara McCreary,
Amaya Perry,
Rayn Perry,
Lexi Prefontaine,
Sadie Taylor-Parks,
Stephanie Temme,
Olivia Tymkiw,
Mackenzie Wallace
