The virtual world has been pretty good for a first-year university student.
Holy Trinity Academy alumnus Marian Grell gave the valedictorian speech virtually last June, she is currently online for her first-year of studies at the University of Calgary and earlier this month, she Zoomed in and received several awards at the HTA Class of 2020 scholarships night.
“It wasn’t the same as being there in person, but I appreciate the fact that HTA went to the effort to make this happen,” Grell said of the award ceremony on Oct. 8. “I did get to see some of them (HTA teachers and fellow Class of 2020 members) which was really nice.”
Grell is enrolled in the bachelor of health sciences program and is aiming for a major in biomedical sciences at the U of C.
“This is a great program for both research and medicine, I am trying to see where it takes me,” Grell said. “I definitely am looking at more university after this. I think I am interested in research but there are some opportunities through mentorship programs, and undergraduate research as well to help me see what I am interested in.”
She goes into post-secondary school on a roll.
Grell was the recipient of the top academic recognition for the Class of 2020, the Governor General's Academic Award, at HTA’s awards night. She estimated she had a 98 per cent average her Grade 12 year.
“It was really wonderful,” Grell said of her three years at HTA. “I’ve had the opportunity to look back on it since high school ended. I had a great time, had amazing teachers, I learned a lot. It set me up really well for university.”
Some of her mentors at the school included science teacher Melissa Baxter and math teacher Scott Royce.
“Ms. Baxter was my biology and chemistry teacher throughout high school, she really helped foster my love for science,” Grell said. “Mr. Royce was my math and calculus teacher and he had such wonderful energy.”
One of her instructors, English teacher Kathy Royce, went beyond teaching grammar and the symbolism of the green light in The Great Gatsby.
“Ms. Royce taught me English in Grade 11 and 12,” Grell said. “She taught me a lot in school but personally, I think I gained a lot from her.
“High school is a difficult experience for everyone. She really helped remind me of the importance of balance between your regular life and what makes you happy and education and working hard in school.
"She reminded me of the importance of focusing on more than school and that is really starting to help me in university."
Grell knows a lot about balance. She was a member of the competitive team at the Alberta Dance Academy in Okotoks.
“Dance requires a lot of discipline and time management too,” Grell said. “I had all my high school classes, dance classes and I used to compete. Dance taught me how to balance my time and it was really a wonderful release for me. I had great friends and teachers as well. I really enjoyed it.”
She received approximately $2,200 in scholarships at the HTA ceremony. Along with the money, the ceremony allowed her to see some of her classmates, even if it was just through Zoom.
She said it did not feel competitive in the classroom with her HTA peers.
“I never felt that way,” Grell said. “It was always a great community. People were very supportive of each other and we are all very happy for each other when we succeed.
“I am very proud of my friends. They are all super hard-workers and very intelligent as well… I am very glad to have the awards night and see them.”
She has a good track record lately with school and the virtual world, but Grell can’t wait to be in an actual university classroom.
“That is one of the things I am missing most,” Grell said. “I do love learning in school but an aspect that is amazing is getting to work with your peers and that feeling of the classroom.
“I am excited for it to get back to normal and get back in the classroom.”
Following are the recipients at the HTA Class of 2020 scholarships night.
Subject awards -- $200 per subject area:
Biology 30 Alexandra Hartman
French Biology 30 {$100 each} Marian Grell
Emma Van Buren
Chemistry 30 Daniel Hove
English 30-1 {$100 each} Genevieve Jeeva
Clare Dufresne
English 30-2 Jacob Collins
French Language Arts 30-1 Jenna Tiedje
French Math 30-1 Alexandra Hartman
Math 30-2 Isabelle Kennett
Math 30-1 None this year.
