Saturday, January 17th saw the Niagara College department of athletics and recreation formally recognize the 2013-14 SIRC-CCAA National Scholar Award recipients at the third annual Knights Scholar Athlete Brunch at the White Oaks Resort and Spa.
The event saw 16 Niagara College student-athletes recognized in front of friends and family with presentations of framed SIRC-CCAA National Scholar Awards.
The National Scholar Award is designed to recognize the outstanding academic accomplishments of CCAA student-athletes. To be recognized, a student-athlete must achieve honours standing at their institution in the current academic year.
At Niagara College, National Scholar Award winners must maintain an academic average over 80% while competing as a member of one of the school’s nine intercollegiate teams.
“The ability to thrive under such a busy schedule, truly prepares our student-athletes for success in their future academic and professional pursuits, and we are proud to have each of them as part of the Niagara College family.” said Niagara College acting vice-president of student affairs Rick Anderson.
Five Niagara College intercollegiate programs saw members recognized including women’s soccer (7), women’s volleyball (4), men’s volleyball (2), women’s basketball (2), and men’s soccer (1).
“The scholar athlete brunch provides an opportunity to look back the year and recognize the commitment that our student-athletes put into their academics, while also balancing their commitment to training, competition, and the community programming that our varsity teams run on an annual basis” added Niagara College director of athletics and recreation Matthew Davies.
Honoured at the event were 2013-14 Niagara College female athlete of the year Alexandria Botelho and 2013-14 male scholastic award recipient Matthew Scott.
Botelho, a Stoney Creek native, serves as team captain of the Knights women’s volleyball program, while men’s volleyball alum Matt Scott (Georgetown) graduated with a 95% academic average in the Niagara College accelerated police foundations program.
Below is a full list of the 2013-14 Niagara College National Scholar Award Recipients:
Tara Giallonardo, Women’s Basketball
Miranda Ross, Women’s Basketball
Nicholas Fox, Men’s Soccer
Trista Andrews, Women’s Soccer
Melanie Bajic, Women’s Soccer
Natalie Bessegato, Women’s Soccer
Robyn Deklerk, Women’s Soccer
Chelsea Fraser, Women’s Soccer
Cassandra Gilmore, Women’s Soccer
Jenny Lee Graham, Women’s Soccer
Bailey Cochrane, Men’s Volleyball
Matthew Scott, Men’s Volleyball
Samantha Bailey, Women’s Volleyball
Kaylee Barber, Women’s Volleyball
Alexandria Botelho, Women’s Volleyball
Andrea Stoskopf, Women’s Volleyball
