[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/vankoeverden.jpg” caption=”Adam Van Koeverden proudly displays the gold and bronze medals he won for Canada in kayaking during the 2004 Olympics.”]Olympic winner Adam Van Koeverden, who took both the gold and bronze medals for Canada in kayaking during the 2004 Olympics, will address fellow academic award winners tomorrow (Thursday) at the annual awards assembly for McMaster University's Faculty of Social Sciences.

The event honours social sciences students, including those registered in the Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology program. Approximately 500 students will be recognized (out of 6,000 registered in the Faculty) for two types of academic achievement: those named to the Deans' Honour List for achieving first-class standing, and those who have won in-course awards. Many are being recognized for both.

Van Koeverden began his studies at McMaster in 2000, transferring to kinesiology two years later. At age 22, he became Canada's first double medallist since 1996 when he won gold and bronze in the K-1 500m and K-1 1,000m kayaking competitions at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. That year, he was named Canada's Athlete of the Year, and Ontario Athlete of the Year. He has become an outspoken force in urging the federal government to support amateur sport.

The Faculty of Social Sciences annual awards assembly will be held Thursday, Jan. 26, at 7 p.m., in the Michael DeGroote Centre for Learning and Discovery (MDCL) 1305/1307.