A third-year striker, Luke Berryman is the U SPORTS student-athlete community service award recipient for 2023. An arts and social sciences student from Halifax, boasting a 3.67 GPA in the classroom, Berryman balances his sport and studies with a commitment to giving back to the community.
On the pitch, Berryman played in seven games for the Tigers this season, scoring twice.
His volunteer work in the community includes having started a project through his local YMCA to reduce barriers and make soccer more accessible to new Canadians and African Nova Scotians. Through this initiative he was able to acquire grants that allowed for over 100 children to register for and play club soccer this past summer. Berryman was honoured with the Canadian Premier League's Game Changers award for this initiative.
"Luke is a leader in our locker room, but more impressively he understands the importance of community," said Tigers head coach Alan Jazic. "He also is a mentor to a lot of kids in his community. He's been giving back as a coach with Halifax City Soccer Club for many years, both as a volunteer and now at the grassroots of development. Luke is very passionate about making soccer and sport more accessible to all children facing barriers to enroll."
Berryman is the sixth player from the Dalhousie Tigers to receive the men's soccer student-athlete community service award. Other Dalhousie winners include Gracious Kasheke (2019) Jonathan Doucett (2016), Sangmuk Choi (2015), Nathan Rogers (2013) and Ryan Haughn (2006).
Other nominees:
RSEQ: David Harrison (Sherbrooke)
OUA: Alexander Domingos (Nipissing)
CW: Chris Lee (UBC)