UNB's Monica MacDonald and Acadia's Travis Gibbons named CIS Top Eight All-Canadians

(OTTAWA, Ont.) – Canadian Interuniversity Sport proudly announced Monday the student-athletes selected as Top Eight Academic All-Canadians for the 2012-2013 season.

The elite group will be honoured at Rideau Hall in Ottawa later this fall.

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.

In 2012-2013, a record 2,695 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,617 set a year ago.

Five CIS universities had 100 Academic All-Canadians or more last year, including Western (132), Waterloo (118), Alberta (117), Laval (111) and Dalhousie (100). Rounding out the national top 10 were Calgary (99), Queen’s (98), Acadia (91), Manitoba (91) and UNB (87).

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

The ‘12-13 recipients from Atlantic University Sport (AUS) are UNB swimmer Monica MacDonald and Acadia hockey player Travis Gibbons, both kinesiology students.

Representing the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) are a pair of medical students, Montreal soccer player Émilie Chamard and McGill football player Laurent Duvernay-Tardif.

The winners from Ontario University Athletics (OUA) are Toronto track & field star Alicia Brown, who specializes in visual culture and communications, as well as Steven Takahashi, a wrestler and kinesiology major at Western.

Last but not least, the Canada West Universities Athletic Association (CWUAA) recipients are kinesiology students Jaki Ellis, a volleyball player from Alberta, and Paul Clerc, a soccer player from UBC.

“Our student-athletes continue to amaze us with their ability to achieve excellence on and off the playing field,” said CIS chief executive officer, Pierre Lafontaine. “The record number of Academic All-Canadians once again this year speaks volume about the quality of our students, but also our coaches, support staff and our universities. To be selected among 11,000 of their peers is an accomplishment members of the Top Eight should be extremely proud of.”

Following is a profile of each AUS 2012-2013 Top Eight Academic Academic All-Canadian recipient, as well as a list of all-time winners.

ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY SPORT (AUS)

Name: Monica MacDonald
Hometown: Fredericton, N.B.
School: University of New Brunswick
Faculty: Kinesiology
Program: Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (Honours)
Sport: Swimming
Eligibility in 2012-13: 4^th year

Monica MacDonald, who was born in Saint John, N.B., but moved to Fredericton at the age of two, had a successful four-year swimming career at UNB. In four appearances at the AUS conference championships, the Varsity Reds captain qualified for the final in 14 of the 15 events she competed in.  

On the academic front, MacDonald graduated last May with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honours after maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 4.2, including a perfect 4.3 in her final year. A four-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and member of the Dean’s List, she received the Garnet Copeland Award in 2012-13 as UNB’s top overall student-athlete, recognizing athletics, academics and community service.

During her time at UNB, she volunteered with the Varsity Reds Athletes Council, the Kinesiology Society, the Dr. Everett Chalmer’s Regional Hospital, the Habitat for Humanity Global Village Program and the Special Olympics.

“Monica was the consummate student-athlete here at UNB for the past four years. She has an exceptional work ethic both in the classroom and in the pool,” says UNB swim coach Robin Ferdinand. “I have no reservations in recommending her for this award as she truly is a prime example of what values a total student-athlete encompasses.”

Name: Travis Gibbons
Hometown: London, Ont.
School: Acadia University
Faculty: Professional Studies
Program: Kinesiology
Sport: Hockey
Eligibility in 2012-13: 2^nd year

Following a five-year OHL career with the Guelph Storm and the Ottawa 67’s, Travis Gibbons immediately made his way into the Acadia lineup, playing in 49 of 56 conference games over his first two university hockey campaigns. The intense defenceman chipped in three goals each season as he helped the Axemen to back-to-back playoff appearances.

In the classroom, Gibbons has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the first two years of his kinesiology degree. A two-time CIS Academic All-Canadian and member of the Dean’s List, he was Acadia’s most decorated male student-athlete in 2012-13.

The native of London, Ont., has also been involved in the community since his first day in Wolfville, N.S. The recipient of Acadia’s Randy Ferris Award for community service, he has volunteered with the Terry Fox Run, the S.M.I.L.E. program, Kinderskills and Acadia Minor Hockey, as well as Parkwood Hospital back home in London.

“Travis is an excellent ambassador for our hockey program. He is a role model for all student-athletes, not just on the Axemen hockey team but for Varsity Athletics here at Acadia,” says Acadia hockey coach Darren Burns. “He encompasses what a CIS student- athlete should be and he has set a very high bar here at our own institution.”

