A friendly high school rivalry pushed two students to strive for the best. After competing for top grades for three years, Christian Royce and Jamie Roeske were named Holy Trinity Academy’s 2018 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. At the school’s annual Scholarship & Awards Evening on Oct. 4, they each received several bursaries to help with their post-secondary studies. Royce received a total of $3,000 and the Governor General’s Academic Medal, and Roeske took away $2,200. They both credit their success at HTA partly to one another. “I definitely worked hard, but I think I wouldn’t have even got to the level I got to if it wasn’t for Jamie,” said Royce. “She definitely pushed me, challenged me, and we both just rose each other up.” Though a love of animals had both students convinced they would be veterinarians when they were younger, and a love of books had them both considering becoming an author as they grew, both Royce and Roeske ended up going into science. Neuroscience, specifically – Royce at the University of Alberta and Roeske at the University of Calgary. “It’s funny we both ended up in the same program, one city apart,” said Royce, who plans on using his bachelor of science as a jumping-off point for a career he hasn’t quite narrowed down yet. For Roeske, the neuroscience program is taking her down the path to being a surgeon. She chose the University of Calgary because the neuroscience program was tight-knit, with only 30 students accepted each year. It reminded her a little of her high school days. “It really intrigued me, that small, connected, supportive environment,” said Roeske. But there are still times she misses the days at HTA, and she credits the school for preparing her for university life. “I feel very lucky to have gone here for high school,” said Roeske. “There are nights I miss the HTA group. So I feel very lucky we had that supportive environment and the group of people to get us where we are.” Royce said he feels the same. He found HTA to be an “awesome school with awesome staff,” and a place where he felt support throughout high school. “I think I’ll always feel a special connection to this place, a special tie to this school,” said Royce. “I’ll always really fondly remember my three years here.” Royce and Roeske weren’t the only two grateful for their alma mater at the awards ceremony. Rudy Ann Sollenza took away four scholarships totaling $2,950 and hadn’t expected to receive more than one when she was invited to the awards evening. She said she was blown away when her name was called for more than the top Social Studies grade. “No, I wasn’t expecting it at all, especially not the Holy Trinity Academy scholarship (worth $2,000),” said Sollenza, who is in the nursing program at the University of Calgary. “I’m just really thankful, and so glad all my hard work paid off.” HTA principal Carmen Ostafichuk said the Scholarship & Awards Evening is one of her favourite events of the year. It’s inspiring to see where HTA grads are headed and celebrate their successes, she said. “It’s the opportunity to focus on how hopefully the future is based on these types of kids,” said Ostafichuk. “It’s all about hope. It’s so hopeful because they are the future and they’re just so rock solid.” She said it’s also remarkable to note that the awards evening really recognizes only a portion of successful HTA grads – it’s focused on the “top of the top of the top,” she said. But there were 94 Grade 12 students who graduated with averages between 80 and 88 per cent in addition to those who earned 89 to 100 per cent, which is also something to celebrate, she said. “We could only recognize a small amount, but there’s even more,” said Ostafichuk. “That’s just the tip of the iceberg of how many great kids are going out into the world. “And not only because of marks, because many of the character and service and virtue awards, none of that is marks-based, but there is often a correlation between high-achieving and high virtue and high character.” Recipients of awards and bursaries, other than subject awards, were: The Big Rock Singers Lloyd Burns Memorial Bursary – Thomas Bichel St. James Knight of Columbus Career & Technology Studies Scholarship – Tully Huculak and David Dmytriw Mary Brammer Memorial Scholarship – Loren Torres and Nicole Robertson Jazz Band Scholarship – Thomas Bichel HTA Music Association Band Director’s Scholarship – Sam Generoux The Diakow Award for Instrumental Excellence – Quinn Lippitt Dr. Stephen Allen St. Gregory the Great Music Scholarship – Julia Stroud and Daniel Lafond Okotoks Eye Care Scholarship for excellence in science (biology) – Martin Loe Scotiabank & Alpine Drywall Athletic Scholarship – Ryan Peters John & Gabriella Gotch Athletic Scholarship (female) – Kennedy Brown John & Gabriella Gotch Athletic Scholarship (male) – Julian Jenkins Sobeys Okotoks business administration scholarship – Katlyn MacDonald Shaun Stewart Memorial Scholarship for excellence in Math 30-1 – Daniel Afolabi Wade Michael Kientz Memorial Scholarship for excellence biology and chemistry – Jamie Roeske and Christian Royce Sheep River Health Trust scholarship – Jamie Roeske Town of Okotoks Scholarship for excellence in English 30-1 and Social Studies 30-1 – Christian Royce Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce business administration scholarship – Dylan Dallaire Tyler and Alex Conrad Memorial Scholarship – Jack Morgan Sobeys Okotoks Scholarship for consistent effort – Quinn Heffron Southland Transportation Scholarship for consistent effort and achievement – Rudy Ann Sollenza Southland Transportation Scholarship for inspirational effort – Bradley Armstrong Ken & Linnet Segboer Inspirational Resilience Award – Ruby Foster Okotoks Eye Care Scholarship for most improved – Lance Anderson-Palvialok St. James Knights of Columbus academic scholarship – Quinan Stang and Christian Royce Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement and Bursary Award – Bradley Armstrong Okotoks & District Seniors Club academic award – Ava Gili Elks Lodge Bursary for Academic Excellence (male) – Martin Loe Elks Lodge Bursary for Academic Excellence (female) – Keira Tennant Dr. Stephen Allen Salutatorian Scholarship – Jamie Roeske Dr. Stephen Allen Valedictorian Scholarship – Christian Royce Governor General’s Academic Medal – Christian Royce Town of Okotoks Grade 12 Service Project Scholarship – Nicole Barrett and Brielle Lillywhite St. James Catholic Church Scholarship for Character and Virtue – Maria Doran and Seth Obrigewitsch St. James Knights of Columbus Scholarship for Character – Quinn Heffron Kinsmen Club of Okotoks Scholarship for Academic Excellence & Community Involvement – Jamie Roeske Royal Canadian Legion #291 Scholarship – Julia Stroud Okotoks Lions Club Peter Hills Memorial Scholarship for community service – Shaelynn Bourdin Okotoks Lions Club Frank Lomenda Memorial Scholarship for community service – Camille LeBlanc St. James Catholic Women’s League Scholarship for Community Service, Citizenship and Character – Rudy Ann Sollenza Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools Faith, Hope and Love Scholarship – Thomas Bichel, Daniel Lafond, Ryan Peters, Thomas Garchinski, Jack Morgan, Christian Royce, Maria Doran Nicholas Beaulieu Memorial Scholarship – Thomas Garchinski Vince Motta Memorial Scholarship – Kennedy Brown, Branden Bonham, Brielle Lillywhite, Markus de Medeiros, Taylor Deering HTA Opportunity Scholarship – Rudy Ann Sollenza, Abigail Griffiths, Kailey Morrison, Quinn Heffron, David Dmytriw, Loren Torres
