The Georges St-Pierre Foundation Awards Bursaries Within the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
Foundation for Athletic Excellence – Montreal, January 19th 2017 — The Georges St-Pierre Foundation has donated $14,000 in bursaries for the fourth year of this sponsorship program, acknowledging seven young and promising student-athletes competing in sports that helped Georges St-Pierre hone his own skills – namely boxing, fencing, judo, karate, Olympic wrestling, taekwondo, and artistic gymnastics.
This year, four of the seven recipients received an Academic Excellence Bursary, highlighting their outstanding grades in school, and three others received an Academic and Athletic Support Bursary, encouraging them to continue positive measures taken to balance school and sport – a common challenge faced by young high-performance athletes.
“Excelling in a high-performance sport while continuing to study in school is a challenge I myself faced when I was young, and I am incredibly proud of these young student-athletes who we are supporting again this year with the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence. Their genuine success both in sport and in the classroom is the fruit of their immense effort, and they are already role models for other young people,” expressed a proud Mr. Georges St-Pierre.
Mr. Claude Chagnon, President of the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence, added: “Student-athletes sponsored by the GSP Foundation are quite impressed and thrilled to receive a bursary from Mr. Georges St-Pierre himself! The event is a great success and a springboard to further successes and motivation for them. Mr. St-Pierre has become an important figure and role model for high-level sport in Quebec – and this, thanks to his demonstrated work ethic, positive attitude when faced with adversity, his straightforwardness, and global notoriety. Clearly, he is a huge source of inspiration to many, including the student-athletes he supports.”
Profiles of the 7 Recipients
Zoé Allaire-Bourgie / Artistic Gymnastics
September 27, 2004 – Montreal (Ahuntsic – Cartierville)
Academic Excellence $2,000
Ø Bronze medallist in bars and beam in the novice category at the 2016 Elite Canada competition
Ø Gold medallist in bars at the 2016 Gymnix Classic
Ø Studying in secondary 1 at École Antoine-de-St-Exupéry, she maintains an average of 89%
Ø Zoé is an energetic gymnast with a great sense of orientation in the air. She’s currently working on improving her flexibility in order to integrate new movements, and to add an increased level of difficulty into her routines. In the short term, she hopes to proudly represent her country in international competition and by bringing home a gold medals. Later, Zoé is looking forward to teaching young people at the primary school level.
Philip Dion / Judo – 60kg
October 16, 2000 – Saint-Hubert
Academic Excellence $2,000
Ø Gold medallist at the 2016 U18 Quebec Open and at the 2016 U18 Eastern Canadian Championships
Ø Bronze medallist at the 2016 Cadet South American Championship in Argentina
Ø Studying in secondary 4 at École De Mortagne, he maintains an 80% average
Ø Philip is a highly technical and tactical athlete. He’s working on improving his speed in order to catch more opportunities on the attack. His short-term goal is to carve himself a spot in the upcoming World Junior Championships, and in the long run, he hopes to earn a spot on the National Team. Philip nurtures a real passion for his sport, and one day hopes to pursue a career in coaching.
Ariane Léonard / Fencing (Epee)
May 31, 2001 – Saint-Lambert
Academic Excellence $2,000
Ø Gold medallist at the 2016 Eastern Canadian Championship
Ø 14th place at the 2016 North American Cup in the cadet category
Ø Studying in secondary 4 at Collège Durocher, she maintains an academic average of 85%
Ø Ariane is a fast and athletic epee fencer. She’s currently working on developing new techniques in order to manage her stress levels during preparation for important competitions. Her short-term goal is to reach the podium at the U17 Circuit, and later on, to represent Canada on the international scene. Once her degree completed, Ariane is interested in working as a nutritionist.
Sophiat-Gracias Halidi / Karaté
July 17, 2000 – Longueuil
Academic Excellence $2,000
Ø Gold medallist at the first provincial selection in 2016-2017
Ø Ranked 1st overall in Quebec in 2016-2017
Ø Secondary-5 student at École Antoine-de-St-Exupéry, with an 82% grade average
Ø Sophiat-Gracias stands out for her quick, explosive and precise movements. She’s working on improving her speed in order to take advantage of her opponents’ mistakes. In the short term, she hopes to become the next Canadian Champion, and then, to earn a ticket to the 2017 World Championship. Once her sporting career finished, Sophiat-Gracias aspires to pursue a career in medicine.
Julien Choquette / Olympic Wrestling
July 13, 1999 – St-Paul d’Abbotsford
Academic and Athletic Support $2,000
Ø 4th at the 2016 Canadian Cadet Championship
Ø 2nd at the 2016 National Team Selection
Ø Studies social sciences and mathematics at Vanier College
Ø Julien stands out not only for his self-control, but also for the explosivity of his movements. He is working on developing the diversity of his attacks especially deploying the legs. He also hopes to become the next Canadian Champion and this summer to qualify for the Canada Games this summer. Later on, Julien is looking forward to combining his passion for sport and for teaching, by being a physical education teacher.
Nicolas Migneault / Taekwondo
April 19, 2000 – Mascouche
Academic and Athletic Support $2,000
Ø Gold medallist at the 2016 Canadian Junior Championship
Ø Participated at the 2016 World Junior Championship in Vancouver
Ø Studying in secondary 5 at École Félix-Leclerc
Ø Nicolas has an outstanding capacity to concentrate in every situation. Cardio, Flexibility and agility are amongst many of the things he is working on improving at the moment. His short-term objectives include climbing onto the first step of the podium again at the upcoming Canadian Championships and making it to the top of the rankings at the US Open. Professionally, Nicolas hopes to later work as a radiology technician.
Luis-Eduardo Santana-Salledo / Boxing
January 31, 1998 – Montréal (Montréal-Nord)
Academic and Athletic Support $2,000
Ø 2016 Quebec and Canadian Champion
Ø Top-8 at the 2016 World Junior Championship in St-Petersburg, Russia
Ø Studying in secondary-3 at École Père-Marquette
Ø Luis-Eduardo is an insprired and remarkable athlete with above-average concentration skills in the ring. With his upcoming transition to the senior ranks, he’s currently trying to gain speed and size in order to compete with older and larger opponents. Highly motivated by his recent Top-8 finish, he is looking forward to participating in several International Championships. For his professional career, Luis-Eduardo hopes to work in the construction industry.
About the Fondation Georges St-Pierre
The Fondation is financially supported by Mr. Georges St-Pierre, as well as his numerous sponsors and partners. All funds collected by the Fondation are redistributed to carefully researched, qualified organizations and programs dedicated to the prevention of bullying, and the promotion of sport and education in young people.
About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence
The Foundation is known for its personal approach, diligent management, and influential role in the realm of sport and education. In 2017, it will award $ 1, 350, 000 to 475 student-athletes. The FAEQ is united with its former bursary recipients and its sponsors for the academic, athletic and professional success of its bursary recipients.
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Source:
|
Philippe Lepage |
Patricia Demers |