OSHAWA, Ont. - Seven Durham Lords student-athletes have been named CCAA Academic All-Canadians for the 2024-25 season, the highest individual honour presented by the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).
The CCAA Academic All-Canadian Award recognizes student-athletes who achieve honours-level academic standing combined with an elite academic achievement. Durham College is the only institution in the Ontario Colleges Athletic Association (OCAA) to have at least one recipient in every year since the award's inception in 1996-97.
This year's recipients include student-athletes from men's and women's volleyball and men's basketball, with all seven recognized for their excellence in the classroom and on the court.
Mark Stoop, a Firefighter-Pre-Service Education and Training student from Oshawa, Ont., capped off a dominant season for the Lords men's basketball team by earning CCAA All-Canadian honours, and now adds a CCAA Academic All-Canadian selection to his resume. The 2024-25 OCAA East Division Player of the Year averaged 11.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.6 steals per game, while also being named a CCAA Championship Second Team All-Star and the OCAA Championship MVP.
From the women's volleyball team, Elizabeth McFarland was a standout in her first year, earning OCAA Rookie of the Year and First Team All-Star honours. The Courtice, Ont. native and Accounting - Business - Transfer student totaled 210.0 points (10th in the OCAA), averaging 2.54 kills per set and recording 136 digs, 24 blocks, and 31 service aces.
Chelsea Oke, an Emergency Services Fundamentals student from Brooklin, Ont., was named an East Division Second Team All-Star. She posted 177.0 points, 2.71 kills per set, 19 service aces and 155 digs (2.77 per set).
Jessie Buck, a Severn, Ont. native studying Architectural Technology, also earned First Team All-Star honours in the East Division. She averaged 2.8 points per set with a .340 hitting percentage, adding 30 service aces, 42 digs and 32 solo blocks—ranking 11th in the OCAA.
Katherine Konkle, enrolled in the Advanced Law Enforcement and Investigations program, was named a Second Team All-Star. The Fonthill, Ont. native recorded 99.0 points, 35 solo blocks (7th in the OCAA) and hit at a .315 percentage.
All four women's volleyball recipients represented Durham at the 2025 CCAA Women's Volleyball National Championship, which was hosted at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Centre.
On the men's volleyball side, Petrus Kuypers returned to the Lords and earned his third career Academic All-Canadian award. The Paramedic - Advanced Care student from Lindsay, Ont., previously won in 2013-14 and 2014-15. In 2024-25, he ranked among the OCAA's elite with a .447 hitting percentage (3rd), 3.86 kills per set (2nd), 22 solo blocks and 201.0 total points (4.8 per set – 2nd).
Trent Engel, a Project Management student from Ajax, Ont., was honoured as both the OCAA East Division Rookie of the Year and a Second Team All-Star. Engel led the OCAA in hitting percentage at .508 and contributed 2.11 kills per set, 11 service aces, 19 solo blocks and 144.0 points.
Durham College congratulates all seven Academic All-Canadian recipients for their commitment to academic and athletic success in 2024-25.
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