U SPORTS honours 4,913 Academic All-Canadians for 2019-20 season

U SPORTS proudly announced Wednesday 4,913 student-athletes are being honoured as Academic All-Canadians for the 2019-20 season.

The figure represents just over a third (33.8 per cent) of the 14,543 student-athletes who competed in the 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sports across the country last season. It also marks a 22.9 per cent increase over the nearly 4,000 Academic All-Canadians honoured for 2018-19 – the highest single year growth in the 32-year history of the program.

Leading the nation are the Calgary Dinos with 204 honourees, marking the first time in U SPORTS history that a member institution has topped 200. Western was the only other school to break the milestone total with 201, while 22 other schools tallied over 100, including five above 150 – Queen’s (196), Waterloo (187), Laval (167), Alberta (158) and Guelph (153).

“We are extremely proud of our student-athletes for their overwhelming academic success during the 2019-20 season. Faced with immense challenges, this year’s class of Academic All-Canadians adapted remarkably to altered COVID-19 learning environments, demonstrating their leadership in the classroom and in their respective communities.”

Dick White – Interim CEO of U SPORTS

Since 1988, U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian status having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one or more of their university’s U SPORTS varsity teams. Since reaching over 3,000 in the 2014-15 season, the number of Academic All-Canadians from coast to coast has grown at a rapid rate, averaging 360 new honourees per season.

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, who become recipients of the Governor General’s Academic All-Canadian Commendation.

U SPORTS is set to run a national promotional campaign in collaboration with long-standing partner Sherrard Kuzz LLP. Led by former U SPORTS student-athletes, Sherrard Kuzz LLP will offer unique, value-added programming as the Official Supporter of those selected to the Top 8 and the U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian Program. All members of the Top 8 will also receive a customized ring from Baron, the Exclusive Provider of championship rings and recognition jewelry for U SPORTS.

Details surrounding the campaign and this year’s programming will be unveiled alongside the Top 8 announcement next week.

For the all-time Academic All-Canadian historical statistics, click here.