CIS Top 8 Academic All-Canadians recipients honoured at Rideau Hall

TORONTO (U Sports) – The CIS student-athletes announced last month (Oct. 19) as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2015-2016 season were honoured in Ottawa on Tuesday morning.

Every year, a growing number of CIS student-athletes are recognized as Academic All-Canadians, having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one - or more - of their university’s varsity teams.

Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four conference are selected annually to make up the Top Eight.

The 2015-16 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are Elenor Henry (Toronto), a soccer player and biochemistry student from Mount Allison University, and Geoff Schemitsch (Thornhill, Ont.), a hockey player and kinesiology student from Acadia University.

Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) are Laval University’s Gabrielle Lapointe (Montmagny, Que.), a soccer player and medical student, as well as McGill University’s François Jarry (Lachine, Que.), a cross country/track and field athlete and physical and health education major.

The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Cindy Nelles (Belleville, Ont.), a rugby player and civil engineering student from McMaster University, and Colin Behenna (Waterloo, Ont.), a hockey player and math and business student from the University of Waterloo.

Last but not least, the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) recipients are swimmer Rebecca Terejko (Brantford, Ont.), a kinesiology student, as well as Chad Bush (Ottawa), a soccer player and history major, both from the University of British Columbia.

“The number of Academic All-Canadians speaks volume about the quality of our student-athletes, but also our coaches, support staff and our universities,” said Graham Brown, chief executive officer of U Sports. “To be selected among 12,000 of their peers is an achievement these exceptional student-athletes should be extremely proud of. They represent the very best of what university sport is all about.”

Following is a profile of each member of the 2015-16 Top Eight, as well as a list of all-time winners.

ONTARIO UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS (OUA)

Name: Cindy Nelles

Hometown: Belleville, Ont.

School: McMaster University

Faculty: Engineering

Program: Civil Engineering

Sport: Rugby

Eligibility in 2015-16: 4^th year

Born in Belleville, Ont., Cindy Nelles had a season for the ages. A CIS first-team all-Canadian, Nelles earned player of the year honours, captaining the Marauders to gold medals at the both the OUA and CIS Rugby Championship, where she was later named championship final most valuable player.

Not only the golden girl on the field, Nelles is also impressive in the classroom. A two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and three-time Dean’s Honour List from 2014-2016, the 23-year-old engineering student is also the recipient of the Ronald V. Joyce Award for Combining Outstanding Athletic and Academic Performance in 2016 and a three-time Marauder Scholar Award recipient from 2013-2016. Nelles has also been an active member in the McMaster Athletes Care Program, volunteering at community centres within Hamilton. She also serves as head coach for the Westdale High school senior girl’s rugby team throughout their spring season.

“Cindy's commitment to her academic success, her on-field achievement, and her community leadership in the Hamilton area have ensured that her legacy at McMaster will go far beyond her career as a Marauder,” said McMaster women’s rugby head coach Shaun Allen. “As captain of the OUA and CIS champion McMaster women's rugby team, Cindy has led her team to every major Canadian intercollegiate championship while also attaining remarkable individual success. She has maintained incredible balance while achieving grades to qualify as a Marauder Scholar.”

Name: Colin Behenna

Hometown: Waterloo, Ont.

School: University of Waterloo

Faculty: Math

Program: Math & Business

Sport: Hockey

Eligibility in 2015-16: 4^th year

Waterloo, Ont., native Colin Behenna was named OUA West MVP last season, and a second-team All-Canadian, after recording 44 points in 27 games – the third most in the county. In four season with the Warriors, Behenna racked up 150 points, ranking him third overall on the Warriors all-time scoring list.

Academically, studying Math and Business, Behenna was named to the President’s Academic Honour Roll, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.

“Colin had a tremendous impact on the Warrior hockey program,” said Waterloo men’s hockey head coach Brian Borque. “From the first day he stepped on campus he led by example by being a great student, a motivated athlete, an excellent leader, and a great teammate.”

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)

Name: Elenor Henry

Hometown: Toronto, Ont.

School: Mount Allison University

Faculty: Science

Program:  Biochemistry

Sport: Soccer

Eligibility in 2015-16: 2nd year

Toronto native Elenor Henry has been a solid presence on the back end for Mount Allison since joining the program in 2012. Playing in 39 career games, the defender started 33 contests over the course of her career, including 13 last season, where she was named team captain.

Academically, Henry finished with a perfect 4.3 GPA in her final year and can be found on the Dean’s List from 2012 to 2016. A four-time Academic All-Canadian, she is also the recipient of the Goodridge Scholarship (2012-2016) and the R.A Jodrey Scholarship (2012). In the community, Henry was the executive with Mounties in Motion (2012-2016), as a well as helping athletes find volunteer opportunities in the community at the local hospital and middle school. The executive of Right To Play Mount Allison, Henry also coached with the North York Cosmos Soccer Association in 2014.

“In many ways Ellie was the consummate student athlete; Dedicated to her teammates, committed to the team vision and disciplined and determined for self-improvement,” said Mounties women’s soccer head coach Gene Ouellette. “But as a true student-athlete, Ellie was not at Mount Allison only for soccer. She was a straight-A student in the sciences, involved in various community and extracurricular volunteer endeavors, all of which helped her get accepted into medical school for the current year. Ellie embodies the definition of student-athlete- through her work ethic and determination in both academics and athletics.”

Name: Geoff Schemitsch

Hometown: Thornhill, Ont.

School: Acadia University

Faculty: Professional Studies

Program: Kinesiology

Sport: Hockey

Eligibility in 2015-16: 4^th year

Raised in Thornhill, Ont., Geoff Schemitsch joined the Axemen for the 2013-2014 season, and made an immediate impact. Named to the AUS All-Rookie team in his first season, the blueliner helped Acadia win the 2014 AUS title before posting a career-best three goals and 22 points – good for fifth in the conference – en route to Second-Team All-Star honours this past season.

