On the court and in the classroom, Pandas forward Claire Signatovich has got what it takes

Claire Signatovich Photo: Supplied

Juggling a prominent student athletics role and a rigorous academic program requires discipline — not only on the court, but also in the classroom. Pandas star forward and fifth-year chemical engineering student Claire Signatovich is more than up to the challenge. 

Basketball, and sports in general, have always been a focus in her life. At the All-Canadian awards banquet held in Edmonton in March, Claire was named the best defensive player in U SPORTS Women's Basketball for the second straight season — just the fifth player to be named National Defensive Player of the Year multiple times. She is also a five-time Academic All-Canadian. 

A full schedule of academics and sport has helped her find balance and stay focused, she says.  

“Time management has been really important. I’ve spent a lot of time studying on the bus, plane, in the airport and hotel.”

Throughout her program, Claire has earned many accolades for her dedication to sport and academics, including the Faculty of Engineering Inspiring Leadership Award, the Captain Thomas Farrell Greenhalgh Memorial Scholarship in Chemical Engineering, and in 2022, the NSERC undergraduate research scholarship. She credits the Engineering Student Success Centre (ESSC) for helping her manage the first year of her program. 

Supporting student programs and funding initiatives is crucial to the success of student-athletes like herself, says Claire, adding that access to resources helps students excel in both their academic programs and in their sport.

There is no substitute for hard work, however, and Claire’s dedication has earned her the respect of those around her, especially her coach, Scott Edwards, who has been at the helm of the Pandas basketball team for the last 18 years.

"For five years we have watched Claire set the standard for how a student-athlete should prepare,” says Edwards. “She has shown the way for anyone who wants to achieve great things in the classroom and the sport they compete in. Her academic load is challenging as a full-time student in engineering. On top of that, she will lift weights, attend regular team and leadership development meetings, and practice for roughly 20 hours per week. She travels and competes in games from October through March. Without a deep passion for her academics and a drive to be successful both in the classroom and on the court, Claire would not have achieved so much in her time at the U of A.”

Simply put, says Edwards, Claire Signatovich is excellent at everything she sets out to achieve.

“Claire would not have been able to do these great things without the amazing support system in the Faculty of Engineering and the backing of her classmates and teammates alike."

Where were you born and raised, and what prompted you to study engineering? 

I was born and raised in Winnipeg, MB. I really enjoyed math, chemistry and physics in high school, so engineering seemed like the right choice.

What year are you in and is there a particular area of focus?

I just finished my last year of chemical engineering.

Have you always been interested in sports, and specifically basketball?

I played many different sports growing up including softball, track, volleyball and basketball, but basketball was always my favourite.

Engineering is a very rigorous program — as is athletics! As a player and as the Pandas basketball captain, how would you describe your academic and athletic journey?

Time management has been really important. I’ve spent a lot of time studying on the bus, plane, in the airport and hotel.

How have you been supported by your department along this journey?

The Engineering Student Success Centre (ESSC) for first-year students was really helpful. In addition to this, the faculty hosts great networking events for all students, as well as student-athlete specific events.

How has basketball and sports in general augmented your studies?

It has helped me stay focused on studying and balance my time. Often, I knew something had to be done before we left on a trip, so I didn’t have time to procrastinate.

Why is giving back important? How did it contribute to your academic and athletic experience?

Giving back is so important for the continued success of engineering students and Bears and Pandas athletes. It will help future student-athletes to access the resources they need to excel in both their programs and their sport.

What's next for you?

I have another year of eligibility due to COVID, so I hope to start my MEng in the fall and play one more year at the U of A, before going to play professionally in Europe.

The Engineering Our Next Generation fund – or the ENG Fund – is the beginning of something truly special at the Faculty of Engineering. It is a single, large-scale endowment fund that creates life-changing opportunities for our undergraduate students now and forever. It supports beyond the classroom experiences and invests in the leaders and problem solvers who will build our future. The ENG Fund ensures the faculty is ready to help our students seize exciting opportunities as they arise, and has the flexibility to support different student projects and initiatives from year to year. The only thing that doesn't change is its 'big impact' results.

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