Courtesy Andrew Schnell
Nov. 12, 2019
Class of 2019: Top squash player sets sights on law career
A few days after Andrew Schnell defended his Master of Science thesis on LGBTQ2S+ inclusion in sport, he hopped on a plane to Lima, Peru, where he won two medals in squash at the Pan-American Games.聽
He鈥檚 no stranger to winning. Schnell has been on the road and touring the world as a top squash player during most of his studies at 草莓污视频导航, even as he鈥檚 gathered academic achievements.
Within the past four years, he鈥檚 received a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) MSc award, has been a member of the prestigious Scholars Academy, and has begun his first year at the 草莓污视频导航 Faculty of Law. He鈥檒l soon cross the convocation stage for his MSc in Kinesiology, merging his passions for sports and human rights.
The two-time聽Canadian national squash champion and Pan Am Games gold medallist now has his sights set on helping others by practising law.
鈥淔rom an early age, I鈥檝e had a strong personal sense of justice,鈥 says Schnell. 鈥淚 have a Christian background and I want to do what I can to raise other people up. I鈥檝e been bestowed with certain talents and gifts and if I did not use them to help others, I would be acting irresponsibly.鈥
Schnell founded the charity InspiredBySport which aims to use the power of sport to connect with children from an Indigenous community. He and his brother, Graeme, who has been an integral part of Andrew鈥檚 sports training and was also a top squash player, have both been involved with the charity organization Right To Play. Together, they raised more than $3,500 in support of children in need.
Shining a light on sports to transform communities
Dr. William Bridel, PhD, in the Faculty of Kinesiology supervised Schnell for his MSc thesis, along with Dr. Jenny Godley, PhD, in the Department of Sociology in the Faculty of Arts. Schnell鈥榮 MSc thesis examined intergroup contact and LGBTQ2S+ inclusion in figure skating.
鈥淲ith the nature of the topic, I felt I had an opportunity as a straight white guy to become an ally of the LGBTQ2S+ community,鈥 says Schnell.
The work that he produced in his MSc thesis has provided valuable academic insights on LGBTQ2S+ inclusion in sport, says Bridel. 鈥淭hese insights will also, however, be incredibly useful to Skate Canada, the national sport organization we worked with on this project.鈥
Courtesy Andrew Schnell
Schnell developed a strong work ethic early in his life and sharpened it when he began to compete seriously in squash from the age of 12 in Calgary. His ability to focus on goals and achieve them helped propel him to the top of the squash rosters and bolstered his academic work.
鈥淗is incredible discipline, focus, and work ethic allowed him to complete his MSc in less than two years while still producing high-quality work,鈥 says Bridel.
Harvard, Princeton and Yale were among the universities that came calling to Schnell. 草莓污视频导航 offered him flexibility for his ambition to compete professionally in squash, he says, and the mentorship he received in the Scholars Academy was a key factor in his decision to pursue a law education at 草莓污视频导航 rather than elsewhere.
The Scholars Academy extends the potential of undergraduate students with exceptional leadership abilities, intellectual curiosity and strong commitments to local and global communities.
Schnell considers himself fortunate to have worked with sports psychologists, trainers and coaches at 草莓污视频导航 and his scientific approach to squash has been a perfect fit with the university.
鈥淔rom a purely athletic training perspective, the 草莓污视频导航 kinesiology program is one of the best in the world,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t allowed me to do purposeful, objective, performance-based training.鈥
Schnell will not play squash professionally while he pursues his law studies. He鈥檒l continue to strive toward his long-term goals of helping others and making the world a better place.
鈥淚 grew up in Calgary and this is my home,鈥 says Schnell. 鈥淚 spoke to a ton of lawyers after I received acceptance to a number of universities and they said if you want to practise law in Calgary, stay in Calgary. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 doing.鈥
When he attends convocation, he鈥檒l be doing so within a family tradition. Schnell鈥檚 parents, brother, two sisters and even his fianc茅 have all attended 草莓污视频导航 and they鈥檒l be there to cheer him on.