Calgary Dinos Celebrate Academic Excellence of 214 Student-Athletes

The University of Calgary recognized the academic achievements of 214 Dinos student-athletes during the Academic All-Canadian Breakfast held on March 5, 2024, at MacEwan Hall. Among the honorees, 204 earned the prestigious U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian status, while 10 golfers received Dinos All-Academic honours. This total marks the second-highest number of recipients in the university’s history, representing more than one-third of all student-athletes and bringing the total to nearly 3,600 since the program’s inception in 1990.

To qualify as an Academic All-Canadian or Dinos All-Academic, student-athletes must achieve an average of 80 percent or higher while actively participating on a varsity team. Ben Matchett, Director of Athletics for the Dinos, emphasized the significance of this accomplishment, stating, “To achieve academic excellence at the university level is no small feat, but to do it while also pursuing sport at a high level is even more impressive.” He added that the achievements of these student-athletes highlight the growing academic stature of UCalgary and the dedication of future leaders.

Top Academic All-Canadian Awards Announced

During the event, the recipients of the Dinos Top Academic All-Canadian award were also announced. This award honors one male and one female student-athlete for their exceptional combination of academic and athletic success. This year’s winners are Nate Beauchemin from the football team and Gabriela Cross from women’s wrestling. Both will represent UCalgary as nominees for the U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All-Canadian awards within the Canada West conference.

The Faculty of Arts led the way with 53 students achieving Academic All-Canadian status, followed closely by the Faculty of Kinesiology with 47 honorees. The Haskayne School of Business contributed 31 recipients, while the Schulich School of Engineering had 28 and the Faculty of Science had 23. Graduate studies produced eight honourees, with the Werklund School of Education and Nursing each having seven. The Cumming School of Medicine recognized six student-athletes, followed by open studies with three, the School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape with two, and social work with one.

The Dinos women’s track and field/cross country program stood out, leading all teams with 24 student-athletes achieving Academic All-Canadian status. This recognition not only highlights individual achievements but also showcases the commitment to academic and athletic excellence within the University of Calgary’s athletic programs.