Spring 2020 Awards and Accolades

Liaoyan (Gary) Gan (MSc) and Benjamin Sereda (PhD student) were named KSR's 2020 Graduate Student Teaching Award Recipients

Congratulations to the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation alumni, faculty, staff and students on your achievements for the Spring of 2020!

Faculty Recognition:

Zac Robinson: Associate professor Zac Robinson and colleague Alison Criscitiello (Science) have received two notable awards for their upcoming Mount Logan Ice Expedition--which will take place in the Spring of 2021. 

• The prestigious Royal Canadian Geographical Society Flag Designation
• The Alpine Club of Canada’s Environment Grant

The Mount Logan Ice Expedition is a multidisciplinary scientific initiative that seeks to preserve, share, and advance knowledge about climate and change on Canada’s highest peak. Two main projects drive the initiative: an ice coring project led by Dr. Alison Criscitiello, and a repeat photography project led by Dr. Zac Robinson.

Student Recognition:

Liaoyan (Gary) Gan (MSc) and Benjamin Sereda (PhD student): 2020 Graduate Student Teaching Award Recipients. The Graduate Student Teaching Awards (GSTA) annually recognize outstanding graduate teaching assistants in each faculty at the University of Alberta.

Dong-Woo Kang (PhD student): 2019/2020 Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation’s Pan Asian Food Scholarship. The Korean Canadian Scholarship Foundation, founded in 1978, is a registered charitable organization that has awarded over 800 scholarships to outstanding students in communities across Canada. Each year, the Selection Committee has the very difficult task of selecting recipients from many exceptional applicants for our scholarships. This highly competitive awards program recognizes exceptional students with demonstrated excellence in their studies, leadership qualities and dedication to community service, and we are delighted to have you join the KCSF community as one of this year’s scholars.

Morgan Strynadka (BKin): Morgan is capping off her undergraduate degree with three different awards. Morgan received a Women and Children's Health Research Institute and University of Alberta URI Summer Studentships to look at physical activity knowledge in women with twins and higher order multiples. She was also awarded the 2020 Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism Undergraduate Research Excellence Award. This National award recognizes outstanding undergraduate researchers in the field of exercise physiology.

Seven KSR student-athletes were awarded their respective team’s President’s Trophy for the 2019/2020 season. The President’s Trophy recognizes student-athletes who have made an exceptional overall contribution to their team, as an outstanding athlete, a leader and a role model. Congratulations to:

• Emily Cliff (BKin), Pandas Track and Field
• Cayle Dillon (BARST), Pandas Hockey
• Haley Heffel (BEd After-Degree), Pandas Wrestling
• Chris Kennedy (BScKin), Golden Bears Curling
• Aidan McKeage (BKin), Golden Bears Wrestling
• Royden Radowits (BScKin), Golden Bears Cross-Country
• Megan Tywoniuk (BARST), Pandas Basketball

Seven KSR student-athletes were also awarded their respective team MVP awards for the 2019/2020 season:

• Olivia Cooper (BScKin), Pandas Track & Field
• Jasmine Feddema (BScKin), Pandas Cross Country
• Haley Heffel (BKin), Pandas Wrestling co-recipient
• Rachel Hyink (BKin), Track & Field - Field Events MVP
• Autumn MacDougall (BARST), Pandas Hockey
• Aidan McKeage (BKin), Bears Wrestling
• Brenna Mattiello (BKin), Pandas Soccer co-recipient

Staff Recognition:

Chelsea Ross (Green & Gold Sport System School Program Coach & Coordinator, Pandas Rugby Assistant Coach): 2021 Women in Coaching Apprentice Coaches. The Women in Coaching Canada Games Apprenticeship Program provides the opportunity for each province and territory to send two female coaches to the Canada Games in apprenticeship roles. The purpose of the program is to provide women coaches with a practical and integrated major national multi-sport games experience. Selected coaches have direct involvement in preparation and competition and receive support from an identified mentor coach throughout the duration of the program.

Athletics Recognition:

Panda’s Curling: 2020 U SPORTS Champions. The Alberta Pandas stole five in the second end and three in the third, en route to a 10-2 win over the UNB Reds on March 15, 2020 to capture the program's fourth U SPORTS National Championship. 

Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics hosted the 2020 Green & Gold Awards virtually on April 9th. A pair of volleyball student-athletes took home the top athletic awards from the 2019/20 varsity season, as fourth-year Golden Bears setter Max Elgert captured the Wilson Challenge Trophy as Male Athlete of the Year, and fourth-year Pandas outside hitter Kory White earned the Bakewell Trophy as the Female Athlete of the Year. Congratulations to all 2020 Green & Gold Award recipients!