UBCO student-athletes from the Faculty of Health and Social Development pose with their Academic All-Canadian and Heat Scholar certificates during the department's annual breakfast in the UNC ballroom.

General 11/19/2025 12:46:00 PM Jamie Howieson

Heat celebrate 2024-25 academic award winners

Department of Athletics and Recreation hosted annual Academic All-Canadian breakfast on Tuesday to recognize academic excellence among student-athletes

KELOWNA, B.C. – 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 Tuesday in the UNC Ballroom on the UBCO campus.

In total, 113 student-athletes were recognized for achieving an 80 percent average in their academic studies during the 2024-25 season, the most the department has recognized in its history.

Of the 113 student-athletes honoured, 68 were recognized as U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians while 45 were celebrated as Heat Scholars. Heat Scholars are athletes who compete in a non-U SPORTS sport (golf, rugby and softball) or did not consume eligibility during the 2024-25 season.

The total number represents over 50 percent of the student-athlete population at UBC Okanagan last year, demonstrating a strong commitment to academic excellence across the varsity and competitive sport program offerings.

"This celebration is a true testament of what it means to be a student-athlete at UBCO and I was honoured to celebrate with them today," commented Dale Mullings, Associate Vice President, Students. "As student-athletes representing a Top 40 institution globally, they continue to excel in both the classroom and on the playing field. This is demonstrated by our record number of academic award winners representing over 50 percent of our student-athlete population, as well as our teams' championship success on the playing field last year. I am so proud of their hard work and the pride they take in representing our campus."

During the event, the Heat also announced their nominees for consideration for the U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian recognition. Thys Weststrate from the men's volleyball team and Lauren McNeil from women's cross country will go forward as the school's representatives for Canada West selection. In addition, McNeil was also presented with her U SPORTS Championship ring which she received for winning gold at the 2024 U SPORTS Cross Country Championships in Kelowna.

The reception was hosted by Mullings 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 during the event while both Mullings and Cormack presented each student-athlete in attendance with their Academic All-Canadian or Heat Scholar certificate.

Others in attendance included Wayne Broughton, Associate Dean, Students in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science, Donna Senese, the Associate Dean, Undergraduate Students in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Diana Carter, Associate Dean, Undergraduate Studies with the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, Tanya Forneris, Dean Pro-tem with the Faculty of Health and Social Development, and Gina Whittaker, Undergraduate Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Teaching in the School of Health and Exercise Sciences.