Seven high-school grads receive Osum Awards

Osum Oil Sands Corp. has announced the recipients of the 2020 Leader of Tomorrow Award.

This $1000 bursary recognizes Grade 12 students in the Bonnyville and Cold Lake area who make a positive difference in their school and communities.

Thus year’s recipients of the Leader of Tomorrow Award are:

• Hunter Drapaka, Bonnyville Centralized High School
• Patricia Feng, Cold Lake High School
• Gwyneth Manilag, Cold Lake High School
• Kendra Moore, Bonnyville Centralized High School
• Anita Roy, Cold Lake High School
• Nikolas Shapka, École Notre Dame High School
• Bronwyn Wareham, Assumption Jr/Sr High School

“Bright ideas, leadership and initiative are qualities that stood out for us when choosing the recipients of this year’s award,” said Christi Clouter, Osum’s Communications Manager in a press release.

“The Leader 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.”

The Osum Leader of Tomorrow Award was established in 2012. Each spring members of the community are asked to nominate graduating students they have observed going the extra mile for their community or their peers.  Since its inception, 63 students have received the Award.

Recipients

Hunter Drapaka, Bonnyville Centralized High School

Nominated by: Reid Etter

Hunter is a bright light to everyone around her, with charisma that helps her encourage others to get involved in their community. Never shy to take the lead on projects or events, she spearheaded a school car wash to raise funds for a school in Africa, working to get others on board and calling around town to coordinate resources. When issues arise, Hunter is ready to solve the problem in a way that works for everyone and always ensures no one is left out. Whether she’s raising money for a school across the world or making a classmate’s day better, Hunter leads with heart and kindness. In the fall, Hunter will be attending MacEwan University for their Insurance and Risk Management program – a small program where she is sure to make everyone feel comfortable and accepted.

Patricia Feng, Cold Lake High School

Nominated by: Jen Dusyk-Johnson, Nicole Crawley

Patricia committed to community involvement the moment she entered Cold Lake High School in Grade 9, immediately joining the environmental club and working as a club member throughout her high school years to raise money and awareness as well as affect change at her school. Also serving as Mayor of the City of Cold Lake Youth Council and class president during her final year of high school, Patricia manages to balance in-school activities, community activities, her schoolwork and out-of-school academic programs while continuing to be kind and helpful towards everyone she encounters. As a leader, Patricia can take charge and solve problems, but her nominators say she is equally good at supporting other leaders when the time comes. With plans to pursue international economics and development, Patricia will continue to help others solve problems in meaningful ways.

Gwyneth Manilag, Cold Lake High School

Nominated by: Deirdre Matthews

Moving to Canada from the Philippines when she was 11, Gwyneth has worked hard to learn a new language and become involved with the community at Cold Lake High School and Cold Lake at large. Taking on a leadership role with the Environmental Group at school, Gwyneth has helped to spearhead campaigns to get hand dryers and water bottle refill stations at the school. In addition, she has been an integral part of organizing the Cold Lake Coffee House fundraiser, a recurring event where students show off their talents and raise money for various charities. While keeping busy playing basketball, maintaining her grades, participating in school groups and working part time, Gwyneth always finds time to lend a hand to anyone who needs it. Heading to Western University in the fall, she will be a valuable member of the Health Sciences program.

Kendra Moore, Bonnyville Centralized High School

Nominated by: Kim Buchta and Julie Hutchison

Whether it’s on the ice or in her school, Kendra is always willing to go above and beyond to help others and solve problems. As a skater and now a volunteer with her skating club, she treats everyone with respect and pushes them to be leaders as well – including the young volunteers. As Head Student Elf for her school’s Santa’s Elves program, Kendra has been the face and planner of the program during much of her high school career. Collecting gifts and organizing a wrapping party to ensure everyone in Bonnyville has a Christmas gift to look forward to she keeps everyone in good spirits and committed to the cause. During the BCHS Carnival event, Kendra set about solving problems before anyone knew there was an issue – showing her dedication to doing things right. Joining the University of Saskatchewan’s Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) program in the fall, Kendra will be on a path to help inspire and empower many young people to be leaders themselves.

Anita Roy, Cold Lake High School

Nominated by: Marla Haring

Anita’s kindness and commitment to helping others has made her a great leader in Girl Guides, an organization she has been committed to since she was 5 and has helped expand in Cold Lake. Her nominator described her as one of “the most caring, approachable young women” she has met in 10 years of Girl Guides, passionate about making a positive impact on those around her. When moving to Cold Lake, Anita noticed there was no Challenger baseball program, which provides the opportunity for children, youth and adults with disabilities to participate in baseball – so she worked to make it a reality for people in the area. Anita is planning to study elementary education at the University of Alberta, a sector where her talent for making young kids feel special and empowered will be especially important.

Nikolas Shapka, Ecole Notre Dame High School

Nominated by: Carol Rainey, Father John Lipinski

Quiet and kind, Nikolas is a thoughtful young man always ready to ask people what they need to succeed in their tasks. Never hesitant to help others out in the classroom, Nikolas’ main goal is ensuring everyone does well. When his school’s drama department was seeing low participation rates, Nikolas stepped up to join and encouraged others to as well. When he’s not encouraging others to do their best, Nikolas is ready to volunteer in his church and at Kiev’s-Ki-Hi Youth Camp. Proud of his Ukrainian heritage, he and his mother share the joy of making pysankas – Ukrainian Easter eggs – with his schoolmates each year. The resident “Saint Nikolas” for his church, Nikolas is dedicated to spreading happiness to all those around him. His passion for science is clear to all around him, and in the fall, he will head to Grant MacEwan University in Edmonton to follow that passion.

Bronwyn Wareham, Assumption Jr/Sr High

Nominated by: Lynne Vining, Nikki Sinclair, Christine Charbonneau

Whether it’s in her school, broader community or at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Bronwyn is a dedicated, passionate person when it comes to helping others. Using her spare period in Grade 12 to spend time with a student who has a cognitive disability at Assumption Jr/Sr High and volunteering with the Grade 1 French Immersion students shows Bronwyn is very willing to spend her free time helping others. While COVID-19 could have completely derailed her grad planning and her work as recreation organizer with the military family resource centre, Bronwyn took charge and quickly pivoted to tech to ensure these important activities could still happen and everyone involved could participate in some way. Heading to MacEwan University in the fall to study Business Management, Bronwyn will be looking for ways to keep helping others.