(HALIFAX, N.S.) Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce Cape Breton Capers women's soccer midfielder Ciera Disipio as the recipient of the 34th annual James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award presented by PepsiCo Beverages Canada.
This marks just the second time a student-athlete from Cape Breton University has been honoured with this award. Former Capers soccer standout Karolyne Blain earned the honour in 2015.
The James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award was established in 1985 and is awarded annually to an outstanding student-athlete in Atlantic University Sport for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship.
This year's award selection committee consisted of Phil Currie, executive director of Atlantic University Sport; Marg Bayer, wife of the late James Bayer; and Dr. Alaa Abd-El-Aziz, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island and chair of the AUS board of directors.
A fifth-year midfielder from Ottawa, Ont., Disipio has achieved success on the field and in the classroom, while also being heavily involved in the community during her time at Cape Breton University.
She is the only player in AUS women's soccer history to be named the conference's most valuable player in three consecutive seasons.
Disipio was also named a U SPORTS first team all-Canadian and an AUS first team all-star three straight times from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
She earned the AUS rookie of the year honour in her freshman season in 2015.
In her five-year AUS career, Disipio has accumulated 33 career regular season goals, and 59 points.
This season, she led the defending AUS champion Capers to a 9-2-1 record, a second-place finish in the conference standings, a first-round playoffs bye, and eventually Cape Breton's third consecutive conference title.
Disipio finished the season an AUS champion in all but one of her five seasons with the Capers.
This season, she led the league and tied for second in the nation in assists with eight, and added three goals for 11 points, despite missing the last three games of the season due to injury.
In the classroom, Disipio is a three-time U SPORTS academic all-Canadian, on pace to repeat for a fourth year. She is completing a Bachelor of Arts in community studies.
She is a two-time U SPORTS Top 8 academic all-Canadian—having earned the honour in both 2017-18 and 2018-19. This is also her third consecutive year being named Cape Breton University's nominee for the James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award.
"Ciera is a game changer and a difference maker," said Capers women's soccer head coach Ness Timmons. "She demonstrates a terrific attitude towards competition and life. A tireless work ethic, she is always willing to go the extra mile for the good of the team. She is respected by all who know her. She is a confident, caring individual who has great organizational skills and energy. Her honesty, integrity and unselfishness are second to none."
Disipio is heavily involved in the community—both on and off campus, as well as at home in Ottawa.
She has served as a volunteer coach for Soccer Cape Breton since first arriving at CBU in 2015. She and her teammates also volunteer their time with the Undercurrent Youth Centre in Glace Bay, N.S.
Disipio helped to launch 'Capers in the Community'—a multi-sport program for children ages 5-12 which encourages physical literacy through a variety of sports.
She also leads a team of student-athletes on weekly elementary school visits in the community.
At home in Ottawa, Disipio serves as a volunteer coach with the Ottawa Fury, coaching the Under 4 Minis soccer program twice a week. She has also taken part in several Fanatics In Training (F.I.T.) events with the Fury—teaming up with local soccer clubs to facilitate youth player development for children from low income families.
"On behalf of Atlantic University Sport as well as the selection committee, I would like to congratulate Ciera on this outstanding achievement," said AUS executive director Phil Currie.
"I have had the opportunity to meet Ciera on a number of occasions and from the first time meeting her, I was impressed not only with her athleticism but her poise, confidence and care for others. Her athletic and personal accomplishments speak to the person she is and exemplify what AUS student-athletes are—incredible people."
"I'd also like to offer a sincere congratulations to all of this year's nominees for this award. To be chosen by your respective institutions and nominated for this award is an honour in and of itself."
Each year, AUS member schools nominate one student-athlete for this prestigious award. As this year's recipient, Disipio receives a $1,000 scholarship.
Also nominated were Acadia's Liam Maaskant, Dalhousie's Victoria Haworth, Memorial's Haille Nickerson, Moncton's Joëlle Léger, Mount Allison's Rhiannon Ford, UNB's Mikaela Dodig, Saint Mary's Shae Demale, StFX's Paul MacLellan, St. Thomas's Alexandra Swift and UPEI's Jenna Mae Ellsworth. Each of the nominees receive a $500 scholarship award.
James Bayer taught education and physical education at both high school and university levels. He served as supervisor and consultant for the Nova Scotia Department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness.
At Acadia University, he served as dean of recreation and physical education and as director of athletics from 1978-1985. As an administrator in the AUAA and the CIAU, he was a key player in the establishment of intercollegiate athletic policy.
This memorial scholarship is the most prestigious award offered annually by Atlantic University Sport.
Previous recipients of the James Bayer Memorial Scholarship Award:
1987 - Greg Berry, StFX University, Soccer; Caroline Lulham, Mount Allison University, Volleyball
1988 - Gunnhildur Baldursson, Acadia University, Soccer
1989 - Jackie Wong, Mount Allison University, Volleyball / Soccer
1990 - Augy Jones, St. Francis Xavier University, Basketball
1991 - Heather Morrison, University of Prince Edward Island, Field Hockey
1992 - Keith Donovan, Dalhousie University, Basketball
1993 - David Sykes, Saint Mary's University, Football
1994 - Kathy McNally, University of Prince Edward Island, Field Hockey
1995 - Scott Bagnell, Dalhousie University, Volleyball
1996 - Carla Edwards, Mount Allison University, Volleyball
1997 - Chris Diamond, University of Prince Edward Island, Soccer
1998 - Peter Benoite, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Basketball
1999 - Jan Trojanowski, Acadia University, Basketball
2000 - Kristen Lewis, Dalhousie University, Cross Country
2001 - Jillian MacDonald, Dalhousie University, Basketball
2002 - Louis Poirier, Université de Moncton, Track & Field
2003 - Dan Tudin, Dalhousie University, Hockey
2004 - Eric Gillis, St. Francis Xavier University, Cross Country
2005 - Adrienne Power, Dalhousie University, Track & Field
2006 - David Chant, Saint Mary's University, Hockey
2007 - Colin Sinclair, University of New Brunswick, Hockey
2008 - Katherine Quackenbush, Memorial University of Newfoundland, Basketball
2009 - Isabelle Miles, University of New Brunswick, Soccer
2010 - Alex Legge, Dalhousie University, Basketball
2011 - Jacob Kilpatrick, University of New Brunswick, Volleyball
2012 - Daniel You, Dalhousie University, Volleyball
2013 - Rebecca Haworth, Dalhousie University, Track & Field
2014 - Alana Fairfax, Acadia University, Soccer
2015 - Karolyne Blain, Cape Breton University, Soccer
2016 - Katie Ross, Acadia University, Soccer and Basketball
2017 - Eric Locke, St. Francis Xavier University, Hockey
2018 - Kiera Rigby, University of Prince Edward Island, Basketball
2019 - Abby Clarke, St. Thomas University, Hockey
2020 - Ciera Disipio, Cape Breton University, Soccer