X-Men cross country runner Connor McGuire was honored this past weekend as the recipient of the CIS Student-Athlete Community Service award. The national award is presented to a student-athlete who best exhibits outstanding achievement in the classroom, in running and as a member of his community.

The fourth year honors biology student from Summerside, PEI is involved in numerous societies and community initiatives, in addition to enjoying success on the cross country trails this season.

McGuire is the StFX Red Cross society president and founder, along with the StFX Pre-Med society president and also sat on the same pre-med society last year. He is a StFX science councilor and has been a representative on the StFX Athletics student-athlete leadership team for the past two years.

McGuire also volunteers his time with L’Arche, is the StFX biology society events coordinator, and has been a volunteer researcher. He has been a student tutor and was involved in the StFX Athletics Tim Horton’s Smile campaign.

“Over his four years at StFX, I have watched Connor develop into one of the top student-athletes at our university,” comments head coach Bernie Chisholm. “He excels in the classroom, as well as in his sport of running and has also volunteered his time to help others.”

When not volunteering his time to the numerous aforementioned causes, McGuire enjoyed much athletic success this season. He was the AUS champion for the second consecutive season and the AUS male athlete of the year. The 2012 AUS student-athlete community service award winner was a two-time AUS athlete of the week and a three-time StFX athlete of the week.

During the regular season, McGuire captured two first place finishes at both the Moncton and StFX Invitationals and was third overall at the UNB/STU interlock meet. At the CXIS championship this past weekend, he finished 16th overall as was the top AUS runner.