Last Thursday four Bishop's Gaiters student-athletes received bursaries from the Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) at a gala in Montreal. Golfer
Felix Boucher (Dieppe, N.B./Ecole Mathieu-Martin), football player
Digaan Gomis (Trappes, France, Cégep de Thetford) and women's basketball players
Jennifer Louis (Montreal, Que./) and
Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) all were honoured. The full FAEQ release is below.
Montreal, November 28, 2019 – During the second edition of the College and University Bursary Awards Night, which was presented by RDS in collaboration with TKNL and hosted by the Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) in partnership with the RSEQ,
$434,000 in individual bursaries were handed out to Quebec's top college and university student-athletes.
The Foundation's flagship event is dedicated to its RSEQ bursary recipients. This year's evening was the perfect occasion for the FAEQ to announce that it had provided financial support to no less than 81 young college and university students who had distinguished themselves academically, athletically or through their social involvement during the 2018-2019 season.
Among the awards granted by the FAEQ were
20 College Recruitment bursaries worth $3,000 over three years and
32 University Recruitment bursaries worth $10,000 over five years. In addition,
two student-athletes from outside Quebec, who wish to pursue their studies at Quebec universities, received bursaries worth $3,000. Another
21 Merit Scholarships, worth $2,000 each, were awarded to 19 student-athletes who, based on their achievements during the 2018-2019 season, were finalists in the College and University Bursary Awards Night's seven award categories.
"In 2018, when we revised our college and university recruitment programs in an attempt to prevent an exodus of our best student-athletes, we wanted to make sure we could offer something that was competitive with what was available outside of Quebec. One year later, we're already reaping some of the benefits of our efforts and seeing more interest from the student-athletes," stated Patricia Demers, executive director of the Foundation for Athletic Excellence. "The new structure we put in place enables us to support their academic and athletic progress for eight years. We believe this will appeal greatly to our in-province student-athletes and that more and more of them will opt for it."
The event took place in the John Molson Room at the Molson Brewery, which has been a partner of the Foundation for almost 35 years. The names of the winners in seven award categories were announced during the second edition of the College and University Bursary Awards Night.
The Molson Foundation female student-athlete of the year in the Academic Excellence category is Jessika Boulanger (chemical engineering), hockey player for the Université de Montréal Carabins. The forward from Victoriaville earned 21 credits while maintaining an academic average of 4.0 out of a possible 4.3. After winning the RSEQ Quebec championship with the Carabins, she and her team went on to win the bronze medal at the U SPORTS Canadian University Championships. Jessika was also selected for the RSEQ's rookie all-star team.
The Molson Coors Canada male student-athlete of the year in the Academic Excellence category is Francis Carter (psychology, behavioural neuroscience), wrestler for the Concordia University Stingers. The Montrealer held a perfect academic average of 4.3 out of 4.3 while earning 24 credits. He won the gold medal in the under-68 kg category at the U SPORTS Canadian Championships and was honoured with the Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation for the conciliation of sport and studies.
The RDS female student-athlete of the year in the Individual Sport category is Jessy Lacourse (preschool education and elementary teaching) in track and field and cross-country for the Laval University Rouge et Or. The Quebec City resident was named top athlete of the RSEQ University Championships after winning the 1500m, 3000m and 4x800m events. Jessy, who also won the Quebec cross country championship, was gold medallist in the 3000m indoor event and silver medallist in the 4x800m event at the Canadian university nationals.
The RDS male student-athlete of the year in the Individual Sport category is Francis Carter (psychology, behavioural neuroscience), wrestler for the Concordia University Stingers. The Montrealer secured the gold medal in the under-68 kg group at the U SPORTS Canadian Championships. He was also honoured with the Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation for the conciliation of sport and studies. In addition, Francis achieved a perfect academic average of 4.3 out of 4.3.
The National Bank female student-athlete of the year in the Team Sport category is Claire Vercheval (physical education), volleyball player for the McGill University Martlets. Named outstanding athlete by the RSEQ and U SPORTS, she played in all 75 of her team's 2018-2019 sets, registering 231 kills and 34 aces. Claire, who is a member of the Quebec and Canadian all-star teams, won a silver medal at the provincial championships.
The Gouvernement du Québec male student-athlete of the year in the Team Sport category is Omar Kreim (law), soccer player for the Université de Montréal Carabins. The adoptive Montrealer contributed to a great season for the Carabins, who came away with the Quebec and Canadian university championships. Omar's performance earned him spots on the RSEQ and U SPORTS all-star teams as well as on the National University Championship team.
The Gildan student-athlete of the year in the Leadership category is Frédérique Cigna (medicine) in swimming for the Université de Montréal Carabins. The Montrealer organized a swim-a-thon for the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation in honour of her late mother. Some 109 participants and ten volunteers participated in the event, which took place in November 2018. The event raised $13,904.