Studying Kinesiology, Schemitsch is a three-time Academic All-Canadian (2014-2016) and was named to the Dean’s List from 2013-2016. He has also received numerous academic awards since arriving studying at Acadia, including the Sully Ashfield and Barbara Bill Ashfield Award, the Acadia Sports Therapy Clinic Award, and the Kirton Scholarship. The 24-year-old is also prominent in the community, volunteering at various fundraisers, group activities and team functions with minor hockey players affiliated with Acadia University’s minor hockey program.

“Geoff is arguably one of the most committed, intelligent and hardest working individuals I have coached,” said Acadia men’s hockey head coach Darren Burns. “(He) is now a captain on our team and is doing exactly what I envisioned he would accomplish on our campus, in the local community and on the ice. I marvel at his accountability and responsibility in leading others.”

Name: Gabrielle Lapointe

Hometown: Montmagny, Que.

School: Laval University

Faculty: Medicine

Program: Ph.D.

Sport: Soccer

Eligibility in 2015-16: 5^th year

Born in Montmagny, Que., Gabrielle Lapointe led the Rouge et Or to a bronze medal at the 2015 CIS Women’s Soccer championship last season, after posting a conference-best 12-0-2 record, and garnering RSEQ first-team all-star honours The veteran fifth-year, who helped Laval to a record 36-game unbeaten streak over three seasons, was also a part of the 2015 Universiade squad that finished fourth in Gwangju, South Korea.

A medical student completing her Ph.D., Lapointe won the Jean-Marie de Koninck Award for academics last year at the Rouge et Or Athletic Banquet.

“Gabrielle Lapointe is a player with a lot of character and drive,” said Laval women’s soccer head coach Helder Duarte. “She is an outstanding player, but also an outstanding student. She is the only player I have coached in 22 years who has played five years while succeeding in her medical studies. And she did it while being the best on the field and in the classroom. She is a role model for the youth; she demonstrates that with hard work and tenacity, it is possible to succeed.”

Name: François Jarry

Hometown: Lachine, Que.

School: McGill University

Faculty: Education

Program: Physical & Health Education

Sport: Cross Country/Track & Field

Eligibility in 2015-16: 3^rd year

François Jarry, a distance runner, becomes the 22nd student-athlete in 23 years selected from McGill to represent the Quebec conference since this program was initiated in 1994. The 22-year-old physical and health education junior was named an RSEQ conference all-star last season, while accumulating seven top 10 finishes in eight races. He won the McGill Open before placing third in both the 2015 RSEQ cross-country championship and the 3000-metre race at the conference track and field championship meet.

In the classroom, the three-time CIS Academic All-Canadian achieved a perfect 4.0 grade-point average and has been on the Principal's Student-Athlete Honour Roll since his freshman year. He also received the Strathcona Trust Plaque in 2016, awarded to students with the highest academic standing in physical activity courses.

“Francois’ dedication and work ethic has lead him to become the top distance runner at McGill and surely a force to be reckoned with at the national level,” said Redmen cross country/track and field head coach Dennis Barrett. “Mr. Jarry is an excellent student-athlete who is adored by his teammates and is a joy to coach. “We are very pleased to have this outstanding young man as an ambassador for McGill.”

Name: Rebecca Terejko

Hometown: Brantford, Ont.

School: University of British Columbia

Faculty: Kinesiology

Program: Interdisciplinary Studies

Sport: Swimming

Eligibility in 2015-16: 5^th year

Born in Brantford, Ont., swimmer Rebecca Terejko captained UBC to another Canada West gold medal last season, marking the seventh straight time UBC has captured the title. Terejko won a total of seven medals at the event - five golds, one silver, and one bronze – before leading the Thunderbirds to a silver medal finish the CIS Championship, where she was named a First Team All-Canadian.

In the classroom, studying Kinesiology, Terejko finished the school year with a 4.17 GPA. She earned the Twenty-8 Award for Academic Achievement, which recognizes the academic achievement by a UBC Thunderbird. In 2015-2016, the 23-year old received the Student-Athlete Community Service Award in Canada West swimming and she also coaches both the UBC Masters Swim Group as well as the triathlon swim group. Terejko also offered to teach free swimming lessons to under-priviledged children from the East end of Vancouver. 

“Rebecca always gave back to her team and the greater UBC community first, embodying what it truly meant to live the Thunderbird lifestyle,” said UBC swimming head coach Steve Price. “As team captain in her last season as a ‘Bird, she led her team to success at the Canada West and CIS championships. “I have no doubt that wherever Rebecca's journey takes her as a post grad she will excel at whatever she chooses to do.”

Name: Chad Bush

Hometown: Ottawa, Ont.

School: University of British Columbia

Faculty: Arts

Program: History

Sport: Soccer

Eligibility in 2015-16: 1^st

Academically, Bush finished with a 4.22 GPA on the 4.33 scale, while serving as a prominent figure in the community. The history major spent his free time as an instructor at UBC soccer camps, as a coach with Vancouver United, as well as a research assistant with the Institute of Canadian and Aboriginal Studies in Ottawa.

“From the day I started speaking to Chad about coming to UBC I could sense his drive and focus to succeed on the field and in the classroom,” Thunderbirds men’s soccer head coach Mike Mosher. “Chad has been hugely impressive with everything he does: his play and accolades on the pitch last year speaks for itself and he has been extremely diligent, organized and successful with his studies. As well, he has also found time to make a positive impact within the local youth soccer community working and coaching at both our summer soccer camps and with the local Vancouver United FC youth soccer club.  He is a great role model and student-athlete on many fronts.”