In her short time at Foothills Composite High School, Larisa Oncea had a big impact on the school community.
Oncea enrolled at the Comp the second semester of Grade 11 and within weeks was tutoring fellow students and raising awareness as a member of Model United Nations.
Her efforts were rewarded during the Foothills Composite High School and Alberta High School of Fine Arts Awards and Scholarships Ceremony at the school Oct. 10 where she was presented the Mary Gillard Scholarship, Dr. Robert Haslam Bursary and Okotoks and District Historical Society Scholarship.
“I hadn’t applied for anything so I wasn’t really expecting to be receiving anything from the school or exterior sponsors,” she said following the ceremony. “I was pleasantly surprised.”
When Oncea arrived in Okotoks, she had previously attended high school in Ottawa, Toronto and Saskatoon. She graduated in June and is in her first year pursuing a biological sciences degree at the University of Calgary with an interest in the medical field.
It was while attending a Grade 7-12 school in Ottawa that Oncea began tutoring Grade 8 students in French science.
Prior to that, the honours-with-distinction student helped friends needing a boost with their studies.
“When I came to this school there was an opportunity for us to sign up, submit a resume to become a formal tutor and possibly a paid tutor,” she said. “If it was over twice a week that’s when paid tutoring started.”
Oncea tutored six students in biology, chemistry, math and social studies at the Comp.
When she initially enrolled at the school, she planned to get involved with choir and musical theatre like at her previous schools, but was faced with a heavy course load and the challenge of commuting to Okotoks from an acreage outside of town.
“I decided to get involved in something else I was passionate about,” she said. “I thought the UN was something that would be fun with like-minded individuals and a way to meet new people and do something with my time.”
Oncea and her peers worked together to raise awareness around world issues issues and collected books, winter clothing and hygiene items to donate to the Mustard Seed last Christmas.
Oncea’s achievements were among many celebrated during the awards ceremony.
Principal Vince Hunter called the award winners ambassadors for the school and community.
“I know I speak for the entire staff and Foothills School Division when I say it is such a privilege to be a part of your children’s educational experience and that we take great pride and deeply enjoy having been given the chance to be a part of their life,” he said. “You should be incredible proud of yourselves. I know how hard you have worked over the years and I take great comfort in knowing that this work ethic will continue to be a force that will have a positive impact in our community.”
The following is a list of awards presented at the ceremony:
Governor General’s Award: Ashley Jackson at AHSFA and Emily Kiist at FCHS.
Academics
Catriona Gibson Award: Paige Quigley
Mary Gillard Scholarship: Larisa Oncea
Town of Okotoks Annual Academic Award: Emma Devenny and Mitchell Holzwarth
Okotoks Elks Lodge Scholarship: Emily Kiist and Payton Burbank
Okotoks & District Seniors Club: Brogan Mior
Lions Peter McGowan Annual Memorial Scholarship: Emily Kiist
Okotoks Eye Care Health Science Scholarship: Paige Quigley
FCHS Excellence Award: Emma Devenny, Taylor Holmes and Paige Quigley
Dr. Robert Haslam Bursary: Larisa Oncea
Okotoks and District Historical Society Scholarship: Larisa Oncea
Valedictorian Award: Ashley Jackson for AHSFA and Emily Kiist at FCHS
Fine Arts
Windmill Theatre Players Drama Award: Jasmine White
Amy Sands Memorial Scholarship: Bailey Fowler
AHSFA Society Awards: Chase Ashbaugh, Joey Fisher, Abbey Maksymovitch and Chloe Van Muyen.
AHSFA Society Future Artistic Scholarship: Jasmine White
Big Rock Singers Lloyd Burns Memorial Bursary: Tseide Krekelberg
Journalism
Western Wheel Journalism Award: Gracy Taborski
Western Wheel Visual Communications Scholarship: Chase Ashbaugh
Friesen’s Yearbook Scholarship: Lincoln Aitken, Catherine Mitchell and Madison Peters
Citizenship/Academic/Athletics
Premiers Citizenship Award: Tseide Krekelberg for AHSFA and Maeghan Macallum for FCHS.
Student Council Citizenship and Extra Curricular Scholarship: Maeghan Macallum
Kinsmen Club of Okotoks Grade 12 Citizenship Award: Emily Mathieson
Zutz Family Foundation Scholarship: Athena Spear
Okotoks Royal Canadian Legion Scholarship: Emily Mathieson
English Elm Cross Country Running Award: Rosie Bouchard, Erica Cunniam and Jacob Heuver
Matt Bridle Memorial Scholarship: Alex Croteau
DeWinton and District Historical Society: Emily Mathieson
Big Rock Runners Award: Rosie Bouchard
Western Inspirational Award: Tseide Krekelberg
Millennium Lanes Consistent Effort Scholarship: Maeghan Macallum
CTS/Fine Arts
Wilkie Boys CTS/Fine Arts Appreciation Award: Athena Spear
Robert Bulmer Family Award of Excellence: Zac Harder
Construction Technology
Merit Contractors Association Construction Technologies Award: Macgregor Schaajle
Harold Biswanger Memorial Award: Riley Babb, Aidan Rhoades, Marcus Carey and Maclean Simmonds
Automotives
NAPA Automotive Technology Award: Tanner Woodfine
Okotoks Chevrolet Buick GMC Award: Josh Lee
Fountain Tire Automotive Services Technician Award: Kieran Slapman
George Edgar Memorial Automotives Scholarship: Tanner Woodfine
Business Education
Sobeys Scholarship: Wyatt Rogi
Okotoks Chamber of Commerce Annual Award: Cabe Blindkilde
Cactus Club Award: Roxcy Bowie
Culinary Arts Award: Hunter Young
Lifetouch Photography Award: Chase Ashbaugh
Leduc Developments (1983) Ltd. Welding 32nd Annual Award: Kieran Slapman
High River Rotary Club Fabrication Studies Work Ethic Award: Zachary Harder
High River Rotary Club Fabrication Service Above Self Award: Alex Croteau
Rainer Hofmann Memorial Scholarship: Bryana Sharkey
* At the Comp, $265,600 was awarded in Rutherford money to 126 recipients and another $34,700 to 17 Alberta High School of Fine Arts students.
