Brock’s Cayer, Kalef receive prestigious honour
Pearson scholarship for athletic, academic ability and concern for others
Badgers basketball player Daniel Cayer and volleyball player Ethan Kalef are the 2020-21 recipients of an award that honours the memory of a multisport student-athlete at Brock University.
Jason Pearson studied physical education from 1998 until his death at age 21 in a car crash in June 2001. Besides playing on the varsity basketball and volleyball teams, the aspiring teacher from Guelph was instrumental in the Positive Active Living for Students program at the university.
Presented annually since 2002, the Jason Pearson Memorial Scholarship recognizes athletic and academic ability, as well as concern for others and a positive attitude.
Cayer, 24, a fifth-year forward from Pierrefonds, Que., a suburb of Montreal, joins volleyball player Marcelo Correa and basketball player Nate Gardner as the only two-time recipients of an honour bestowed annually since 2002.
“It’s an honour to be selected for any award, let alone this one, because it represents someone so special to Brock Sports,” said the sport management major, who also earned the award in 2018. “Having the opportunity to represent someone who impacted the university in such a positive way is what I hope I’ve done throughout my five years, as well.”
Kalef, 20, who also is studying sport management at Brock, feels “incredibly honoured” to be singled out for the honour, given the “great, unique and hardworking individuals” on the men’s volleyball team.
“For my name to be chosen out of such a group to represent Jason Pearson — a tremendous leader and friend to so many people at Brock — makes me feel like I am going to be able to make an impact on others,” said the third-year libero from Nepean, Ont., since 2001 a part of Ottawa.
Brock Sports interim director Emily Allan said Cayer and Kalef “represent what it means to be a Badger.”
“They are a great reflection of Jason’s legacy and exemplify what the Jason Pearson Memorial Scholarship stands for,” she said. “We would especially like to thank the Pearson family, as these scholarships are a bright spot in such difficult times.”
Last March, Cayer was one of four Badgers selected in the Canadian Elite Basketball League draft, going to the Niagara River Lions with the third pick in the second round. The six-foot-six forward finished 2019-20 fourth in the Ontario University Athletics with 10.1 rebounds per game. Cayer averaged 12.9 points per game in his fourth season for the Badgers.
Kalef, named to the Ontario University Athletics all-rookie team, finished third on the team with 81 digs during his second season with the Badgers in ’19-20. He finished seventh in the conference among liberos with 1.56 digs per set.
Since ’16, it has been presented to one player each from the men’s basketball and volleyball teams. Before that, it was open to all student-athletes at the university.