Acadia recognizes 95 All-Canadians at Luncheon

WOLFVILLE, N.S. - Acadia University honoured 95 student-athletes who were named as Canadian Interuniversity Sport Academic All-Canadians at a luncheon celebrating their 2013-14 accomplishments on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014. This year's 95 eclipses last year's record of 91 Acadia student-athletes named Academic All-Canadians.

Acadia University was ranked seventh overall among 56 CIS members and first overall per capita in the country. Five of the largest CIS member universities had over 100 Academic All-Canadians last year, including Western (140), Alberta (123), Waterloo (120), Laval (115) and Queen’s (111). Rounding out the national top 10 were Toronto (99), Acadia (95), Calgary (91), McGill (90) and UNB (90).

Dr. Robert Perrins, Acadia University’s Vice-President of Academics, pointed out how many staff and faculty at Acadia find a student-athlete’s balance of Academics and Athletics outstanding. "You are inspirational to not only your teammates, but us - your faculty. The way you can balance your athletic time commitment as well as your academics is quite remarkable."

Acadia University President Ray Ivany passed on several words of wisdom to the student-athletes attending the annual Academic All-Canadian recognition ceremony. "Whatever it has taken for you to sit in that seat; what it has taken from your families; what it has taken from you to balance the time pressures. All those things that allow you to be in a small minority of student-athletes in this country that perform at the level you do. Think about it, understand it and bake it into who you are because it is a formula to succeed the rest of your lives,” Ivany said. "Each of you has already figured out what it’s going to take to be outstanding in your chosen careers, great human beings, and great members of your family and community."

In 1988, CIS introduced its first Academic All-Canadians, honouring student-athletes who achieve an academic standing of 80% or better while playing on one of their university's varsity teams. Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male from each CIS regional association are selected annually as Top 8 Academic All-Canadians.

In the coming weeks, Axewomen soccer player and Bachelor of Science student Michelle Pryde will be honoured at Rideau Hall, the residence of Canada's Governor-General his Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnson. Pryde was the AUS female Top 8 representative while Adrian Robertson of UNB was the male representative. Pryde is the second consecutive CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian from Acadia. Last year, third-year hockey player Travis Gibbons was named to the prestigious list of eight.

When acknowledged and asked to say a few words, Pryde gave a personal account of her two years at Acadia before achieving her Top 8 Academic All-Canadian recognition. "People always talk about success in terms of process versus outcomes. This outcome was on the back of a process that included an immense amount of challenges, obstacles, sacrifices and hard work, day-in and day-out. But I can honestly say, though, receiving this award did not cross my mind once,” she said. "The only thing I did was continue to work to the best of my ability each day and hope it would pay off."

With over 11,000 student-athletes participating in sport in the CIS, a record 2,863 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,695 set a year ago. Pryde is the fifth Acadia student-athlete, since the inception of the honour, to be named a CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian. Those before her include Gibbons, volleyball's Jill Lawless (1994-95), Jan Trojanowski (1998-99), and Justine McMillan (2007-08).

Athletics Director Kevin Dickie wrapped up the event with a special thank-you to his coaches, department staff, faculty and campus community for their efforts in ensuring that Acadia student-athletes have the support to succeed academically.