Reaching higher

Niklas Rademacher (Nick Pearce Photo)

Niklas Rademacher chose Dalhousie because he wanted a strong athletic and well-respected academic program. He hasn’t looked back since leaving his hometown of Bocholt, Germany.

The captain of the men’s volleyball team, Mr. Rademacher has been a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) Academic All-Canadian and a Dean’s List scholar throughout his academic career. He earned three in-course scholarships and was twice awarded the Graham Family Award for athletic excellence, community service and leadership.

This captain provides leadership both on and off the court, but says he’s proud that “every member of the team has a leadership role — the older players mentor the newer members with their studies and their plays.”

In addition to maintaining a busy playing schedule and demanding course load, Mr. Rademacher enjoys working as a teaching assistant for the management program because “it is challenging and it allows me to give others the experience I had.”

He has played volleyball for 19 years, including four years as a professional beach volleyball player. During his time with the Tigers he has been named Atlantic University Sport (AUS) MVP, a three-time CIS First Team All-Canadian and a four-time AUS All-Star. He is the winner of the CIS Dale Iwanoczko Award for academics, athletics and community service and was Dalhousie’s nominee for the prestigious James Bayer Award for excellence in academics, athletics, leadership, sportsmanship and citizenship.

In his spare time he has developed a volleyball program for a local high school, conducted a mini-program for Volleyball Nova Scotia and is involved with Athletes for a Peaceful Planet. During the summers he mentors young athletes.

Upon graduation, Mr. Rademacher will be returning to Germany to play professional volleyball.