Lukowski Commits to Waterloo
After only three years of competitive volleyball, St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) Grade 12 student Stefan Lukowski has already made an impact in the sport, demonstrated by his recent commitment to the University of Waterloo.
“I chose the University of Waterloo because it combines strong academics with high-level varsity athletics,” says Lukowski. “A very strong team culture and prestigious academic programmes made commitment to the University of Waterloo a very easy decision.”
Lukowski will pursue the accounting and financial management co-op programme in part due to the invaluable hands-on work experience he will obtain.
“The programme helps to simplify working towards CPA or CFA certifications, while teaching students to adapt to changing societal conditions and tools like AI,” he adds. “Coupled with a very high employment rate right after graduation, accounting and financial management seemed like a very strong choice.”
Throughout his time at SMCS, this honour roll student was a recipient of a Basilian Scholarship in Grades 7, 8, and 9 after achieving the highest, second-highest, and fourth-highest average in each grade, respectively. He also received the Basilian Book Award for achieving an average of over 90 per cent in Grades 10 and 11.
“Stefan is an exemplary student-athlete who managed high academic integrity while, in a short time, becoming one of the most impactful volleyball players in the province,” says Alain Arseneau, SMCS teacher and volleyball coach. “His continued hard work and leadership have helped put the Senior Strikers back atop the high school rankings. His determination and role modeling will continue to serve the programme long after his departure, and he will leave behind a great legacy that will endure for many years to come.”
On top of maintaining excellent grades while playing for the SMCS Strikers throughout high school, Lukowski also played for Team Ontario White and Beach in 2024, receiving multiple medals in both the U17 and U18 divisions—one and two age divisions up. Lukowski then competed at the 2025 Volleyball Canada Beach Nationals in the U18 division, finishing in fourth place!
“SMCS taught me how to manage my time, stay disciplined, and be willing to work hard,” he says. “Managing eight classes, with five SMCS practices a week, taught me how to make the most of my time and maintain a healthy schedule. It ingrained a strong desire to strive for excellence and to become the best version of myself. I was also taught how to make the most of the resources available to me, and how to lead both on the court, in the classroom, and outside of school.”
When he’s not playing volleyball, Lukowski’s co-curricular schedule is full performing in the SMCS Jazz, Concert, and Trip bands on alto and tenor sax as well as moderating the Politics Club and the Blue Anglers Fishing Club. He was also a member of the Varsity Ultimate team in 2024-25.
“The culture within the volleyball programme at SMCS is like no other,” says Lukowski. “Having players of all skill levels and experience come together towards a common goal taught me a lot about myself and how to be a good leader and teammate. Working with some of the most knowledgeable and talented coaches in the volleyball community helped me become the player I am today.”
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