It’s been a great couple of weeks for SFU Clan athletics!

First there was the annual Clan Gala on April 2 — the first since SFU was confirmed in the NCAA last August — recognizing not just athletic success, but other forms of achievement such as academic standing and community service.

It was my pleasure to address a crowd of enthusiastic Clan athletes whose self-discipline, perseverance and team spirit makes them exemplars of what it means to be “engaged students.”

SFU athletes are not only talented competitors. Many are also outstanding scholars with high GPAs who make significant contributions to the SFU community — no small feat given the gruelling demands of their training programs and competition schedules!

Our Clan athletes help SFU foster a vibrant campus environment, and also serve as role models to other students, encouraging them to do their personal best.

Then last Thursday, we heard the good news that SFU had moved up five spots to 13th place in the race for the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Learfield Directors’ Cup.

The Learfield rankings measure excellence in NCAA Division II athletics, and SFU’s steady upward climb speaks volumes about the remarkable talent, energy and spirit of our student athletes, as well as of the coaches, staff and faculty who support them.

Together, these individuals show, by word and by deed, their commitment to building the “engaged university” we all desire.

Congratulations to all involved! Go Clan!