BONNYVILLE – They may be students, but the recipients of Osum’s Leaders of Tomorrow award have already proven they can accomplish great things.
Each year, the energy company recognizes graduating students in Bonnyville and Cold Lake who have made a positive difference in their schools and community.
The seven recipients this year include Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) students Kendra Moore and Hunter Drapaka and Notre Dame High School’s (NDHS) Nikolas Shapka. From Cold Lake High School, Patricia Feng, Anita Roy, and Gwyneth Manilag were chosen, and Bronwyn Wareham from Assumption Jr./Sr. High School.
Students have to be nominated for the accolade, and those chosen receive a $1,000 bursary.
In a press release, Osum’s communications manager Christi Clouter said, “Bright ideas, leadership, and initiative are qualities that stood out for us when choosing the recipients of this year’s award. The Leaders of Tomorrow award program provides both Osum and community members a chance to acknowledge and support the young adults who we believe will go on to be kind, compassionate and thoughtful leaders.”
Moore has been an active member in the Bonnyville community, whether it’s volunteering with the Bonnyville Skating Club or working behind the scenes as the head student elf for BCHS’ Santa’s Elves program.
When asked why she gives back, Moore said “it’s just because I can.”
“I’m in a privileged enough position that I’m not really relying on things like Santa’s Elves or different companies and things like that,” she continued. “You don’t know when you might need to so it’s always nice to have those programs there and they always need the extra help and more volunteers. I’m able to, so I figured ‘why not?’”
In the fall, Moore will be taking classes at the University of Saskatchewan for her Bachelors of Education, with the goal of one day becoming a high school teacher. She was grateful to receive the bursary, which will help out with the cost of tuition or books.
“I’ve been applying for scholarships, but then to get one that you don’t apply for and it’s based on recognition for stuff that you’ve done. I’ve never really been doing things for recognition, but it's just kind of cool to do it to see that it’s there.”
BCHS teacher Julie Hutchison and career counsellor Kim Buchta put Moore’s name forward for the award. Moore expressed her appreciation to two of her mentors for thinking of her.
“I don’t know how else to thank them because they’ve been so awesome in helping me grow and they’ve been part of my life for so long now.”
Moore wasn’t the only one surprised by the news. A fellow BCHS graduate, Drapaka was left speechless when she found out she was chosen as one of the recipients.
“It’s kind of like a roller coaster because you don’t know you’re nominated until you get shortlisted and then when you’re shortlisted, our task was to make a video and answer 10 questions,” she recalled. “You had to answer the questions, which wasn’t hard but it was what would have got you the award.”
Not one to shy away from taking the lead, Drapaka jumps into any problem or project with a positive and can-do attitude.
While at BCHS, she organized a car wash to raise funds for a school in Africa, was part of the school’s Impact group, and volunteered with Santa’s Elves.
“In our community, doing Santa’s Elves is huge because, especially now being in a recession, a lot of people don’t have jobs and aren’t able to afford all those Christmas presents, which is hard on a family when they want their kids to have everything,” she expressed.
Drapaka will be taking classes at MacEwan University in the insurance and risk management program, which she believes is something different that will give her many career avenues to explore.
It was Drapaka's boss and teacher, Reid and Lesley Anne Etter, who nominated her for a Leader of Tomorrow award.
“I don’t think I could thank them enough because they watched me grow up from a very young age and for them to choose me, they could have picked anyone for this award, but the fact that both of them tag teamed and chose me was kind of crazy.”
Graduating from NDHS, Shapka's name was put forward for the award by career counsellor Carol Rainey and Father John Lipinski.
In their submission, they recognized Shapka as a "thoughtful young man" who always goes out of his way to help others succeed. An active volunteer, Shapka never hesitates to lend at hand at his church and Kiev's Ki-Hi Youth Camp.
Known as the resident "Saint Nikolas" at his church, he is proud of his Ukrainian heritage and enjoys making pysankas (Ukrainian Easter eggs) with his classmates each year.
Shapka will be following his passion for science at Grant MacEwan University in the fall.
