Nearly half of all Golden Bears & Pandas were honoured on Wednesday morning, as Athletics held their annual Academic All-Canadian breakfast.
206 Golden Bears and Pandas student-athletes earned AAC status in 2025/26, which represents 41% of all U of A student-athletes. Of those who competed and consumed a year of eligibility last season, an astonishing 54% of those Golden Bears and Pandas were named an Academic All-Canadian.Â
198 Golden Bears & Pandas were named U SPORTS Academic All-Canadians, with another eight golf student-athletes, which are not U SPORTS-sanctioned sports, named to the All-Academic Team.
The criteria to be honoured as an AAC is maintaining an average of 80% or better over the academic year, while competing full-time for one of the university's varsity teams.
Highlights
- The 198 U SPORTS AAC's is the second most in University of Alberta history, behind only the 199 from 2024/25.
- Pandas Basketball (13), Pandas Hockey (18), Pandas Rugby (19), Pandas Soccer (17), and Pandas Wrestling (11) set new program records in 2025/26.
- 15 Facilities were represented among the 2025/26 Academic All-Canadian total, led by 38 in Arts and 36 from Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation.
- The University of Alberta's All-Time U SPORTS AAC total now stands at 4,353. This is the most in Canadian University Sport history.
- Additionally, 264 athletes from Golf, Rugby 7s and Tennis have earned All-Academic Team honours since 1990, bringing the U of A's total to 4,617 student-athletes.Â
- Thomas Hope (Golden Bears Soccer) and Abby Guezen (Pandas Volleyball) were named the Male and Female UAlberta Academic All-Canadian student-athletes of the year.
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Golden Bears and Pandas Athletics also handed out the Kathlene Yetman Trophy and the Mark Goodkey Memorial Trophy, presented annually to the Female and Male Academic All-Canadian student-athletes of the year.
Thomas Hope has been a leader in the classroom, in the community, and on the pitch. Academically he is a three-time U SPORTS Academic All-Canadian, a two-time Jason Lang Scholarship recipient, and earned last year's Faculty of Education Certificate of Excellence.
He previously served on the University Athletics Board for three years, including as VP Fundraising. On the field, he played 50 games over five seasons with the Golden Bears Soccer, including the last two seasons as team captain.Â
Simply put, there was nothing else
Abby Guezen could have accomplished last season. Canada West and U SPORTS Player of the Year. Canada West and U SPORTS Champion. U SPORTS Female Athlete of the Year. And now, top Female Academic All-Canadian.Â
The Kathlene Yetman award caps off an incredible three-year university career, which also included Guezen being the national rookie of the year in 2024, a two-time conference all-star, and a three-time national medalist.Â
2025/26 AAC's by Faculty
| Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences |
10 |
| Arts |
38 |
| Business |
31 |
| Education |
24 |
| Engineering |
17 |
| Faculté Saint-Jean |
1 |
| Graduate Studies & Research |
9 |
| Kinesiology, Sport, & Recreation |
36 |
| Law |
1 |
| Medicine & Dentistry |
1 |
| Native Studies |
4 |
| Nursing |
6 |
| Open Studies |
1 |
| Pharmacy |
1 |
| Science |
26 |
2025/26 AAC's by Team
| Men's Basketball |
5 |
| Men's Cross-Country |
5 |
| Men's Curling |
2 |
| Men's Football |
18 |
| Men's Golf |
2 |
| Men's Ice Hockey |
13 |
| Men's Soccer |
9 |
| Men's Tennis |
6 |
| Men's Track and Field |
12 |
| Men's Volleyball |
6 |
| Men's Wrestling |
6 |
| Women's Basketball |
13 |
| Women's Cross-Country |
2 |
| Women's Curling |
2 |
| Women's Golf |
6 |
| Women's Ice Hockey |
18 |
| Women's Rugby |
19 |
| Women's Rugby 7s |
1 |
| Women's Soccer |
18 |
| Women's Tennis |
6 |
| Women's Track and Field |
18 |
| Women's Volleyball |
10 |
| Women's Wrestling |
11 |
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