ALL-TIME RECIPIENTS

2012-2013

AUS: Monica MacDonald, UNB (swimming) / Travis Gibbons, Acadia (hockey)
RSEQ: Émilie Chamard, Montreal (soccer) / Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, McGill (football)
OUA: Alicia Brown, Toronto (track & field) / Steven Takahashi, Western (wrestling)
CWUAA: Jaki Ellis, Alberta (volleyball) / Paul Clerc, UBC (soccer)

2011-2012

AUS: Miranda McMillan, Dalhousie (hockey) / Nathan Musoke, Dalhousie (track & field)
RSEQ: Marie-Pier Pinault-Reid, Laval (rugby) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Nicole Sassine, Windsor (track & field) / Darragh McGee, Toronto (soccer)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (hockey) / Kyle Ross, Saskatchewan (hockey)

2010-2011

AUS: Heather Ambery, UNB (soccer) / Daniel You, Dalhousie (volleyball)
RSEQ: Alexandra Lojen, Montreal (volleyball) / Marc-André Dorion, McGill (hockey)
OUA: Erika Reiser, Windsor (track & field) / Shujon Mazumber, Toronto (wrestling)
CWUAA: Hayley Wickenheiser, Calgary (hockey) / Darren Mazzei, Victoria (cross country - T&F)

2009-2010

AUS: Alex Legge, Dalhousie (basketball) / Jacob Kilpatrick, UNB (volleyball)
QSSF: Marie-Michelle Genois, Laval (basketball) / Steven Bielby, McGill (swimming)
OUA: Megan Brown, Toronto (cross country - T&F) / Dillon Heap, Wilfrid Laurier (football)
CWUAA: Jennifer Hinze, UBC (volleyball) / Thomas Hall, Manitoba (football)

2008-2009

AUS: Isabelle Miles, UNB (soccer) / Christopher Morrison, Saint Mary’s (hockey)
QSSF: Paméla Filiatrault-Veilleux, Laval (swimming) / Emmanuel André-Morin, Montreal (volleyball)
OUA: Noelle Montcalm, Windsor (track & field) / Keith Beavers, Waterloo (swimming)
CWUAA: Kayla Dykstra, Victoria (basketball) / Kyle Ross, Regina (hockey)

2007-2008

AUS: Justine McMillan, Acadia (cross country) / Niklas Rademacher, Dalhousie (volleyball)
QSSF: Jennifer Thomson, McGill (volleyball) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (wrestling)
OUA: Brae Anne McArthur, Guelph (track & field) / Brad Rootes, Brock (basketball)
CWUAA: Adrianne Vangool, Saskatchewan (track & field) / Benjamin Schellenberg, Winnipeg (volleyball)

2006-2007

AUS: Katie Hollinshead, Dalhousie (soccer) / Colin Sinclair, UNB (hockey)
QSSF: Audrey Lacroix, Montreal (swimming) / David Foley, Sherbrooke (track & field)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (cross country - T&F) / Justin Hall, Queen’s (cross country - T&F)
CWUAA: Katie Davidson, Manitoba (volleyball) / Jay Langager, Lethbridge (hockey)

2005-2006

AUS: Christine Terese Chislom, StFX (cross country) / Jeff Weiler, Dalhousie (volleyball)
QSSF: Marylène Laplante, Laval (volleyball) / Nicolas Murray, Laval (swimming)
OUA: Jackie Malette, Windsor (cross country - T&F) / Joel Scherban, Lakehead (hockey)
CWUAA: Kristen Hagg, Alberta (hockey) / Chris Meehan, Trinity Western (volleyball)

2004-2005

AUS: Hilary Burn, Dalhousie (cross country - T&F) / Tyler Dyck, StFX (hockey)
QSSF: Danielle Day, McGill (soccer) / Tyler Marghetis, Concordia (wrestling)
OUA: Allison Oosterhuis, Western Ontario (soccer) / Ian MacLeod, Toronto (swimming)
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (hockey) / Paul Deniset, Manitoba (hockey)

2003-2004

AUS: Natalie Oake, St. Thomas (hockey) / Daniel Hudgin, Moncton (hockey)
QSSF: Carolyn McCabe, McGill (swimming) / Simon Therrien, UQTR (soccer)         
OUA: Lulu Bursztyn, McMaster (wrestling) / Sagar Desai, Western Ontario (basketball)        
CWUAA: Danielle Bourgeois, Alberta (hockey) / Adam Ens, Saskatchewan (volleyball)       

2002-2003

AUS: Marieke Gardner, Dalhousie (soccer) / Kjetil Vaage, UNB (soccer)
QSSF: Marie-Hélène Giasson, Laval (swimming) / Alexandre Pichette, McGill (swimming)
OUA: Alison Mills, McMaster (volleyball) / Robert Smart, Carleton (basketball)
CWUAA: Maria Gallo, Alberta (rugby) / Blair St. Martin, Alberta (hockey)

