OTTAWA – Ravens rugby’s all-time leading scorer Maya Addai is one of eight recipients of the inaugural Athletes on Track Bursary. Presented by the BlackNorth Initiative, Athletes on Track is a bursary and mentorship program designed to financially support university-level student-athletes and supply them with the tools necessary to enter and thrive in the job market once they graduate.
Addai of Ottawa is one of two student-athletes from Ontario University Athletics Association (OUA) schools to be awarded the national scholarship. The program includes mentorship opportunities that will see the Rugby Canada Maple Leaf Academy prospect work with a mentor while also being paired with community mentees to chart the next step of her athletic and professional career.
“I learned about the high expectations on mentorship and [the goal of] keeping the community which really drew me to this opportunity. It’s not just how it’s going to benefit me, but how I’m going to be able to benefit others,” explains Addai.
Addai returned to Carleton to finish her degree in 2022 after spending 2020 and 2021 in British Columbia with the national development program. In her return to the Ravens line-up, Addai quickly tore up the RSEQ breaking the program scoring record previously held by former national team player, and current Ravens assistant, Natasha Smith.
As Addai prepares for life after university, the Athletes on Track Bursary will help to guide the next steps of her career. “A lot of athletes don’t know what to do without the structure of the university and this program will provide a lot of help. As student-athletes, we spend a lot of time doing school and sport and now it’s about managing that time outside of sport.”
