AV俱乐部

Basketball player Alex Legge is one of 80 student athletes at AV俱乐部 who have earned Academic All-Canadian status for excellence in sports and academics. (Nick Pearce Photo)

AV俱乐部 is home to more Academic all-Canadians than any other university in Atlantic University Sport (AUS) with 80 student-athletes earning the recognition.

Recently Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) named the Desjardins Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, and for the fourth consecutive year, a AV俱乐部 student-athlete received this honour.

Niklas Rademacher graduated from AV俱乐部鈥檚 management program last spring and was a 6鈥�10鈥� left side hitter for the men鈥檚 volleyball program. He was on the Dean鈥檚 List and an Academic All-Canadian each of his four years and received many awards during his time here. Among them: AUS player of the year, first-team CIS All-Canadian (three times), and winner of the Dale Iwanoczko Award as the most outstanding student-athlete in CIS men鈥檚 volleyball. Now he caps off his university experience by adding Desjardins top 8 Academic All-Canadian honours to his list of accomplishments.

To qualify as an Academic All-Canadian, a student-athlete must maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing in a varsity sport. Only one male and one female student-athlete from each of four regional conferences are selected as a Desjardins Top 8 Academic All-Canadian.

There are so many interesting individuals that make up this accomplished group of AV俱乐部 student-athletes. Among those who have returned to Dal to compete for another year is stand-out Alex Legge, a member of the women鈥檚 basketball team and in her third year at AV俱乐部, studying neuroscience. In 2007-08, Ms. Legge achieved 4.24 GPA in the fall term and a 4.30 GPA in the winter term. She hopes to continue on to medical school once she completes her undergraduate studies.

A native of Mahone Bay, N.S., Ms. Legge chose to come to AV俱乐部 because of its strong academic and athletic reputation. She has not regretted her decision: 鈥淪o far my experience at AV俱乐部 has been amazing. I love the academic program I鈥檝e chosen and I truly enjoy my classes. My first two seasons of basketball have been great too. I couldn鈥檛 ask for better teammates. It鈥檚 a lot of hard work, but we鈥檙e all in it together working towards a common goal.鈥�

Ms Legge has been a starter for her team since she came to AV俱乐部. This, combined with her academic performance, is proof that she is a motivated young woman.

鈥淢y parents are both really hard workers and their success in life is truly self-made. That鈥檚 where I get my determination and work ethic from. They have been my inspiration and they are extremely supportive of my goals.

鈥淎t the same time they have never pressured me to succeed鈥擨 am truly self-motivated and all my goals are ones I have set for myself. I鈥檝e always been a goal setter and right now as far as basketball goes I鈥檓 really focused on the AUS championship at the end of this year. Personally, my major goal right now is medical school, which I鈥檒l start applying for next year.鈥�

Although she recently suffered a knee injury that has taken her out of the line-up, she鈥檚 contributing to the team鈥檚 success from the sidelines.

鈥淎lex is a great basketball player who has a high basketball IQ. She knows every position's job for every play we run,鈥� says Carolyn Savoy, head coach of women鈥檚 basketball. 鈥淪he has a critical eye 鈥� she is always assisting her teammates with information to help them perform better. Her information is always succinct and accurate.鈥�

The women鈥檚 basketball team is entering the regular season ranked fifth in the country and that makes Ms. Legge even more eager to return to play: 鈥淲e have it all this year鈥攕ize, quickness, depth, experience. There鈥檚 no excuse for us not to win an AUS banner in my opinion. I think we could be a real contender at the CIS championship as well.鈥�

Karen Moore, acting director of AV俱乐部鈥檚 Department of Athletics and Recreational Services, is impressed by the accomplishments of all 80 standout individuals.

鈥淲e are very proud of our Academic All-Canadians at AV俱乐部. They are model students who commit hour upon hour to their sport while also excelling in the classroom,鈥� she says. 鈥淭o have 30 per cent of our athletes achieve this honour is quite an accomplishment and we thank them for the sacrifices they have made in order to achieve excellence in both athletics and academics.鈥�

AV俱乐部's Academic All-Canadians听听听