SHS adds two more pillars to commemorative collection

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore High School hosted their annual Pillars ceremony, June 17, recognizing two alumni this year for their achievements, and work in the community. 

“Whether it is in athletics or medicine, or we have a couple of Indigenous alumni who are recognized. We have an Olympic athlete this time,” said Doug Raycroft, SHS principal. 

“We have these plaques made up and then we hang them on the pillars of our school so that they are always there for people to read about the exceptional work of some of our alumni.”

He added the practice has created a strong culture of heritage from past Strathmore High School alumni to the students who are currently enrolled.

Raycroft explained the school maintains a committee comprised of current and retired teachers, and school administrative staff who meet to discuss possible pillars and nominate people for the recognition. 

“We try to have a few ready for the next year kind of thing so that we can always be recognizing some of the great work that our alumni have done,” he said. “We do not really try to recognize current students or recent alumni necessarily. We try to wait for a while before (recognizing) them but there is not a timeline or rules necessarily.”

The number of alumni recognized on a year-to-year basis is fluid. This year there are only two, while last year there were four.

This year’s pillars are Olympic athlete Jessica Sevick and Laren Bill, who specialized in environmental stewardship and collaborative governance with First Nations.

“We try to get it so that the pillars are able to come to our ceremony but that is not always possible because some of our alumni do not live here and it is hard to get them to be able to come at a certain point,” said Raycroft. 

“Sometimes it is easier than you think (to contact them) and then other times it is really hard. Some of these alumni, their family and contacts and their connection to Strathmore is still really strong … and then other ones, they are moved on or their families have moved on as well.”

Those who have been recognized as pillars have ranged in careers from actors to coaches and athletes, to professions in medicine and health care, just to name a few. 

The practice began roughly in 2009 with a donation from the Rodehuskers family, which was utilized to launch the program, as well as to finance the purchase of an electronic score table for the school gymnasium. 

Steve Rodehusker became the first Pillar of SHS in 2010. He was noted for having gone from SHS to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers among his achievements.