Staff honour students at Breakfast of Champions

By Tyler Lowey, Times Reporter

For the final time this school year, the staff at Strathmore High School arrived early to share a meal with students who they thought stood out for a variety of reasons this semester during the annual Breakfast of Champions.
The breakfast on May 31, which takes place once each semester, was a special one for a several reasons.
As always, a new group of 46 students were chosen for the honour for reasons such as their effort inside the classroom, participation in school activities, athletic performance, volunteering outside of school hours and for having a positive attitude.
Grade 11 student Chancelor Johnston was selected by Wesley Clark because of his increased dedication towards his studies.
“I chose Chance as my champion because of his reliability. In Grade 10, Chance had issues showing up on time to class. This year has been terrific, and he is almost in class 100 per cent of the time. The work he has performed in class he has excelled at and he built a beautiful cabinet,” said Clark. “He did such a terrific job and I wanted to recognize his talent and how much he has grown as a Grade 11 student.”
After the students enjoyed breakfast with their peers, the teacher who nominated them came up and spoke to the group on why the student was chosen.
For some students, it was their last chance to be honoured before graduating and heading into the real world.
Kaitlyn Stewart was one of the many to receive her award, as Dion Galandy nominated her for her efforts in the classroom and on the rugby field this season.
“It was definitely a surprise to be nominated and it was really humbling,” said Stewart, who will enroll in the nursing program at the University of Lethbridge next fall. “I think our teachers did an amazing job picking a variety of students for all the different accomplishments they’ve done this semester.”
It has been a challenging year for Karissa Hammond outside the classroom this semester, as she was a Strathmore Storm teammate of Emma Armstrong this season. But she didn’t let that tragedy affect her grades.
“It’s an honour to have people notice me in the world. I think I was nominated because of my dedication throughout school; and always having my work done on time helped,” said Hammond, who was chosen by Christine Magill and will study business at Mount Royal University this fall.
It was also a notable Breakfast of Champions for two of the teachers, as it was Susan Ruzek and Gabriele Kuhrt’s final ceremonial breakfast before retirement.
For Ruzek’s 46th and final nomination, she chose George Crawford.
“I had George in my physics and chemistry 20 class. That alone is grounds for my nomination,” said Ruzek. “When George is challenged, he works hard and pushes through it until he gets it. It’s his positive attitude and willingness to work until he gets it that makes him the true meaning of a Spartan champion.”