The University of Toronto honoured 291 student-athletes at the 13th annual academic excellence breakfast on Tuesday, November 19 at Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport.

University of Toronto Vice Provost - Students, Professor Sandy Welsh, Professor Gretchen Kerr, Dean of the Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, as well as Ashley Stirling, Vice-Dean of Programs in the Faculty of Kiensiology and Physical Education, and Mary Beth Challoner, Director of Intercollegiate and High Performance Sport were in attendance to honour this year's academic excellence recipients.

The annual ceremony honoured student-athletes, who while competing as a Varsity Blue, earned an 80 percent average or higher in all courses they were enrolled in during the 2023-24 academic year. Each recipient received a pin: enamel for first-time winners, bronze for second, silver for third, gold for fourth, and a diamond pin for anyone earning the award five or more times during their intercollegiate career.

Varsity Blues rower Matthew McNeil received a quadruple diamond pin, representing the eighth time they have received the result. In total, 10 U of T student-athletes across eight different Varsity Blues teams received a diamond pin at this year's event.

The Blues also honoured four University of Toronto top scholar student-athletes who were adjudged to have excelled both academically and athletically during the 2023-24 academic year: women's swimmer Ainsley McMurray and men's track and field athlete Aiden Grout were celebrated as the U SPORTS top scholar athletes, while Blues fencer Mike Howard and women's golfer Mia Sung earned the Ontario top scholar athlete awards.

The 291 student-athletes represent nearly 30 percent of the total Varsity Blues population across the three University of Toronto campuses. The Varsity Blues women's swimming team had 14 honourees, while the Blues men's lacrosse team, women's soccer team, women's track and field team, and figure skating team all had 13 student-athletes recognized.