"Consistency matters."
Those two words capture the spirit of what it takes to achieve Academic All-Canadian status, and it's a message Dal's coaches and athletics leaders emphasize with their student-athletes, said Director of Athletics and Recreation Cindy Tye at a celebration Thursday celebrating Dal's latest honourees.
"To achieve results in both school and sport, you need to show up and put your best foot forward no matter what the day brings. It is clear these students are showing up,” she said.
Academic excellence
A total of 161 Dal Tigers earned Academic All-Canadian distinction during the 2024-2025 school year. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a GPA of at least 3.50 over the academic year while competing in a varsity sport.
Hard work, dedication, sacrifice, and support are crucial in these students’ lives.
“As coaches and administrators, today stands out as one of our favourite days of the year,” said Tye. “Each recipient has a unique story to how they earned their seat here today. We know the path is never linear.”
Dr. Wanda Costen, Dalhousie's provost and vice-president academic, joined Tye in expressing pride in the accomplishments of these student-athletes.
Recent Dal grad named Top 8 Academic All‑Canadian
Grounded by a lifelong love of running, Dal MBA grad Jacob Benoit earned a prestigious U SPORTS Top 8 Academic All‑Canadian award this week recognizing his athletic and academic dedication. Read more about Jacob.
“This is not an easy feat. It means they have spent the time and dedicated their energy to their academics while excelling on the field of play,” she said.
Balanced commitment
Tigers swimmer Isaac Bahler, who recently earned a Rhodes Scholarship to study at the University of Oxford, and Jacob Benoit, who was named a Top 8 Academic All-Canadian this week by U SPORTS, represented the student-athletes at this week's event.
The two expressed gratitude for lessons learned through sport, as well as the support they received along the way.
Women’s hockey goalie Jasmine Kwan and men’s soccer player Andrew Chen, both Academic All-Canadians, served as MCs for the event, referencing the achievements of the student-athletes who were in attendance as they received their certificates.
The average GPA of the student-athletes who achieved Academic All-Canadian status for 2024-25 was 3.95, an indication of how hard this crop of student-athletes worked on the field, court, and in the classroom.