St. Thomas University Athletics and Recreation Celebrates Academic Excellence with Student-Athletes

Fredericton, NB – In a celebration of hard work, dedication, and excellence both on and off the field of play, St. Thomas University Athletics and Recreation hosted a special breakfast reception to honour the academic achievements of our student-athletes from the 2023-2024 year. The gathering provided an opportunity to acknowledge the impressive accomplishments of athletes who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to balancing their academic pursuits with their athletic endeavors.

Director of Athletics and Recreation, Meaghan Donahue Wies, expressed immense pride in the athletes, stating, “These 79 student-athletes represent nearly 50% of our rosters from the 2023-2024 academic year, which is a remarkable proportion of Tommies who excelled in the classroom as well as on the field of play. To see our student-athletes value their role as students as highly as their role as athletes is truly inspiring, and I couldn’t be prouder to have these exceptional young adults represent the Tommies in all aspects of their lives.”

This year, St. Thomas Athletics proudly recognized several distinguished groups for their achievements:

CCAA National Scholars: Fifty-five student-athletes from basketball, volleyball, soccer, and cross country who maintained a remarkable standard of academic excellence while competing in their respective sports within the CCAA.
U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians: Sixteen members of the women’s hockey team who achieved an exceptional standard of academic excellence while participating as members of STU’s only U Sports team.
Dean’s List Honorees: Eight members of the women’s rugby team who excelled academically, earning a place on the prestigious Dean’s List, while competing within the ACAA.

Athletes shared their experiences and insights into balancing academics and sports. Paige LeBlanc from women’s basketball emphasized the importance of organization and time management, stating that staying structured and setting goals helps her succeed in both academics and athletics. She noted that basketball has also taught her teamwork, perseverance, and mental toughness, which translate into her studies.

For Delaney Hancock of the women’s soccer team, the discipline required to balance academics and athletics has strengthened her time management skills. She shared that she is often most productive during the season because the demanding schedule forces her to stay focused. She also highlighted the supportive academic culture within the team, where teammates study together while traveling.

Men’s volleyball player Raph Fiset highlighted the importance of pursuing studies in a field that genuinely interests him. He emphasized the value of relying on teammates for support, noting that the sense of teamwork in sports applies equally to academic success. “Team sports are won with all your teammates; the same can be said about academics,” he shared.

Jenna Murphy from Women's Volleyball shared how balancing her time is one big thing she does. "I set clear priorities each week by making a to-do list to dedicate enough time to both my studies and training. I know that my success in academics and athletics goes hand-in-hand in shaping my future, so I want to make sure I stay on top of everything."

The event also featured inspiring words from St. Thomas’ President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Nauman Farooqi, who highlighted the importance of holistic development. “The fact that you are elite varsity athletes is impressive. The fact that you are elite students is even more impressive,” said Dr. Nauman Farooqi, St. Thomas University President and Vice-Chancellor. “You should be proud of this. We are grateful to have you represent us throughout the region, country, and internationally.”

Academic success is an integral part of the philosophy that drives St. Thomas Athletics and Recreation. As we celebrate these milestones, St. Thomas University Athletics and Recreation remains committed to facilitating access to resources and opportunities that empower our student-athletes to thrive in every aspect of their university experience. From academic support programs to leadership development initiatives, we are proud to stand by our student-athletes in their pursuit of excellence.

Below the list of athletes:

Cross Country

Daniel Calvo
Grace Christie
Kaitlynn Hamming
Jacob LeBlanc
Naomi Lopez
Warren McArthur
Sebastian Rubi

Basketball

Charlee Connors
Ella Delorme
Michaela Hansen
Alyssa Jeffrey
Paige LeBlanc
Kathleen Quinlan
Katie Vidito
Ted Braden
Rees Hasson
Kaden Lavallee
Noah McCarthy

Volleyball

Madison Ball
Andrea Bell
Julia Campbell
Alessandra Hernandez Pineda
Jenna Murphy
Brooke Thompson
Kensea Aaron
Thomas Blizzard
Raphael Fiset
Alex Frederickson
Brendan Murph

Soccer

Jasmin Atkinson
Abigail Cameron
Sydney Conrad
Katy Davidge
Avery Erb
Olivia Fillmore
Delaney Hancock
Laura Horsley
Jazmyne McLaughlin
Ella Mercer
Cierra Meredith
Jayci Peck
Virginia Phillips
Brooklynn Saunders
Avery Scott
Caitlyn Steeves
Hannah Tran
Jessica Weir
Brady Chapman
Samuel Choiniere
Luke Ewen
Kiran Hollman-Prichard
Aidan Lavery
Chidubem Nkoloagu
Matthew Oprea
Mees Van Nouhuys

Women's Hockey

Martina Barclay
Libby Howatt
Jacey Dane
Aislynn Byers
Elizabeth MacIntosh
Laura Brown
Amber Daley
Amy Dvernichuk
Martina Barclay
Libby Howatt
Jacey Dane
Aislynn Byers
Elizabeth MacIntosh
Laura Brown
Amber Daley
Amy Dvernichuk

Women's Rugby

Karin Akulov
Sadie Carter
Grace Christie
Rebecca MacMullin
Lauren Sturgeon
Aurora Sutton
Vanessa Thompson
Maleah Welton