April 5, 2006 Source: :
http://www.ucalgary.ca/news/april06/dinos.html 39th Annual Night of the Dino Awards Banquet "Thankful for the time that
I had to be a Dino." The University of Calgary celebrated some of its finest at the 39th annual Night of the Dino awards banquet held April 4. The dinner celebrates student achievement in both academics and athletics at the University of Calgary. "Being a part of the Dinos and learning what it means to be a champion is something I’ll never forget." Natalie Schwartz pauses a moment to collect herself. It’s an emotional night, and for many of the student athletes in attendance, it’s the last time they’ll be together as a team. Schwartz, who received an award of merit, is the captain of the of the Dino Women’s volleyball team who won bronze in the CIS national championships this year. During her Dino career she’s was a Canada West All-Star twice and an Academic All-Canadian. After five years as a student athlete, Schwartz is finishing her degree in Communications and Culture and moving on. Closing the book on one chapter of her life and opening another. Her speech, on behalf of the graduating player class, captured the bitter-sweet feeling of the evening perfectly. "By champion I mean I’ve learned to fight through every challenge that I am faced with, to figure out my priorities and what’s really important to me. To sometimes just suck it up and get the job done. To be a role model, to stand up for what I believe in - to exude confidence in all circumstances. It is sad when a sport that you love so much gets taken from you without even having a choice in the matter, but I am thankful for the time that I had to be a Dino." The night of the Dino is an evening that celebrates University of Calgary athletics and the students who push themselves to excel both on the playing field and in the class room: A night to celebrate people like Megan Gould. To be a Dean’s list scholar with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and a starter with on the Canada West champion Dino Women’s soccer team takes a tremendous amount of discipline and hard work. In Megan Gould’s case it also takes a tremendous amount of courage. Gould battled through a serious knee injury to return to the playing field and become the female recipient of The Calgary Booster Club / University of Calgary Scholar Athlete of the year. Gould is finishing a joint Bachelor of Education / Kinesiology degree and in her spare time even finds the time to coach Special Olympics and a youth team. The male recipient of the award was Geoff Kerr. Kerr is a track athlete who won gold medals in the conference 1,500 and 3,000 metre races. Kerr managed a 3.5 grade point average in his studies at the Haskayne School of Business and is a CIS Academic All-Canadian. Given the outstanding group of student athletes at the University of Calgary, choosing just one to be Athlete of The Year, is a difficult task. The Female recipient of the Dr. Dennis Kadataz Female Athlete of the Year Trophy was Brittanee Laverdure who enjoyed the best season an athlete can have. Britannee was undefeated in the 55kg division and she led the Dinos to a second place finish in the national championships. Laverdure hails from a small community in the Yukon, and she says she started wrestling because you didn’t have to rely on too many other people, "I played all sports, but wrestling was the one sport that if someone quit, there was still a team, because you only needed one other person to drill and practise with. I fell in love with the sport and I was good at it – so I stuck with it. "I came to the University of Calgary for the academics and the wrestling program, the women’s program in particular is very good with several National Team members." While wrestling is an individual sport, Britanee says that the team atmosphere is what she’s going to miss the most, "I’ll remember all the good times with the team. Even though wrestling is an individual sport, it’s also a team sport. Even though you go out there on the mat by yourself, you still practise with the team – you’re all pushing for the same goal. It’s good to end off my university career like this, but I’m looking forward to the challenges in front of me. " While other athletes were reflecting on the end of their athletic careers, Dan Federkeil has every reason to believe that his is just beginning. The Dennis Kadatz University of Calgary Male athlete of the year has already had a lot of interest from professional football including a try-out with the New York Jets. Federkeil was a Canada-West All-star, a nominee for the J.P. Metras Trophy and was chosen to play in the prestigious East-West Shrine Bowl Game in the United States. He’s projected to be a first round pick in the up-coming Canadian Football League Draft. Like Laverdure, Federkeil says that what he’ll remember the most about his days as a student athlete is the friendship of team-mates. "I’ll remember the friends I’ve made - definitely. The relationships I’ve built with my team-mates is what has kept me around so long. I really love football but the thing I love the most are the guys I get to play with, so that’s what’s kept me playing and that is what is going to sustain me." For all the award winners please visit: www.godinos.com
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