2001-2002

AUS: Andrea Faryniuk, Dalhousie (track & field) / Tim Mullen, Saint Mary’s (soccer)
QSSF: Sarah Ali-Khan, McGill (cross country & T&F) / Strachan Hartley, McGill (football)
OUA: Lauren Fratesi, Ottawa (swimming) / Alexandre Hayes, Ottawa (swimming)
CWUAA: Jacqueline Lavallee, Saskatchewan (basketball) / Jeff Zorn, Alberta (hockey)

2000-2001

AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (basketball) / Steve Gallace, Saint Mary’s (hockey)
QSSF: Catherine Foley, Sherbrooke (track & field) / Strachan Hartley, McGill (football)
OUA: Karina Verdon, Ottawa (hockey) / Andrew Kwiatkowski, Western Ontario (basketball)
GPAC: Brandy West, Regina (hockey) / Joey Mikawoz, Manitoba (football)
CWUAA: Jen Dowdeswell, UBC (field hockey) / Mark Versfeld, UBC (swimming)

1999-2000

AUAA: Kate Ellis, UPEI (basketball) / Aaron Barkhouse, Dalhousie (soccer)
QSSF: Sara Russo-Garrido, Laval (soccer) / Yannick Demers, Montreal (swimming)
OUA: Kristine Spekkens, Queen’s (volleyball) / Alex Hayes, Ottawa (swimming)
GPAC: Erin Soroko, Winnipeg (basketball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Kelly Matheson, Calgary (soccer) / Spencer Holt, Lethbridge (basketball)

1998-1999

AUAA: Jolene Bourgeois, UNB (field hockey) / Jan Trojanowski, Acadia (basketball)
QSSF: Stephanie Welsh, McGill (track & field) / David Dufresne, UQTR (soccer)
OUA: Nathalie Côté, Ottawa (cross country - T&F) / Bob McGill, Queen’s (cross country - T&F)
GPAC: Nadia Melon, Manitoba (volleyball) / Shawn Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Jessica Mills, UBC (basketball) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (swimming)

1997-1998

AUAA: Tracy McGee, UPEI (field hockey) / Peter Benoite, Memorial (basketball)
QSSF: Wendy Whelan, McGill (volleyball) / Alexandre Émond, Montreal (volleyball)
OUA: Rebecca Chambers, Toronto (track & field) / Tim Cowan, McMaster (swimming)
GPAC: Kathy Hrehirchuk, Manitoba (volleyball) / Darreb Peters, Regina (track & field)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (soccer) / Mike Dalziel, UBC (volleyball)

1996-1997

AUAA: Rachelle Beaton, Dalhousie (track & field) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (soccer)
QSSF: Andrea Bacsfalusi, McGill (swimming) / Pierre Hudon, Laval (football)
OWIAA / OUAA: Laurie Halfpenny, Guelph (soccer) / Russell Jones, Toronto (swimming)
GPAC: Amanda Mlodzinski, Manitoba (swimming) / Phil Peters, Winnipeg (volleyball)
CWUAA: Sarah Joly, Alberta (soccer) / Mike Sieben, Alberta (volleyball)

1995-1996

AUAA: Carla Edwards, Mount Allison (volleyball) / Chris Diamond, UPEI (soccer)
QSSF: Anna Leong, McGill (swimming) / Alex Hutchinson, McGill (track & field)
OWIAA / OUAA: Vicki White, Ottawa (soccer) / David Kantor, Queen's (volleyball)
GPAC: Jackie Honey, Manitoba (track & field) / Mel McManus, Manitoba (track & field)
CWUAA: Liz Smith, Alberta (soccer) / John McArthur, UBC (swimming)

1994-1995

AUAA: Jill Lawless, Acadia (volleyball) / Vojtech Kucera, St. Thomas (hockey)
QSSF: Caroline Vachon, Laval (track & field) / David O'Hara, McGill (cross country)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (basketball) / David Kantor, Queen's (volleyball)
GPAC: Renelda Friessen, Manitoba (volleyball) / Wayne Weathers, Manitoba (football & wrestling)
CWUAA: Adair Duncan, UBC (basketball) / Todd Langley, Victoria (basketball)

1993-1994

AUAA: Kathy McNally, UPEI (field hockey) / Ron Whelan, StFX (soccer)
QSSF: Julia Maughan, McGill (soccer) / Jason Della Rocca, Concordia (wrestling)
OWIAA / OUAA: Karen Jackson, York (basketball) / Craig Donaldson, Western Ontario (hockey)
GPAC: Sandra Carroll, Winnipeg (basketball) / Scott Koskie, Winnipeg (volleyball)
CWUAA: Erika Forster, UBC (track & field) / Curtis Myden, Calgary (swimming)

Source: CIS Communications