CALGARY – University of Calgary student-athletes faced new and unprecedented challenges during the 2020-21 academic year, including the adjustment to remote learning and a season without athletic competition. 

When it was all said and done, they rose to new heights academically, establishing a new UCalgary record with 259 Dinos student-athletes achieving Academic All-Canadian status. This includes 248 from U SPORTS sanctioned sports, with the remaining 11 coming from the Dinos golf team.

It is the second consecutive year the Dinos have recorded more than 200 Academic All-Canadians in a single academic year. In 2019-20, UCalgary became one of two institutions to eclipse the 200 mark for the first time in U SPORTS history and has now had 2,847 student-athlete garner All-Canadian status since 1990.

DINOS ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIAN HISTORY

"Earning Academic All-Canadian status is an impressive accomplishment anytime, but this is an extraordinary achievement by our student-athletes," said Dinos director of athletics Ben Matchett. "In a year where competition did not take place, training was a roller coaster, and course delivery was entirely online, to have this many student-athletes perform so well academically is a testament to their resilience and dedication. I cannot commend them enough for their success in the virtual classroom."

Among the impressive academic accomplishments of this group is 23 student-athletes who achieved a perfect 4.00 GPA and 58 who attained a GPA of 3.90 or higher. The Academic All-Canadians represent 11 UCalgary faculties, which including joint degree programs, is led by the Faculty of Kinesiology (60), Arts (59), and Science (43).

ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS BY FACULTY

• Faculty of Kinesiology - 60
• Faculty of Arts - 59
• Faculty of Science - 43
• Haskayne School of Business - 36
• Schulich School of Engineering - 24
• Werklund School of Education - 14
• Cumming School of Medicine - 9
• Open Studies - 8
• Faculty of Graduate Studies - 7
• Faculty of Nursing - 5
• Faculty of Social Work - 1
• Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - 1

ABOUT THE U SPORTS ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIAN PROGRAM
The Academic All-Canadian program was created by U SPORTS in 1988 to recognize the highest levels of academic achievement by student-athletes representing their institution in interuniversity athletic competition. To qualify, student-athletes must achieve an average of 80 per cent or better (or equivalent GPA) across an entire academic year while playing an active role in their sport(s).

2020-21 UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY DINOS
ACADEMIC ALL-CANADIANS
Editor's note: the number of Academic All-Canadians was adjusted to 259 following the identification of four additional student-athlete.