Two UBC Okanagan Heat athletes have placed among the 162 student-athletes from across the nation that have combined excellence in collegiate athletics and academics.
Cody Bell, from the Heat’s golf program, and Hayley Carlson, a Heat women’s soccer player, are among the recipients of Academic All-Canadians.
Bell is a first- year golfer for the Heat who earned the PACWEST Golfer of the Year honours after having the lowest aggregate score among all PACWEST men’s golfers for the fall of 2011. Hayley was a stalwart for the provincial silver medal Heat team, as this first year central defender stymied many a team trying to score on the Heat.
The SIRC (Sport Information Resource Centre) Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Academic All Canadian award is the CCAA’s most prestigious student-athlete honour, epitomizing both organizations’ commitment to academic success and athletic achievement. Honourees must attain academic honours at their institution in addition to obtaining one of the following athletic achievements: named to their member conference All-Star Team (first or second) in soccer, volleyball, basketball or curling; earn a gold or silver medal at their member conference badminton championship; finish among the top seven men or women as well as finishing in the top third at their member conference cross-country running championship; or finish among the top three women or top five men as well as finishing in the top third at their member conference golf championship.
“To achieve excellence in both sport and academics requires tremendous skill, dedication and perseverance,” says Debra Gassewitz, SIRC president and CEO. “SIRC is honoured to recognize outstanding collegiate student-athletes who are passionate about excelling in their education.”
“The CCAA is proud to recognize and celebrate those student-athletes who’ve attained the highest possible CCAA honour in their pursuit of academic and athletic excellence,” states Sandra Murray-MacDonell, CCAA Executive Director.
For UBC Okanagan, only athletes from the golf and soccer programs were eligible to win the award this year as the volleyball and basketball programs now compete in the CIS (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). The CIS will honour their Academic All-Canadians in the fall.
