(Edmonton) University of Alberta Athletics proudly announced the number of student-athletes honoured as Canadian Interuniversity Sport Academic All-Canadians for the 2010-2011 season.
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.
The U of A finished second in the nation with 124 All-Canadians in the 2010-11 season, just three back of Laval University (127). The U of A now boasts 1,966 AACs, which is good enough for second place since the CIS began keeping track in the early 1990-91. Ian Reade, director of athletics at the U of A, says what separates the Golden Bears and Pandas from McGill, the historical CIS academic all-Canadian leader with more than 2,000, is the fact that Alberta has won 60 CIS championships in their history, while McGill has three.
"What is really noteworthy is the combination of athletic and academic successes. Either one by itself is significant, or worthy of celebration, but meeting the highest standards in both athletic performance and academic performance is what sets the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Pandas apart in CIS," said Reade.
Alberta also runs away from the field in Canada West, with more all-time AACs than the universities of Calgary (1,365), UBC (893), Manitoba (940), Saskatchewan (796), Victoria (509), Regina (501), Winnipeg (327), Trinity Western (174), Thompson Rivers (43) and Fraser Valley (31).
The University of Alberta's 124 Academic All-Canadians represent 10 different faculties at the U of A, as well as 20 of the 21 CIS Golden Bears and Pandas athletic teams.
In 2010-2011, a record 2,398 students achieved the prestigious status, eclipsing the previous mark of 2,299 set a year ago. Canada West accounted for 596 of those 2,398 Academic All-Canadians, and the U of A accounted for 21 per cent of those 596.
Athletics will honour their student-athletes at a banquet in November with further details to be announced.