PRESS RELEASES

The Foundation for Athletic Excellence Awards $126,000 to 33 Student-Athletes through the National Bank Bursary Program

Montreal, March 14, 2019

The Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) has awarded 33 student-athletes for their academic and athletic achievements during the 27th edition of the National Bank Bursary Program. In total, it has distributed $126,000 in the form of individual $2,000 and $4,000 bursaries during a ceremony which took place today at National Bank’s headquarters.

The National Bank Bursary Program recognizes student-athletes in the Hopeful, Elite, and Excellence categories between the ages of 13 and 26, from all over Quebec. Last year, National Bank announced a one million dollar contribution over five years to support this program.

“Each year, it’s a pleasure for us to pursue our collaboration with the Foundation for Athletic Excellence. Our partnership, which dates back over a quarter-century, helps us foster academic and athletic excellence in Quebec’s top student-athletes. We commend the talent, discipline and determination of all the recipients,” stated Louis Vachon, National Bank President and Chief Executive Officer.

This sentiment is echoed by Claude Chagnon, FAEQ President. “For us, each of the 27 editions of the National Bank Bursary Program has been a highly valued moment of collaboration with a prestigious institution. As a steadfast partner of the Foundation for Athletic Excellence, National Bank is committed to the academic and athletic success of some of the province's most inspiring athletes.” 

For this 27th edition, 19 Academic Excellence bursaries were awarded to student-athletes who have demonstrated outstanding academic results, 12 Academic and Athletic Support bursaries were distributed to encourage the reconciliation of sport and study, and two Perseverance bursaries were awarded to highlight the determination of an athlete in the face of difficult circumstances.

Over the years, National Bank has had the privilege of supporting hundreds of student-athletes such as tennis player Félix Auger-Aliassime, freestyle skier and 2018 Olympic champion Mikaël Kingsbury, cross-country skier and five-time international medallist Alex Harvey, weightlifter and two-time Olympic medallist Christine Girard, multiple international diving medallists Jennifer Abel and Roseline Filion, and hockey players Mélodie Daoust, Charline Labonté, and Caroline Ouellette, who have been awarded on the Olympic podium on several occasions.

 

Recipients of the 2019 National Bank Bursary Program

Name Discipline Age Amount * City School
Alicia Arcand Swimming 18 $2,000 EX Prévost Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
Taha Baadi Tennis 17 $4,000 EX Laval James Madison High School
David Baillargeon Squash 23 $4,000 S Lévis (Saint-Nicolas) TÉLUQ
Catherine Beauchemin-Pinard Judo (63 kg) 24 $4,000 EX Longueuil Université du Québec à Montréal
Jason Bégin Baseball 16 $4,000 EX Sherbrooke École secondaire De Mortagne
Alex Bellemarre Weightlifting (81 kg) 20 $4,000 S Macamic Cégep de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Léandre Bouchard Mountain biking 26 $4,000 EX Alma Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Emilia Cabrera Mallette Table tennis 15 $4,000 EX Laval École secondaire Antoine-de-Saint-Exupéry
François Cauchon Fencing (sabre) 18 $4,000 EX Montreal (Outremont) Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf
Olivia Chamandy Diving 18 $4,000 P Westmount Collège André-Grasset
Maude Charron Weightlifting (63 kg) 25 $4,000 S Rimouski Université du Québec à Rimouski
Mélodie Collard Tennis 15 $4,000 EX Gatineau Académie les Estacades
Antoine Cyr Cross-country skiing 20 $4,000 S Gatineau Cégep à distance
Florence Delsame Freestyle skiing (moguls) 18 $4,000 S Prévost Cégep de Saint-Jérôme
Erica Di Battista Tennis 16 $4,000 EX Mont-Royal Académie les Estacades
Noémie Dubreuil Artistic swimming 18 $2,000 EX Laval Collège Ahuntsic
Noémie Fiset Long track speed skating 23 $4,000 EX Quebec City Université Laval
Sarah-Maude Fortin Tennis 16 $4,000 EX Montreal (Verdun) Académie les Estacades
Pauline Grandbois Biathlon 17 $4,000 EX Sherbrooke (Lennoxville) École secondaire du Triolet
Rébéka Groulx Artistic gymnastics 13 $4,000 EX Longueuil (Saint-Hubert) École secondaire Gérard-Filion
Anton Jacobs-Webb Para hockey 18 $4,000 S Gatineau Heritage College
Sophia Jensen Canoe-kayak sprint 17 $4,000 S Chelsea Heritage College
Vincent Jourdenais Canoe-kayak sprint 21 $4,000 EX Trois-Rivières Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
Emy Legault Triathlon 22 $4,000 S Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot TÉLUQ
Gaby Malenfant BMX 21 $4,000 S Drummondville Cégep de Drummondville
Alexis Marceau Short track speed skating 20 $4,000 EX Rivière-du-Loup McGill University
Audrey McManiman Snowboarding (snowboard cross) 24 $4,000 S Saint-Ambroise-de-Kildare Université Laval
Léa Morin Karate (kata) 16 $2,000 EX Sherbrooke École secondaire Le Salésien
Aurélie Rivard Para swimming 22 $4,000 S Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu Université de Montréal
Sierra Smith Alpine skiing 18 $4,000 P La Pêche Virtual High School (Ontario)
Josie-Anne Synnott Judo (78 kg) 17 $4,000 EX Sept-Îles École secondaire Manikoutai
Annabelle Xu Tennis 15 $4,000 EX Montreal (Saint-Laurent) Collège de Montréal
Tommy Xu Table tennis 18 $4,000 S Brossard Cégep à distance

* EX: Academic Excellence / S: Academic and Athletic Support / P: Perseverance
 

About the National Bank of Canada         
With $263 billion in assets as at January 31, 2019, National Bank of Canada, together with its subsidiaries, forms one of Canada's leading integrated financial groups. It has more than 23,000 employees in knowledge-intensive positions and has been recognized numerous times as a top employer and for its commitment to diversity. Its securities are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: NA). Follow the Bank’s activities at nbc.ca or via social media such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ)          
The FAEQ (faeq.com) is recognized for its personalized approach, rigorous management style, and influence in sport and education circles. In 2019, it will award $1,500,000 in individual bursaries to 525 student-athletes from all over Quebec, to whom it will also provide academic guidance and sport/study conciliation services. Two public events benefitting the FAEQ will take place in 2019: URBAN SUGAR SCHACK with Laurent Duvernay-Tardif on April 9 at 11:00 a.m. at Windsor Station (visit faeq.com for details) and the third edition of the BONNEVILLE 808 CHALLENGE, a festive cycling and corporate event, on September 13 and 14 (defi808bonneville.com).