Recipients of College and University Scholarships 2019-2020
| Name |
Sport |
Amount |
City |
School |
| College Recruitment |
| Hans Sarah Bailly |
Basketball (F) |
3000 $ |
Montréal (RDP–PAT) |
Vanier College |
| Yannice Biyik Nlend |
Basketball (M) |
3000 $ |
Québec (Charlesbourg) |
Vanier College |
| Souleymane Camara |
Football |
3000 $ |
Chateauguay |
Collège Champlain Lennoxville |
| Julien Cazajous-Poulot |
Football |
3000 $ |
Montréal (Rosemont - La Petite-Patrie) |
Collège André-Grasset |
| Nelson Cilien |
Basketball (M) |
3000 $ |
Montréal (Montréal-Nord) |
Collège Brébeuf |
| Aissatou Diop |
Basketball (F) |
3000 $ |
Saint-Lambert |
Saint-Lambert, Champlain Regional College |
| Marc-Antoine Durocher |
Volleyball (M) |
3000 $ |
Boucherville |
Cégep de Sherbrooke |
| Mohamed Elshal |
Football |
3000 $ |
Québec |
Campus Notre-Dame-de-Foy |
| Karina Fortier |
Soccer (F) |
3000 $ |
Sherbrooke |
Saint-Lambert, Champlain Regional College |
| Alexis Giguère |
Hockey (M) |
3000 $ |
Sainte-Julie |
Cégep André-Laurendeau |
| Laurence Huard |
Volleyball (F) |
3000 $ |
Lorraine |
Collège Lionel-Groulx |
| Sami McDuff |
Soccer (M) |
3000 $ |
Saint-Amable |
Saint-Lambert, Champlain Regional College |
| Ann-Frédérik Naud |
Hockey (F) |
3000 $ |
Saint-Félix-de-Valois |
John Abbott College |
| Yve Nsanzinshuti |
Basketball (M) |
3000 $ |
Québec |
Saint-Lambert, Champlain Regional College |
| Cassandra Provost |
Soccer (F) |
3000 $ |
Acton Vale |
Saint-Lambert, Champlain Regional College |
| Mégane Quirion |
Hockey (F) |
3000 $ |
Saint-Eustache |
John Abbott College |
| Xavier Tremblay |
Football |
3000 $ |
Laval |
Collège André-Grasset |
| Thierry Tshibola |
Basketball (M) |
3000 $ |
Québec |
Vanier College |
| Brianna Ware |
Hockey (F) |
3000 $ |
Pointe-Claire |
John Abbott College |
| Una Zubac |
Volleyball (F) |
3000 $ |
Sherbrooke |
Cégep de Sherbrooke |
| Recruitment from outside Quebec |
| Félix Boucher |
Golf (M) |
3000 $ |
Dieppe, Nouveau-Brunswick |
Bishop's University |
| Chris Kongbo |
Football |
3000 $ |
Surrey, Colombie-Britannique |
McGill University |
| University Recruitment |
| Nahida Baalbaki |
Soccer (F) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Saint-Laurent) |
Université de Montréal |
| Nathan Beaudin-Bolduc |
Swimming (M) |
10 000 $ |
Lévis (Saint-Nicolas) |
Université Laval |
| Julien Choquette |
Wrestling |
10 000 $ |
Saint-Paul-d'Abbotsford |
Concordia University |
| Pascal Corbeil |
Hockey (M) |
10 000 $ |
Longueuil |
Concordia University |
| Daphné Danyluk |
Swimming (F) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (RDP–PAT) |
McGill University |
| Emmy Fecteau |
Hockey (F) |
10 000 $ |
Saint-Odilon |
Concordia University |
| Nicolas Fortin |
Volleyball (M) |
10 000 $ |
Québec (Sainte-Foy) |
Université Laval |
| Kevin Foster Verdier |
Football |
10 000 $ |
Bois-des-Filion |
Concordia University |
| Antoine Fréchette |
Football |
10 000 $ |
Châteauguay |
Université Sherbrooke |
| Noémie Gagné |
Volleyball (F) |
10 000 $ |
Québec |
UQAM |
| Joannie Garand |
Hockey (F) |
10 000 $ |
Otterburn Park |
Université Montréal |
| Olivier Garneau |
Hockey (M) |
10 000 $ |
Québec |
UQTR |
| Audrey Genois |
Soccer (F) |
10 000 $ |
Saint-Raymond |
Université Laval |
| Laurent Grandmangin |
Track and field |
10 000 $ |
Sherbrooke |
Université de Sherbrooke |
| Victoria Iannotti |
Volleyball (F) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Saint-Laurent) |
McGill University |
| Jonathan Noel Jeune |
Basketball (M) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Montréal-Nord) |
UQAM |
| Steeve Joseph |
Basketball (M) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Pierrefonds - Roxboro) |
Université Laval |
| Jael Kabunda (Montreal, Que./College Montmorency) |
Basketball (F) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Ahuntsic - Cartierville) |
Bishop's University |
| Thomas Lafontaine-Giguère |
Swimming (M) |
10 000 $ |
Saint-Jérôme |
Université de Montréal |
| Audrey Leduc |
Track and field |
10 000 $ |
Gatineau |
Université Laval |
| Karima Lemire |
