SHS captain receives Class Act award
By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor
Photo Courtesy of Taryn Riley
The Grade 12 student, who lives on a small cattle farm, doesn’t mind the drive, however, as the pastures and plains are the backbone of his upbringing and the cornerstone of his future.
His passion for Alberta, constant positive attitude, desire to strive for his personal best, commendable athletic achievements and an impulse to help those around him, made him the epitome of the Strathmore Times Class Act award this year.
“He’s known at school as smiling Ryan … it is very rare to see him without a smile on his face,” said Kenton Zandee, a social studies teacher at SHS, during the awards ceremony on June 7.
“This student sets himself apart from his peers by his physicality, his motivation, and his effort in class to strive for the best he can possibly be each and every day. He pushes himself harder, encourages those around him … and has established himself as a young man who will find success at the (University of British Columbia, UBC) campus in the Okanagan, and beyond.”
To say the daily commute paid off is an understatement. Edwards made the senior boys basketball team when he was only in Grade 10. From there he literally poured his sweat into basketball, volleyball, badminton, and track and field – even taking on the position as captain for the basketball and co-captain for the volleyball team this year.
Yet his favourite subjects are the sciences – physics, biology and chemistry – which are also his ambitions when he attends university in the fall.
Edwards will pursue general sciences in his first year at UBC and pursue a career in agriculture afterwards. He said he was blindsided by the award.
“It means a lot, I worked so hard to get to this point and I always put in the best effort in everything I do,” he said. “It’s pretty cool, I’m proud to win this award. I love the agricultural industry and plan on pursuing a career in the sector. I just want to be the best I can possibly be and help others out, and be that person everyone can look up to.”
When Edwards isn’t on the basketball court or in a science lab, he spends his time volunteering with 4-H clubs and church youth groups. His favourite memory is playing sports with his brother when he first attended SHS and winning the volleyball championship last year.
While clutching the plaque and paperwork in his hand, donated by the Strathmore Times and Lifetouch Photography, he had one last piece of advice to students following in his footsteps next year: “Just keep going after what you’re pursuing,” he said. “Reach your excellence before you’re in high school and make sure you keep going after that, because you only get this shot once, so make it count.”