The Foundation for Athletic Excellence and Beneva Award 80,000 $ in Scholarships to 23 student-athletes
Montreal, Thursday, May 12, 2022 – The Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ) and Beneva—formed from the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance—awarded a total of 80,000 $ to 23 student-athletes as part of the 13the edition of the Beneva Scholarship Program. It is worth noting that Beneva has committed to continuing its support for student-athletes in the province in 2022 and 2023, for a total of 200,000 $.
The presentation took place during a virtual event, during which Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva, and Annie Pelletier, Communications and Partnerships Director at the FAEQ, were able to speak with the recipients.
The Beneva Scholarship Program has existed since 2010 (initially known as the La Capitale Scholarship Program) and the importance of its impact is well established. Furthermore, several recipients have distinguished themselves on the international stage. Beyond athletic achievements, let us also remember the inspiring journeys of the athletes, notably that of freestyle skier Olivia Asselin, of the short-track speed skater Kim Boutin, the freestyle skier Émile Nadeau and the female founder Katherine Stewart-Jones, which allowed them to showcase their expertise at the Beijing Olympic Games last winter.
Seven scholarship recipients from the program also competed in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games last summer, including the kayaker Andréanne Langlois, the polo player Élyse Lemay-Lavoie, the wheelchair basketball player Cindy Ouellet, the swimmer Katherine Savard, the foil fencer Maximilien Van Haaster, the canoeist Laurence Vincent-Lapointe just like the diver Nathan Zsombor-Murray.
In 2022, Beneva renewed its financial support for 14 recipients and welcomed 9 new scholarship recipients into its program. Scholarships of 2,000 $ or 4,000 $ are awarded to them in the following categories: academic excellence or support for academic and athletic success.
What they said:
«Beneva and the Fondation de l’athlète d’excellence team up year after year to support young student-athletes in Quebec. Beyond the direct benefits for the recipients, we also want to promote the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle, which is essential for people's psychological health and the well-being of communities. I congratulate our scholarship recipients, who inspire us all with their determination and pursuit of excellence in both sports and academics.»
– Jean-François Chalifoux, President and CEO of Beneva
«The athletic, academic, and professional achievements of the student-athletes supported by Beneva for over a decade demonstrate the importance of balancing sports and academics in helping to develop the next generation of leaders. The Foundation for Athletic Excellence is proud to partner with Canada’s largest mutual insurance company to support, year after year, cohorts of truly inspiring athletes!»
– Martin Lavigne, President of the Fondation de l'athlète d'excellence
Table of 2022 Beneva Scholarship Program Recipients
| Name | Sports | Age | Amount | * | City | Educational institution |
| Olivia Asselin | freestyle skiing | 18 | 4000 $ | EX | Lévis (Pintendre) | Cégep at a distance |
| Mohamed Auda | handball | 21 | 4000 $ | EX | Montreal (Villeray–Saint-Michel–Parc-Extension) | University of Montreal |
| Tristan Bell | snowboard (snowboard cross) | 19 | 4000 $ | S | Gatineau (Aylmer) | Cégep at a distance |
| Jeanne Boilard | artistic swimming | 17 | 2000 $ | EX | Quebec City (La Cité-Limoilou) | Cardinal-Roy High School |
| Alexandre Bourque | cross-country skiing | 18 | 2000 $ | EX | Saint-Basile-le-Grand | College of Old Montreal |
| Victoriane Charron | artistic gymnastics | 14 | 4000 $ | EX | Mont-Saint-Hilaire | De Mortagne High School |
| Laurie Denommée | artistic gymnastics | 21 | 4000 $ | EX | Laval | University of Montreal |
| Joey Dubuc | freestyle skiing (moguls) | 18 | 2000 $ | S | Saint-Urbain-Premier | Cégep Édouard-Montpetit |
| Thierry Ferland | figure skating (pairs) | 24 | 4000 $ | EX | Lévis (Saint-Jean-Chrysostome) | Laval University |
| Christopher Fiola | speed skating | 25 | 4000 $ | S | Montreal (Mercier – HOMA) | Laval University |
| Simone Huang | badminton | 15 | 2000 $ | EX | Laval | Regina Assumpta College |
| Isaac Lefebvre | softball | 21 | 4000 $ | EX | Saint-Léonard-d'Aston | Laval University |
| Edward Ly | table tennis | 19 | 4000 $ | EX | Montreal (Lachine) | Cégep André-Laurendeau |
| Lori-Ann Matte | figure skating (pairs) | 22 | 4000 $ | S | Lévis (Saint-Rédempteur) | TÉLUQ |
| Sophiane Méthot | trampoline | 23 | 4000 $ | EX | La Prairie | University of Quebec at Montreal |
| Sarah Milette | trampoline | 25 | 4000 $ | EX | Longueuil | University of Quebec at Montreal |
| Émile Nadeau | freestyle skiing (aerials) | 18 | 4000 $ | S | Prévost | Limoilou College |
| Alexandra Paquette | archery (compound bow) | 21 | 4000 $ | S | Quyon | Heritage College |
| Mariska Pelletier | snowboard (alpine events) | 20 | 2000 $ | EX | Saint-Constant | Cégep Édouard-Montpetit |
| Alicia Petkov | water polo | 18 | 4000 $ | EX | Montreal (LaSalle) | Dawson College |
| Marjorie Pronovost | beach volleyball | 21 | 2000 $ | EX | Longueuil | University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières |
| Nathan Yvars | artistic gymnastics | 20 | 4000 $ | EX | Sainte-Julie | Cégep Édouard-Montpetit |
| Nathan Zsombor-Murray | dive | 19 | 4000 $ | EX | Pointe-Claire | Vanier College |
| * EX: Academic Excellence / S: Academic and Athletic Success Support | ||||||
About Beneva
Born from the merger of La Capitale and SSQ Insurance, Beneva is Canada's largest insurance mutual, with over 3.5 million members and clients. It relies on more than 5,000 dedicated employees: people protecting people. Its human approach is rooted in the mutualist values shared by its employees. With $26.8 billion in assets, Beneva is a key player among the leaders in the Canadian insurance and financial services industry. Its head office is in Quebec City. For more information, visit beneva.ca.
Policyholders of Beneva Inc. group insurers are members of SSQ Mutual and La Capitale Civil Service Mutual.
About the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence (FAEQ)
Since its creation in 1985, the FAEQ has awarded no less than $20 million in bursaries, representing 6,500 individual bursaries to 3,500 different student-athletes. The FAEQ not only provides financial support to student-athletes in Quebec, but also support services in terms of academic orientation, reconciling sports and studies, corporate internships, etc. The FAEQ stands out for its personalized approach, rigorous management, and influential role within the sports and education communities. faeq.com
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For all interview requests with one or more recipients, please contact Josée Robitaille at josee.robitaille@faeq.com.
Contact persons:
Annie Pelletier
Director of Communications and Partnerships
Excellence Athlete Foundation
514-252-3171, ext. 3538
annie.pelletier@faeq.com
Media relations
1 866 332-3806
media@beneva.ca
