MHSAA – Credit Unions of Manitoba Scholar Athlete Awards Presented

The Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association, with support from Manitoba’s Credit Unions, is pleased to announce the winners of the 2017-2018 Credit Unions of Manitoba High School Scholar Athlete Awards. These $1,000 scholarships are awarded to four graduating high school student athletes who maintained a minimum 85% average and competed in at least two interscholastic sports. Other criteria included school, community, volunteer, and citizenship activities.

The presentation took place at a ceremony hosted by Her Honour, the Honourable Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba at Government House. Awards were presented by the Lieutenant Governor Janice C. Filmon, MHSAA President Mr. Chris Gudziunas (Assistant Superintendent of Hanover School Division), and Mr. Tim Klassen (CEO of Sunrise Credit Union).

41 students were nominated this year:

Riley Barrett – Minnedosa Collegiate

Sara Boissonneault – Collège Louis-Riel

Rayna Bonchuk – Birtle Collegiate

Erik Buchsmann – Morden Collegiate

Jintana Chaengpaseutsak – Maples Collegiate

Alexander Clemis – Carman Collegiate

Alina Doerksen – Morris School

Rovelyn Domingo – West Kildonan Collegiate

Lauryn Dunning – McCreary School

Sydnie DuQuette – Glenlawn Collegiate

Ahmad El-Rennewi – R.D. Parker Collegiate

Brayden Ewasko – École Edward Schreyer School

Tyler Fedak – Portage Collegiate

Braeden Floyd – Arborg Collegiate

Vanessa Friesen – Green Valley School

Mikayla Funk – Northlands Parkway Collegiate

Victoria Garson – Charles Sinclair School

Natasha Gregoire – Collège Béliveau

Mason Gurr – Hamiota Collegiate

Ty Hassel – Dauphin Regional Secondary School

Trina Langan – Cartwright School

Vanessa Lee – Vincent Massey Collegiate

Nicholas Lepage – Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy

Annika Loeppky – Lord Selkirk Regional Secondary School

Camryn McMillan – Carberry Collegiate

Luke McMillan – Miles Macdonell Collegiate

Lucas Meyer – Vincent Massey Collegiate

Kimberly Nicolajsen – Carman Collegiate

Nicholas Pasieczka – Sanford Collegiate

Natalya Reimer – Westgate Mennonite Collegiate

Lindsey Rutherford – Treherne Collegiate

Carly Shamray – Hamiota Collegiate

Matthew Tiede – Calvin Christian School

Melanie Turman – Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy

Kayla Wandowich – St. Boniface Diocesan High School

Kyle Wilfer – St. Paul’s High School

Jared Wills – St. Boniface Diocesan High School

Cheyenne Winogradoff – Kelvin High School

Emily Woods – Collège Sturgeon Heights Collegiate

Scott Yeo – Stonewall Collegiate

Lyndon Zimmer – Major Pratt School

The four student athletes awarded $1,000 scholarships were:

Lindsey Rutherford of Treherne Collegiate – participated in golf, cross country, volleyball, basketball, badminton and track & field. In addition, she was the JV girls volleyball and basketball coach. Lindsey was nominated as a graduating all-star for volleyball and was captain of both her volleyball and basketball teams. Lindsey also participated in the Treherne Collegiate Green Team, Youth in Philanthropy, Leadership Group and the grad and grad decorating committees. She volunteers at the Treherne Alzheimer’s Memory Walk and BBQ and is the co-organizer of the Terry Fox Run in Portage la Prairie, as well as volunteering as an activities director at the Tiger Hills Manor Personal Care Home. Lindsey also plays for the Central Plains AAA Capitals hockey team and received the Academic Excellence Award and Sportsmanship/Leadership award. While participating in all her volunteer work and sport activities she maintained a 95.7% average.

Lindsey states: “Playing sports I have learned many life lessons, maintained a high level of physical activity and made many friendships and lasting memories. Sports help you get the regular exercise most teenagers need and don’t always get. Taking part in athletics gives you different memories to take with you after you graduate, such as memories made during practice, games and tournaments. It’s a rush when you’re playing, and you have students, teachers and parents in the bleachers banging on pots and pans cheering you on and hoping for a banner to be brought back at the end of the season. I have learned lifelong skills that I would not have learned otherwise such as patience, determination, the benefits of hard work and many leadership skills as well.”

