ST. CLAIR INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
WINDSOR, Ont. - The Department of Athletics and Recreation at St. Clair College is pleased to announce a new initiative that will focus on athletics and academic excellence.
WINDSOR, Ont. - The Department of Athletics and Recreation at
St. Clair College is pleased to announce a new initiative that will
focus on athletics and academic excellence.
The Saints have introduced an innovative scholarship program for
all of its varsity athletes that will support both athletics and
academics. The purpose of this program is to encourage not only the
top student athletes from Windsor-Essex and Chatham-Kent to stay in
the area and obtain a quality education, but to assist the St.
Clair College coaches in recruiting top student athletes from
across Ontario.
On entry, every St. Clair College varsity student athlete will
receive the maximum amount of scholarship permitted under OCAA
rules and regulations. To retain the scholarship each varsity
athlete must obtain a minimum of 2.0 GPA in each semester, with no
failed courses.
Success in student athletics, across the range of varsity programs
offered at the College level, has occurred at both the provincial
and national level for St. Clair College. St. Clair College has won
National Championships in Women's Golf (2005-photo attached) and
Men's Hockey. In the past decade, St. Clair has won 14 gold medals
in Provincial and National athletic competitions and 59 National
and Provincial Championships in the history of the school. The
Men's Hockey team has captured more provincial championships than
any other college in Ontario.
Support for athletic programs has increased in recent years and
the funds to sustain the new initiative will come from the
contributions of individuals and groups that recognize the role
that varsity sports play in the overall education of the college
student.
Roy Conliffe, a former St. Clair hockey player
and Student Athletic Association President, was very excited to
hear about this announcement. "This is a spectacular program. Hats
off to the College and all of the people involved that made this
happen. This will have a huge impact in raising the profile of St.
Clair College athletics across the province." Conliffe is currently
the Vice President for George Weston Company and lives in
Toronto.
Jack Costello, a former Athletic Director and
Men's Hockey Coach at St. Clair added, "The commitment and
contribution of every student athlete is the foundation on which a
proud and successful athletic tradition is built. Therefore, it is
wonderful that St. Clair College is planning to reward every
varsity student athlete for their contributions beyond the awards
that are given each year to recognize outstanding individual
performances and achievements."
Ted Beale and Jay Shewfelt, the
Varsity Athletic Coordinators at the College have urged the College
to move in this direction for more than five years. Both Beale and
Shewfelt are confident that "the program will increase the
graduation rate for varsity athletes" and, in the end, this should
be the primary objective of any sports program at the
post-secondary level.
John Reiner, one of the original members of a St.
Clair College Saints Booster Club that was created more than 30
years ago, was encouraged by the new direction. "It is difficult
for young men and women to combine academic excellence, varsity
practices and a need to pay for an education with part-time jobs.
This new initiative provides a support system for any aspiring
athlete to succeed in the classroom and to acquire the additional
skills developed as a team player. Congratulations to St. Clair
College - we applaud their leadership."
The Booster Club had its beginnings in April 1978, when
Lou Bendo, former hockey star with the Windsor
Bulldogs, and President of Bendo Realty and Insurance, contacted
St. Clair College Athletic Director Al Hoffman,
and assistant athletic director Jack Costello,
with a proposal to develop a Businessmen's Booster Club that would
provide financial assistance to the Athletic Department. Both were
in support of such an initiative and they proceeded with the
necessary details that led to the formation of the Booster Club.
The first President of the Booster Club was Henry Masaro of Advance
Flooring.
It was 1984 when Al Hoffman established the Athletic Scholarship
program, which is now the primary focus of the Booster Club. St.
Clair was the first OCAA member college to offer Scholarships, and
the preceding years have seen many of the other twenty-three
colleges follow suit.
The Scholarships have been awarded to High School graduates in
their first year at St. Clair College, who apply through an
application process available at their respective High School, and
a committee comprised of Booster Club members reviews and selects
the successful candidates. Since the program's inception The
Booster Club has awarded over $350,000 toward tuition costs of more
than 300 deserving students.
The Booster Club continues to stage several fun-outings each year,
such as curling, horseshoe, bocce ball tournaments, to promote
camaraderie among the membership and update members on the affairs
of the Club. From the original eight members, the Club has grown to
a current membership of 26 individuals, representing 21 business
firms.
The Student Athletic Association President, Chad
Dow is very excited about this program. "Anything
that can help an athlete succeed in and out of the classroom is a
great benefit. We know this will raise the profile of St.
Clair College athletics and encourage more top athletes to attend
St. Clair in the future."
Christy Gatto, the current Director of Athletics
and Recreation at the College stated "we are thrilled to be able to
offer a scholarship to each of our athletes. Our endowment fund for
the athletic scholarships has now surpassed the one million dollar
mark and increases almost daily with donations from former athletes
and community supporters. Athletics is a significant part of the
College experience and these scholarships will help provide every
varsity student with the opportunity to participate while pursuing
their academic endeavors. This will bring our varsity programs to a
new level in sports and position the College as a leader in the
field."
Source: St. Clair College
