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(Wolfville,
NS) - Members of the Board of Governors, faculty,
students and staff joined together at an event Friday, October 14th,
during homecoming and convocation celebrations, to pay tribute to
Acadia University’s Academic All-Canadians.
This year, 54 Acadia
student athletes earned the designation of Academic All-Canadian by
Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS). This number represents over
one third of Acadia’s varsity athletes.
The Academic
All-Canadian program, established by CIS 15 years ago, honours those
students who maintain academic averages of 80 per cent or better
while participating in varsity athletics.
During the ceremony,
Paula Cook, Vice-President Student Affairs announced the creation of
the Academic All-Canadian Scholarship fund. Through this fund, every
current varsity student athlete who has been named an Academic
All-Canadian is guaranteed a minimum of $1,000 in scholarship
support. The monies for this scholarship program have been provided
by generous gifts from Acadia alumni.
“Varsity student
athletes do so much more than study and compete. They are active
volunteers and leaders in our community,” said Ms. Cook. “They
possess the values associated with responsible citizenship. We are
not merely celebrating what these student athletes have achieved,
but rather who they are.”
Included in the
celebrations were tributes from people whose lives are impacted by
Acadia athletes. Dr. Robert Perrins, associate professor of history,
spoke of how varsity athletics drew him out of the classroom and
enabled him to have a much more meaningful relationship with his
students. He feels knowing his students better helps him to be a
better teacher. Zach Dayler, the Vice-President Student Affairs of
the Acadia Students’ Union, described the spirit that varsity
athletics creates on Acadia campus and the sense of school pride
that develops through cheering our teams in competition. Michael
Cook, an honours student at Wolfville Elementary, was the most
colourful speaker. The eight-year-old described how seeing Acadia’s
cross country team running in the streets of Wolfville inspired him
to participate in his school’s running program. He indicated how
proud he was to know Acadia athletes and how thrilled he and his
friends are when they lead volunteer programs or simply acknowledge
young people with “high fives.”
Acadia University, in
Wolfville, Nova Scotia, has long been recognized as one of Canada’s
premier undergraduate institutions. With its nationally and
internationally recognized research initiatives, small class sizes
and technology-rich teaching and learning environment, Acadia offers
students an experience that includes academic achievement combined
with personal growth and development. For more information about
Acadia, visit our website at
www.acadiau.ca
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