BRANDON, Man – Seth Friesen has already set new standards of athletic and academic excellence on the court and in the classroom, and now the Brandon-product is adding another accolade to his already impressive resume.
 
Thursday afternoon, Friesen was announced as a U SPORTS Academic Top 8, naming him one of the top student-athletes in the entire country. In recognition, he will receive the Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation later this month.
 
"In my mind it really exhibits what Brandon University has provided me and can afford others," says Friesen. "I've always been goal-oriented, and I wanted to make sure that I made the most of my time here in everything that I did, so I feel like this award has given me a sign that I've achieved those goals. I have many people to thank for this award and my entire student-athlete experience."
 
After being named a Canada West all-star and U SPORTS nationals tournament all-star last year, Friesen is serving up another all-star caliber season this season, in his final year as a member of the Brandon University men's volleyball team.
 
Seth graduated from Vincent Massey High School convocated from BU last June as recipient of the Governor's General Award for earning the highest academic standing of all Brandon University students.
 
Thursday's announcement of being Academic Top 8 means Friesen is now one of the highest achieving student-athletes in all the country, as the award is presented to one female and one male student-athlete from each of the four U SPORTS conferences.
 
The recipients are voted on by Athletic Directors or designates at each Canada West member school. Friesen was selected as the male recipient from Canada West.
 
"Seth's commitment to his studies, our team and the community goes well beyond what the average player does in their university career," says coach Grant Wilson.
 
"Academically, Seth is the most intelligent and driven student I have met in all my years of teaching and coaching. Seth maintains an extremely high academic standard at Brandon University. He has exceptional time management skills and a commitment to excellence."
 
This is the first time a Brandon University student-athlete has garnered this accomplishment in the program's illustrious history, and the praise is well-deserved, according to Seth's professors.
 
"In mathematical ability, Seth equals or surpasses any student I have known over many years, in fact decades, of teaching—a fact that is doubly remarkable, given that mathematics is not his chosen career," said Dr. Doug Pickering of BU's Mathematics and Computer Science program." Seth is one of those rare individuals who can focus his talents in several directions at once and achieve excellence in all of them."
 
Friesen will be presented with the award by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada in Ottawa.
 
The Governor General's Academic All-Canadian Commendation was founded by the Right Honourable David Johnston, former Governor General of Canada, who first honoured Canada's Top 8 student-athletes in 2013.