Charlottetown, PEI (May 22, 2025)—The UPEI Department of Athletics and Recreation is proud to announce that UPEI Men’s Basketball standout Kamari Scott is the 2025 recipient of the Rory Beck Outstanding Academic and Athletic Leadership Award.
Scott received the prestigious honour during UPEI’s convocation ceremony for the faculties of Business and Sustainable Design Engineering on May 14. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree.
Friends and family created the Rory Beck Outstanding Academic and Athletic Leadership Award to honour the late Rory Beck’s passion for sports and his belief that education and community service are critical components of a meaningful life. The award is granted to the graduating student who has displayed the most outstanding dedication to athletics, academics, leadership, and campus spirit throughout their undergraduate studies at UPEI.
“Kamari exemplifies the type of student-athlete we strive to develop at UPEI,” said Jane Vessey, director of UPEI Athletics and Recreation. “He leads with humility, competes with passion, and serves his community with purpose. We are incredibly proud of all he’s accomplished and know he’ll continue to make a difference beyond our campus.”
This past season, the 24-year-old from Malton, Ontario, played a pivotal role in leading the UPEI Panthers to their first Atlantic University Sport (AUS) men’s basketball title in 22 years. He was named an AUS First Team All-Star, received the AUS and U SPORTS Ken Shields Award for community service, and was honoured as both the W.A. Ledwell Award recipient and UPEI’s Male Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year during UPEI’s annual athletic awards banquet in March.
“Being recognized with the Rory Beck Award is incredibly humbling,” Scott said. “It’s an honour to be acknowledged not just for academic achievements but also for contributing to the campus and community in a meaningful way. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me along the journey.”
Following a remarkable year on and off the court, Scott took a moment to reflect on the impact of his journey and growth throughout his six years at UPEI.
“Looking back at my time at UPEI, I’ve learned the value of resilience and balance. As a person, I grew more confident in my ability to lead and stay grounded through challenges. As an athlete, I realized how important teamwork, discipline, and mental toughness are—both on and off the field. This experience has shaped who I am today.”
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Media contact:
Ron Annear
UPEI Athletics and Recreation
(902) 566-0991
annear@upei.ca