Grads recognized for passion, success

Shannon LeClair
Times Reporter

 

On April 2 three Strathmore High School (SHS) graduates were inducted a Pillars of Strathmore High School. This is the second group of alumni to have their faces adorn the walls of the school in what has become an annual event for the school.
The Pillars of Strathmore was created through a trust from former SHS student Steve Rodehutskors’ family.
“Steve was honoured here in 2010, he was the first Pillar of Strathmore High School. Steve was a successful player in the CFL and would go on to become a successful veterinarian as well. Steve unfortunately lost his battle to cancer in 2007,” said SHS Associate Principal Kyle Larson.
Rodehutskors represented many of the qualities that as a school the staff felt were important to recognize. The people inducted represent many aspects of the community, from the sports world, to medicine and trades, and have gone on to become successful in their chosen paths.
“Our vision of this program, we decided we wanted to honour graduates who have excelled in various (areas),” said Larson.
Norman Taylor, Ben Josephson, and Kenny Kaechele were the inductees this year. Taylor, who graduated in 1991, works at Massachusetts General Hospital where his current research is discovering the neural mechanisms responsible for producing the five general states of anesthesia. Specifically, he and his team are developing a novel drug therapy that could be the first to actively wake someone from general anesthesia.
Taylor had moved to Strathmore with one year to go before grad, and in that time made a lasting impression with the school.
“In the short time they (the students) had to get to know him he made a significant impact on them, he became extremely well-liked and a respected member of the class of 1991, so much so that he was elected class valedictorian,” said SHS teacher Karen Harris.
Taylor said it was the teachers and the staff who instilled a culture of success, while providing the skills that students needed that helped lead him to where he is today.
“When you come out of here you can do anything you want to do, so I guess in some ways I would like to deflect back to all of you to say thank you for being a part of my life,” said Taylor.
Ben Josephson is a graduate of the class of ’97. SHS volleyball coach Randy Moncks recalled when he first heard about the new family to Strathmore, and how the students were in to sports, mainly basketball. Moncks said he wasn’t overly excited about the news, and his focus originally was on a few students who had come back to play that year. In the middle of the season things changed, with one of the setters leaving, and Josephson took that place. While playing volleyball was far from his first choice, it led him to the career he has today.
He joined the Trinity Western University (TWU) Spartans and in his final year was named a Canada West First Team All-Star and earned Trinity’s first ever CIS All-Canadian award.
Following his achievements as a volleyball player, Josephson became a coach for TWU in Langley, BC. Since 2007 he has been a head coach with them, guiding them to five CIS national championships.
“Ben as one of your former coaches I am also very proud of your accomplishments and it’s an honour to have you back in our school. Once a Spartan, always a Spartan,” said Moncks at the ceremony.
“Going through this process of reflection on this honour has only solidified how much teachers and coaches like Randy Moncks meant to my development as a youth and many of those lessons and experience continue to mould and shape me today,” said Josephson. “I’m excited to see this Pillars of SHS program continue to develop and celebrate the many success stories that have graduated from our school and represent our city well in the communities around the country. I’m deeply honoured and humbled to be considered with these peers and Pillars.”
Principal Gary Reagan took to the podium last stating that it has been passion, which has led to the success of each of the three inductees, and brought them to be Pillars of Strathmore.
“Every single one had this incredible passion for what they were doing,” said Reagan.
He said one of the great things about high school is students become more focused, they find something that interests them and that’s what drives them. They become engaged and often that sparks a passion that takes them past high school. He said that was not the case with Kenny Kaechele, who graduated in 1994.
“Ken found his passion after leaving high school, and what a passion it was,” said Reagan.
Reagan said Kaechele was chosen not only for his success but also because the career path he chose is a trade that he turned it into the epitomy of success.
Kaechele developed a love and passion for food and cooking while working at the Little Village Café here in town. He began formal training at SAIT in ’95 and has had an illustrious career that saw him take on a role of head chef at the age of 24. Later he became a chef consultant, assisting with the conception and opening of Tango Bistro, Dolce Sapori and Sabroso in Calgary. In 2014 his dream of opening his own restaurant came true when he and a partner opened WORKSHOP kitchen+culture.
Kaechele was honoured to be recognized as a 2014 Pillar of Strathmore.
“It really was special because I have achieved my success the hard way. I struggled with addictions and being a young single father in the years following high school, but was able to make changes and really turn my life around,” said Kaechele.
“I have now been clean and sober for over 12 years and the support and mentoring I received from my SHS teachers was felt years after graduating. I now have the unique opportunity to help other young people who are struggling with addictions and my career as a chef has always included this.
“My legacy is an ongoing one; my struggles have been turned into assets and my career is a testament to the success one can have when they discover their truest self and turn struggle into success.”
Each year three students will be recognized during an induction ceremony in the spring. The deadline for nominations will be the end of September each year, and then the plan is to host an induction ceremony each year. Anyone is interested in nominating somebody can do so by contacting Strathmore High School, 403-934-3135, or by contacting Kyle Larson at the school.