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U SPORTS proudly announced Wednesday 4,919 student-athletes are being honoured as Academic All-Canadians for the 2019-20 season.
The figure represents just over a third (33.8 per cent) of the 14,543 student-athletes who competed in the 12 U SPORTS-sanctioned sports across the country last season. It also marks a 23 per cent increase over the nearly 4,000 Academic All-Canadians honoured for 2018-19 – the highest single year growth in the 32-year history of the program.
Leading the nation are the Calgary Dinos with 204 honourees, marking the first time in U SPORTS history that a member institution has topped 200. Western was the only other school to break the milestone total with 201, while 22 other schools tallied over 100, including five above 150 – Queen’s (196), Waterloo (187), Laval (167), Alberta (158) and Guelph (154).
🦖🎓 What a year!
— UCalgary Dinos (@UCDinos) December 1, 2020
2⃣1⃣0⃣ @UCalgary student-athletes earn top academic status for 2019-20 - a new institutional record!#GoDinos
READ MORE ➡️ https://t.co/MjdrDHjXWk pic.twitter.com/NEHGQpFwc3
“We are extremely proud of our student-athletes for their overwhelming academic success during the 2019-20 season. Faced with immense challenges, this year’s class of Academic All-Canadians adapted remarkably to altered COVID-19 learning environments, demonstrating their leadership in the classroom and in their respective communities.”
Dick White - Interim CEO of U SPORTS
Since 1988, U SPORTS student-athletes achieve Academic All-Canadian status having maintained an average of 80 per cent or better over the academic year while competing for one or more of their university’s U SPORTS varsity teams. Since reaching over 3,000 in the 2014-15 season, the number of Academic All-Canadians from coast to coast has grown at a rapid rate, averaging 362 new honourees per season.
| Year | Academic All-Canadians | Change (%) |
| 2019-20 | 4,919 | 23.0 |
| 2018-19 | 3,998 | 1.58 |
| 2017-18 | 3,936 | 8.04 |
| 2016-17 | 3,643 | 4.96 |
| 2015-16 | 3,471 | 8.71 |
Among these outstanding individuals, one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences are selected annually to make up the Top 8 Academic All-Canadians, who become recipients of the Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation.
The 2018-19 Top 8 Academic All-Canadian class honoured at Rideau Hall.
Credit: MCpl Mathieu Gaudreault, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2020
U SPORTS is set to run a national promotional campaign in collaboration with long-standing partner Sherrard Kuzz LLP. Led by former U SPORTS student-athletes, Sherrard Kuzz LLP will offer unique, value-added programming as the Official Supporter of those selected to the Top 8 and the U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian Program. All members of the Top 8 will also receive a customized ring from Baron, the Exclusive Provider of championship rings and recognition jewelry for U SPORTS.
Details surrounding the campaign and this year’s programming will be unveiled alongside the Top 8 announcement next week.
For the all-time Academic All-Canadian historical statistics, click here.