The Lethbridge College Kodiaks excelled not just in competition during the 2019-20 season, but in the classroom as well. A total of 49 Kodiaks student-athletes have earned Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) National Scholar honours – the most of any Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) institution, and second most in Canada.
To be named a national scholar, student-athletes must earn a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.3 while also competing for a registered athletics team. The Kodiaks had 17 more honourees than any other ACAC institution. Only Holland College in Charlottetown, P.E.I. had more honourees among CCAA institutions.
“The academic success of our student-athletes means as much to me as the championships,” says Todd Caughlin, manager of Kodiaks Athletics. “We preach the three pillars of our program, which emphasize academics and community involvement alongside athletic excellence, and this is clear proof our student-athletes and coaches are committed to our philosophy. It’s not easy to balance the demands of a student-athlete’s life, so I congratulate all of our National Scholars who have excelled in this area.”
Every Kodiaks program had multiple CCAA National Scholar honourees, led by the women’s volleyball and women’s soccer programs, which each had 10. Kodiaks student-athletes earned a combined 2.91 GPA in fall 2019, while nearly 80 per cent of students achieved a GPA of at least 2.5. The Kodiaks placed an increased emphasis on academic excellence by introducing the Kodiaks Athletics Team GPA Award in fall 2019, with a $500 award going to the winning team’s fundraising account in each semester.
“This is something to be proud of for our program,” says Caughlin. “We want our student-athletes to leave Lethbridge College prepared to excel in their lives and careers, and this shows they are putting in the work in all aspects of their college experience.”
The Kodiaks had 33 CCAA National Scholars in 2018-19, 38 in 2017-18 and 33 in 2016-17.
Kodiaks 2019-20 CCAA National Scholars
Women’s basketball
- Kirsten Barwegen, Justice Studies Applied Degree
- Montana Berezay, Practical Nursing
- Emily Greeno, Interior Design Technology
- Abigail Hall, General Studies – Physical Education and Leadership
- Kaylin Larson, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Catriona Smith, Business Administration – Accounting
- Jennafer Taylor, General Studies
Men’s basketball
- Trey Bohne, General Studies – Psychology and Sociology
- Brock Dewsbery, General Studies
- Drake Harker, General Studies
- Jackson Kasko, General Studies
- Brigham Smith, General Studies
- Jett Stef, General Studies – Psychology and Sociology
Cross country running
- Cooper Cheshire, Agricultural Enterprise Management
- Justin Fisher, General Studies
- Rosie Bouchard, Renewable Resource Management
- Anna LeBlanc, Natural Resource Compliance
- Kayla Munro, Criminal Justice – Policing
- Millie Stafford, Exercise Science
Men’s soccer
- Christopher Anton, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Jimmy Bukuru, General Studies – Psychology and Sociology
- Luis Fonseca, Criminal Justice – Policing
- Jaden Veluw, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
Women’s soccer
- Suzana Brkic, Interior Design Technology
- Ailsa Fallows, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Sydney Hope, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Meagan Judge, Correctional Studies
- Stephanie Klassen, Practical Nursing
- Alexandra Morrison, General Studies
- Christine Moser, Massage Therapy
- Victoria Noronha, General Studies
- Ashley Sazalski, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Micaela Stone, General Studies
Women’s volleyball
- Claire Armstrong, Massage Therapy
- LeeAnne Arnott, Massage Therapy
- Jamie Brown, Natural Resource Compliance
- Morgan Bullerwell, Agriculture Sciences – Plant Science
- Johanna Dixon, General Studies
- Elyse Doble, General Studies
- Carley Doneff, Bachelor Degree in Nursing
- Harper Elwood, General Studies – English
- Maile Funa, Massage Therapy
- Rae Whitehead, General Studies
Men’s volleyball
- Malcolm Fisher, General Studies – Psychology and Sociology
- Jackson Gaehring, Civil Engineering Technology
- Nathanael Heyburn, Engineering Design Technology
- Michael Kindley, General Studies
- Michael Svab, Geomatics Engineering Technology
- Zachary Wikenheiser, General Studies – Physical Education and Leadership