Combining athletic ability and academic excellence, ALES students and Academic All-Canadians (left to right) Erica Nelson and Meghan Lim were honoured by University of Alberta chancellor Douglas Stollery. A third ALES student to receive the award, Jacob Narbonne, isn't pictured.
Three Faculty of ALES students were honoured at the annual Golden Bears and Pandas Academic All-Canadian breakfast on Oct. 17, 2018.
Erica Nelson (Pandas hockey), Jacob Narbonne (Bears football) and Meghan Lim (Pandas track and field) joined a record number of University of Alberta student-athletes recognized for the 2017-18 varsity season.
Pandas pole vaulter Lim won the Kathlene Yetman Memorial Trophy as the female UAlberta Academic All-Canadian student-athlete of the year. Lim will go forward as UAlberta's female nominee for the U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians Award.
A total of 174 Academic All-Canadians, including 157 U SPORTS student-athletes and another 17 golf and tennis athletes, is the most ever for the U of A.
The 157 U SPORTS student-athletes receiving AAC status in 2017/18 is also a new national record for one year, surpassing the previous record of 156 set by the Laval Rouge et Or in 2006/2007.
"Our student-athletes continue to excel both athletically and academically, and this record shows just how incredible they all are." says University of Alberta athletic director Ian Reade. "For them to compete full-time as a high-performance athlete, while also shining in the classroom is truly remarkable. Our athletic success is even more extraordinary considering their dedication and accomplishments academically."
The breakfast, held yearly in Lister Hall, celebrates the student-athletes who earned Academic All-Canadian (AAC) status during the previous season. The criteria to be honoured as an AAC is maintaining an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing full time for one of the university's varsity teams.
With 157 student-athletes honoured, the university leads the country in Academic All-Canadian student-athletes, with the Golden Bears and Pandas total at 2,907. The next highest Canada West School is the Calgary Dinos, who have more than 500 fewer AAC's than the University of Alberta.