Achievements in athletics and academics: 58 Loyalist College students earn OCAA honours

Loyalist College is celebrating 58 outstanding student athletes who were presented with 2023–24 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) All-Academic awards. Students receive an OCAA All-Academic certificate for achieving honours status while competing as varsity athletes.

“We are immensely proud of the 58 Loyalist Lancers who have earned the OCAA All-Academic award this season,” says Cristy Latham, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation at Loyalist College. “We know our student athletes contribute immensely to our campus community. Alongside the demands of academics and their intensive training schedules, they also volunteer at events, act as student leaders, and set a powerful example for their peers. They truly embody what it means to strive for excellence.”

The OCAA is the governing body for intercollegiate sports in Ontario. For the 2023–24 varsity season, the OCAA recognized 1,063 student athletes across the province for their achievements in the classroom.

Lancers Alyssa Diemert, Erika Robertson, Allyson Terwillegar and Georgi Williams are also recipients of the 2023–24 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Academic All-Canadian award, which recognizes student athletes who achieve honours standing in academics combined with an elite athletic achievement. In addition, Loyalist College 2024 Valedictorian Elayna Reid received the 2023–24 OCAA Academic Athletic Excellence award.

“Being a student athlete isn’t always easy; it requires a deep understanding of priorities and time management skills. There were moments when I felt completely overwhelmed, wondering how I could possibly juggle it all,” says Elayna. “Yet, the relationships I built, the reasonable goals I set, and the focus I maintained allowed me to excel both academically and athletically. This three-year journey was challenging at times, but it was also incredibly rewarding, shaping me into who I am today and preparing me for my future.”

Loyalist College President and CEO Mark Kirkpatrick highlights how Loyalist College’s uniquely supportive learning environment allows students to reach their full potential. “At Loyalist, we believe in empowering our students to challenge themselves and pursue their personal and professional dreams, knowing they have a supportive network of coaches, faculty and staff behind them every step of the way,” he says. “Successfully balancing the demands of academics and athletics is a major accomplishment. I commend this year’s OCAA All-Academic award recipients on their achievement.”

View the complete list of OCAA All-Academic award recipients here.

About Loyalist College 
Loyalist College is built upon the lands governed by the Dish with One Spoon wampum agreement. We affirm and thank the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabeg and Huron-Wendat nations for their continued caretaking of the land. At Loyalist, we empower our students with wraparound support services and hands-on training to succeed on any path they choose. Our academic programs are responsive and innovative, designed to solve pressing social and economic challenges and meet the evolving needs of our regional industry and community partners. Our graduates enter the workforce equipped with the knowledge they need to be better global citizens, and with future-focused skills to lead change in their fields. With a presence in Belleville, Bancroft, Port Hope, Tyendinaga and Toronto, we believe our institutional responsibility extends beyond the classroom to seeing the big picture for the communities we serve. Our expertise in applied research and deep connections to local industry support economic development, to the benefit of businesses, entrepreneurs, changemakers and innovators. Our commitment to decolonization, and the pursuit of a more inclusive, equitable world, means we hold ourselves accountable to the diverse perspectives, cultures and experiences that shape our communities. 

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Contact: 
Hannah Brown
Director of Marketing and Communications
hbrown@loyalistcollege.com