Physics 30 Andrew Loe
Social Studies 30-1 Marian Grell
Social Studies 30-2 {$100 each} Dominic Fincaryk
Jessica Freeburn
The Big Rock Singers Lloyd Burns Memorial Bursary $150 - Cassidy Behm
Mary Brammer Memorial Scholarship 2 awards of $250 each - Jocelynn McGee, Evan Nisi
Holy Trinity Academy Music Association Band Director’s Scholarship $250 - Mackenzie Neufeld
The Holy Trinity Academy Award for Instrumental Excellence $250 - Liam Duncan
Dr. Stephen Allen (Village Lane Dental Centre) St. Gregory the Great Music Scholarship 2 awards of $250 each - Isabelle Kennett, Jacob Lerner
Okotoks Eye Care Scholarship for Excellence in Science with a focus on Biology $250 - Alexandra Hartman
Scotiabank & Alpine Drywall Athletic Scholarship $200 - Mackenzie Neufeld
Sobeys Okotoks Business Administration Scholarship $250 - Mason Black
Okotoks & District Chamber of Commerce Business Administration Scholarship 3 awards of $250 each - Daniel Hove, Shayna Crackel, Jake de Medeiros
St. James Knights of Columbus Career & Technology Studies Scholarship, 2 awards of $300 each - Clare Dufresne, Kennedy Leggett
Wade Michael Kientz Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Biology and Chemistry 2 awards of $500 each - Marian Grell, Alexandra Hartman
The Sheep River Health Trust , Dr. Robert Haslam Bursary $500 - Paige Cooper
Town of Okotoks Scholarship for Excellence in English 30-1 and Social Studies 30-1, $800 - Marian Grell
Tyler and Alex Conrad Memorial Scholarship $1,500 - Riley Thorn
Effort and Achievement Awards
Sobeys Okotoks Scholarship for Consistent Effort – Grade 12 $250 - Hope Lumley
Southland Transportation, Scholarship for Consistent Effort and Achievement $250 - Emma Pankras
Southland Transportation, Scholarship for Inspirational Effort $250 - Chiara Sheedy
Okotoks Eye Care Scholarship for Most Improved $250 - William Keith Jamieson
St. James Knights of Columbus – Academic Scholarship, 2 awards of $400 each - Marian Grell, Emma Van Buren
Western Financial Group Communities Foundation Inspirational Award $750 - Mackenzie Neufeld
Okotoks & District Seniors Club $500 - Emma Van Buren
Elks Lodge Bursary for Academic Excellence, 2 awards of $500 each - Gabrielle Moore, Ryan Royce
Dr. Stephen Allan (Village Lane Dental Centre) Salutatorian Scholarship $500 - Alexandra Hartman
Dr. Stephen Allan (Village Lane Dental Centre) Valedictorian Scholarship $500 - Marian Grell
Governor General’s Academic Medal - Marian Grell
Service and Character Awards
St. James Catholic Church Scholarship for Character and Virtue 2 awards of $250 each - Mary Dmytriw, Sawyer Harding
St. James Knights of Columbus Scholarship for Character $400 - Joshua Hodgkins
Town of Okotoks Grade 12 Service Project Scholarship 2 awards of $400 each - Andrew Loe, Jenna Tiedje
Kinsmen Club of Okotoks Scholarship for Academic Excellence & Community Involvement $500 - Andrew Loe
Royal Canadian Legion #291 Citizenship Scholarship, Okotoks $500 - Jessica Freeburn
Okotoks Lions Club Frank Lomenda Memorial Scholarship for Community Service $500 - Emily Ostafichuk
Okotoks Lions Club Peter Hills Memorial Scholarship for Community Service $500 - Nylagh Mullaghan
Barry James Smith Memorial Scholarship $500 - Michael Farmer
St. James Catholic Women’s League Scholarship for Community Service, Citizenship & Character $500 - Katrina Elliott
Nicholas Beaulieu Memorial Scholarship $500 - Alex Kusche
Vince Motta Memorial Scholarship 5 awards for $,1000 each - Clare Dufresne, Daniel Hove, Emily Ostafichuk, Jenna Tiedje, Mathew Bjorge
Holy Trinity Academy Opportunity Scholarship 5 awards for $2,000 each - Recipients: Michael Farmer, Bernardo Briseno, Iana Lleno, Katrina Elliott, Kuhlein Migue
