Over 200 student-athletes, family, friends, donors and faculty gathered at the Isabel Bader Theatre on November 30th to celebrate Blues athletes who have excelled, not only while sporting the blue and white , but while working in the classroom.
Blues alumna and current women’s soccer coach Laura Arduini shared with the crowd her perspective of what it was like on her journey from when she first joined the soccer team, practicing on makeshift home turf, to when, in her senior year, she represented U of T at the world-class Varsity Centre.
Former top Blues athletes and recent graduates Cory Kennedy (football) and Mila Miguel (volleyball) served as emcees for the night.
Two awards were handed out for the first time on Monday. The M. R. Wright Family Award was given to Paul Dupont (hockey) and Michelle Wood (volleyball). Award founder Mert Wright attended the ceremony to congratulate the recipients in person. It was also the inaugural presentation of the Eli Drakich Memorial Award. Blues women’s volleyball head coach Kristine Drakich created the award in her father’s honour. Rebecca Crosier was this year’s recipient.
“These students are remarkable in their commitment to excellence both inside and outside the classroom,” director of athletics Liz Hoffman told the crowd. “They truly represent excellence at the University of Toronto. We are very proud.”
The 2009 Academic Excellence program, including a list of all the award winners, is now online.