The University of Toronto honoured 277 student-athletes at the 12th annual academic excellence breakfast on Tuesday, November 21, at the Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.
University of Toronto Vice President and Provost, Professor Cheryl Regehr, Professor Gretchen Kerr, dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, Beth Ali, executive director of athletics & physical activity, as well as Mary Beth Challoner, director of intercollegiate and high performance sport, were on hand to honour this year's recipients.
The ceremony honoured student-athletes, who earned an 80 percent average or higher in all courses they were enrolled in during the 2022-23 academic year while competing on a Varsity Blues team. Each recipient received a pin: enamel for first-time winners, bronze for second, silver for third, gold for fourth and a diamond pin for anyone earning this award five or more times during their intercollegiate career.
Varsity Blues rower Matthew McNeil received a triple diamond pin, representing the seventh time they have achieved this result, while nine more student-athletes across seven different Varsity Blues teams received a diamond pin marking five years of academic accomplishment.
The Blues also honoured four University of Toronto top scholar student-athletes who were adjudged to have excelled both academically and athletically during the 2022-23 academic year: men's swimmer Michael Sava and women's rugby player Ella Tetrault were celebrated as the U SPORTS top scholar athletes, while Blues water polo goalie Miguel Garcia Alonso and U of T rower Katrina Miehlbradt earned the Ontario top scholar athlete awards.
The 277 student-athletes represent nearly 30 per cent of the Varsity Blues population. The Varsity Blues men's track & field team had 19 honourees, while the Blues men's hockey team and women's track & field team each had 15 honourees. 14 softball players were also recognized, along with 13 Blues women's soccer athletes.