Past SHS student receives academic award

Adelle Ellis
Times Reporter

 

Brad Hendricks, 2016 Strathmore High School Graduate, received the bronze level Governor Generals Academic Award for his outstanding overall grade average of 92 per cent after diploma exams in his five core courses.
The bronze level Governor Generals Academic Award is awarded to one student in each high school who applies for the award, who graduates with the highest standing in their institution.
“I didn’t know I was in for this award. I was the valedictorian last year so I knew that I had the top marks, but I didn’t know this was something the student with the highest marks got every year,” said award winner Brad Hendricks. “This is pretty cool, it’s definitely a surprise.”
Hendricks is currently attending the University of Alberta (U of A) and is taking a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in physiology and developmental biology. After receiving his degree, he hopes to attend medical school to become a doctor.
“I wanted to become a doctor after learning about that kind of stuff in high school,” said Hendricks. “I also like the mentality of the job, it’s always changing and there is a certain level of stress with it; I kind of enjoy that, the thrill.”
The Governor Generals Academic Awards have been handed out to students with outstanding scholastic achievements for more than 125 years. There are four levels to the award; bronze for secondary schools, collegiate bronze for post-secondary diploma levels, silver at the undergraduate level, and gold at the graduate level.
Hendricks will have the chance to win each of the remaining three levels should he continue to keep his marks up in post-secondary school and graduate with the highest academic marks.
Principals at the Strathmore High School have been applying to hand the award out to students for 29 years. The first Governor Generals Academic Award was handed out in Strathmore High School to Greg McLean in 1988.
“Brad is an outstanding student, obviously to win this award you must be,” said first-year principal, Kyle Larson. “Brad is just a great kid. It’s nice to see kids like him get recognized. This award goes to the very brightest kids for sure.”
The award isn’t handed out to the top academic student of every school; each school must apply yearly for the award. Schools are then given a strict set of guidelines to follow in determining which graduate is the recipient of the award.
There is no monetary value handed out along with the award, though each recipient should feel a strong sense of pride for accomplishing such high academic achievements.
“We will be applying for the award again next year (for students graduating in 2017),” said Larson. “(We will) keep the tradition alive.”