Soccer (F) |
10 000 $ |
Longueuil |
UQAM |
| Jennifer Louis (Montreal, Que./) |
Basketball (F) |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Montréal-Nord) |
Bishop's University |
| Jordan Martel |
Hockey (M) |
10 000 $ |
Saguenay (Chicoutimi) |
UQTR |
| Tommy Mercier |
Football |
10 000 $ |
Sainte-Julie |
Université de Montréal |
| Mathieu Morneau |
Badminton |
10 000 $ |
Québec (Val-Bélair) |
Université Laval |
| Nicholas Thien Quan Nguyen |
Badminton |
10 000 $ |
Montréal (Ahuntsic-Cartierville) |
Université de Montréal |
| Anthony Bao Quoc Nguyen |
Badminton |
10 000 $ |
Dollard-des-Ormeaux |
Université de Montréal |
| Alexia Rémillard |
Soccer (F) |
10 000 $ |
Repentigny |
McGill University |
| Kaylyn Smith St-Cyr |
Football |
10 000 $ |
Laprairie |
Université de Montréal |
| Rémy-Julien Spattz |
Football |
10 000 $ |
Knowlton |
Université Laval |
| Simon Spénard-Lapierre |
Soccer (M) |
10 000 $ |
Laval |
Concordia University |
| Alexis Tournier |
Volleyball (M) |
10 000 $ |
Gatineau |
Université de Montréal |
| Merit Scholarships |
| Catherine Beauchemin |
Track and field |
2000 $ |
Québec |
Université Laval |
| Christophe Boivin |
Hockey |
2000 $ |
Québec |
UQTR |
| Jessika Boulanger |
Hockey |
2000 $ |
Victoriaville |
Université de Montréal |
| Francis Carter (2 bourses) |
Wrestling |
4000 $ |
Montréal (Verdun) |
Concordia University |
| Émile Chênevert |
Football |
2000 $ |
Québec |
Université Laval |
| Frédérique Cigna |
Swimming |
2000 $ |
Montréal (Ahuntsic - Cartierville) |
Université de Montréal |
| Maude Croteau-Vaillancourt |
Track and field |
2000 $ |
Saint-Hyacinthe |
Université de Sherbrooke |
| Jean-Simon Desgagnés |
Track and field |
2000 $ |
Québec |
Université Laval |
| Jade Downie-Landry |
Hockey |
2000 $ |
Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu |
McGill University |
| Rowan Fletcher |
Volleyball |
2000 $ |
Montréal-Ouest |
McGill University |
| Camille Garnier |
Badminton |
2000 $ |
Montréal (Rosemont - La Petite-Patrie) |
Université de Montréal |
| Béatrice Guay |
Badminton |
2000 $ |
Québec |
Université Laval |
| Omar Kreim |
Soccer |
2000 $ |
Laval |
Université de Montréal |
| Jessy Lacourse |
Track and field |
2000 $ |
Québec |
Université Laval |
| Myriam Leclerc (2 bourses) |
Basketball |
4000 $ |
Saint-Roch-de-Richelieu |
Concordia University |
| Alexandre Obomsawin |
Volleyball |
2000 $ |
Gatineau |
Université Laval |
| Clément Secchi |
Swimming |
2000 $ |
Montréal (Plateau-Mont-Royal) |
McGill University |
| Dimitrios Sinodinos |
Football |
2000 $ |
Laval |
McGill University |
| Claire Vercheval |
Volleyball |
2000 $ |
Sainte-Julie |
McGill University |
| Alouettes |
| Adam Auclair |
Football |
1000 $ |
Notre-Dame-des-Pins |
Université Laval |
| Benjamin Carré |
Football |
1000 $ |
Trois-Rivières |
McGill University |
| Ryth-Jean Giraud |
Football |
1000 $ |
Laval |
Université de Montréal |
| Digaan Gomis (Trappes, France/Cégep de Thetford) |
Football |
1000 $ |
Thetford Mines |
Bishop's University |
| Glody Musangu |
Football |
1000 $ |
Vaudreuil-Dorion |
Concordia University |
| Samuel Polan |
Football |
1000 $ |
Montréal |
Université de Sherbrooke |
About the Foundation for Athletic Excellence
The FAEQ (
faeq.com) is recognized for its personalized approach, rigorous management style and influence in sport and education circles. In 2019, it awarded $1,500,000 in bursaries to 500 student-athletes, to whom it also provided academic guidance and sport/study conciliation support services.
The fourth edition of the Bonneville 808 Challenge, a major cycling event benefitting the FAEQ, will be held in Mont-Tremblant on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19, 2020. Registration is now open at http://defi808bonneville.com/en/
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Sources:
Annie Pelletier
Communications Director
Foundation for Athletic Excellence
annie.pelletier@faeq.com
514-252-3171 ext. 3538
Jonathan Collin
Bursary Program Coordinator
Foundation for Athletic Excellence
jonathan.collin@faeq.com
514-252-3171 ext. 3884
