Photo : Photobanque/Yves Longpré
One of the first stars in the history of football training Vert & Or, Maxime Dufault, decided to give back leaving a recruiting scholarship in the amount of $3,000 to first-year, wide receiver, Guillaume Conraud-Ares. The presentation of this award took place in the main lodge of the University of Sherbrooke, Thursday, September 8th.
Today,Maxime Dufault is the owner of the Crossfit training center Déka of Blainville. The former running back and kick return specialist for the Vert & Or in the 2004 season, was a Vanier Cup champion with the Gee-Gees in 2000. At the end of his academic career, Dufault was a member of the Baltic Hurricanes Kiel of the professional football league in Germany.
“The football program at the University of Sherbrooke and Alain Lapointe gave me tools and an unusual team experience. This scholarship gives me the opportunity to give back to a program that is still allowing young players to excel to new heights and achieve their full potential, “says the former Vert & Gold.
From the renowned football program at Champlain College in Lennoxville, William Conraud-Ares was a coveted athlete before confirming he wanted to be a part of David Lessard’s team. Rookie of the Year in Division 2 with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in 2013, the law student then joined the Champlain Cougars with whom he was able to win the Bol d’Or in division 1.
Photo: Yves Longpré
During this season, the No. 16 Vert & Or had accumulated 35 receptions for 556 yards in addition to scoring a whopping eight touchdowns, which is the highest total in Division 1 for a wide receiver. As running back, the young man, a native of Drummondville, amassed 542 yards on 88 runs and scored five touchdowns in addition to gaining 200 yards in punt returns.
“I am honored to receive this award, which will be very useful to me to concentrate on football and studies, without having to work more,” initially confessed to the youngest recipient of 20 years. “I chose the Vert & Or first for the values of the program and I am pleased that these are the same values that are close to my own. Thank you to Maxime Dufault and all other donors and to the Alumni Association Vert & Or football. “
The delivery of this first award reflects indeed the hard work of the Alumni Association Vert & Or football and its president, Kristof Gyorfi, and to those who have come before him during the last 13 seasons and before.
This bridge between the past and the present embodied in Maxime Dufault, proves essential to better support the development of the football program of the University of Sherbrooke. Beyond football, which attracts a lot of attention, to every fall initiative of the Foundation of the University of Sherbrooke and the Department of Sport and Physical Activity. They have been working closely for over a year to reconcile to the alumni Vert & Or in many other sports. This is the case in athletics, badminton, golf, cheerleading, swimming, rugby, soccer and volleyball.
The creation of a scholarship fund for former athletes already having a positive impact on the recruitment of young students and talented athletes and students will be, in the coming years, an important tool to convince the young elite of the sport to join the ranks of the Vert & Or and continue their development, both in sporting and academic
With files from: René Roy | Vert & Or de l’Université de Sherbrooke
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