Annika Loeppky of Lord Selkirk Regional Secondary School – held an academic average of 99.5% while participating in volleyball, basketball and track & field. She was a co-captain, KPAC champion, Provincial semi-finalist and a graduating all-star. She also participated at the Provincial Basketball Championships and was chosen as an all-star at the Kildonan East Basketball Tournament. Annika is a recipient of the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Scholarship, holds Honours with Distinction, Award of Excellence and the Government of Canada History Awards. She participated in the Human Rights Group, Ethics Bowl, grad liaison, senior choir, vocal jazz, best buddies and several other activities at her school. Annika is a volunteer ringette referee, volunteers at the Betel Personal Care Home, counsellor at summer camps as well as coaches Jr. NBA basketball camps and is active in her church as a volunteer.

Annika states: “I strongly agree with the words of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as he states that ‘You can’t win unless you learn how to lose’. Typically, in sports, success is measured in gold medals, shiny trophies and first place ribbons, however, I believe there is success in losing as well. The most valuable lessons are learnt when you are knocked down and must pick yourself back up again. I believe that dedication and determination are the most essential ingredients to success in life, and those are two things that sports have taught me over the years. High school athletics have engrained that drive and perseverance within me to work my hardest and to never give up even when the going gets tough. They have also played an essential role in shaping me into the leader I am today. I believe that athletics have cultivated leadership abilities in me that I am able to use throughout my whole life, whether it be in the community, or on a global level.  Therefore, sports have had a considerable impact on my four years in high school and have taught me many things that will allow me to succeed in university and beyond.”

Camryn McMillan of Carberry Collegiate – participated in volleyball, basketball, curling, badminton and track & field. She was a member of the graduating all-star team and participated in regional volleyball playoffs. She was a finalist in Girls Doubles in her Zone and participated at the Provincial Badminton Championships. She was named player of the game at the basketball tournament in Treherne and is a recipient of the Dr. Dale Iwanoczko Memorial Scholarship. She maintains an academic average of 97% while also participating in the TADD and Math Clubs, as well as being the yearbook editor, Grade 7 and 8 Volleyball Assistant Coach, Grade 5 reading helper and peer tutor. She has participated in the Carberry town cleanup and is a Junior Curling Helper, lifeguard/swim instructor and plays club volleyball and minor baseball.

Camryn states: “Throughout my years of high school, I have played multiple sports. Athletics are not only a way to keep you in shape, but also to make lasting friendships. I have become close friends with many of the people I have played sports with, and some will even end up being life-long friends. Of course, most of these friends are from my own school, but also there have been some from other schools. These interscholastic relations which started as rivalries shifted into friendships as we met time and time again on the court. These connections are one of the main reasons I feel I have benefited from high school sports. Another reason I believe athletics are extremely important is the different skills you can learn. I personally feel that I have gained the skills of teamwork and leadership through high school athletics. Most of the sports I play are team ones, so teamwork is a valuable skill to have and to understand. Also, within the team dynamic, there has to be someone who can help the team, to lead them in the right direction.  This is something I have learned to do through sport, and it’s something that will always be beneficial in my life.”

Nicholas Pasieczka of Sanford Collegiate – participated in cross country, badminton, track & field and basketball. He was honoured to be part of the varsity boys basketball team that won the Zone banner.

He advanced to cross country Provincials and made the Zone playoffs with his partner in badminton. Nicholas is currently the Editor in Chief of the school newspaper and is a member of the Clean-Up Crew for Earth Day. He is a member of his schools boxing club that has pushed his limits both mentally and physically. He is the camera operator for the school’s drama production. Nicholas is an Air-Cadet volunteer teaching leadership, citizenship and aviation to younger cadets. He also volunteers at the Local Gliding Centre and teaches classes at his church. While participating in all his volunteer work and sport activities he maintained a 97% average.

Nicholas states: “I would not be where I am without the invaluable lessons high school sport has given me such as determination, time management and leadership skills developing me into the man I am today. Early on I discovered that results are not dependent upon performance, results are dependent upon effect and determination to succeed. High school sport is important to develop a work ethic allowing me to succeed in all aspects of my life knowing that if I set my mind to focus on a goal, I can achieve anything. No matter how hard you fall, you must rise up because anything is possible with a strong will to persevere. Lastly, as I became the most senior member on my sports teams I also unknowingly stepped into a roll of mentorship and leadership. The memories our teams shared are near to my heart and I will use these foundational skills learned throughout my life.”