And the honour goes to ...

Northumberland Regional High School hosts in-person awards

WESTVILLE — A night of celebrating student achievement recently took place at the Northumberland Regional High School.

Student successes in the arts, athletics, leadership, and school and community spirit were recognized during a ceremony in the Westville school’s gymnasium.

Community members were also honoured during the evening.

Jaxon Hughes and Amy Gunn earned the School Sport Nova Scotia (SSNS) Grade 9 Good Sport Award which recognizes commitment to fair play, ethical behaviour, integrity and students who show respect and concern for others while participating in school sports.

The SSNS Senior High Exemplary Service Award, for fair play and commitment to the true values of educational athletics, was earned by Erik Neilsen.

The Bob Ballantyne Extracurricular Award, to a Grade 10 student for their outstanding involvement in music, athletics and/or leadership programs, was presented to Keinon Bourque-DeCoste.

Colleen Rauh was the recipient of the Students’ Council Community Volunteer Award which goes to a community member who gives freely of their time to support/organize NRHS opportunities.

The Municipality of Pictou County was selected for the Community Partnership Award, also for supporting opportunities for NRHS students.

The NRHS Kindness and Compassion Award went to Terry Kitson. It also recognizes a person’s generosity displayed toward students.

The Shauna MacBeth Memorial Volunteer Award, presented to a student considered to be the school’s volunteer of the year, went to Hailey Bourque.

The Shirley Geddes Memorial Spirit Award, presented to students who best exhibit a desire to enhance school spirit, was shared by Mallory Matlock, Myah Ernst and Jesse Maxner.

The NRHS Principal’s Award goes to two graduating students who actively promoted respect for others and themselves, and demonstrated dedication to making their school a welcoming and inclusive community. The recipients were Timothy Kim and Tracy Lin.

The NRHS ‘Unsung Hero’ Award, presented to students who quietly and generously dedicate time and effort to enhancing the overall school culture, went to Emma MacLeod and Jesse MacNeil.

The Helping Hawks Award goes to students who discreetly fulfil needs that enhance daily life at NRHS for staff and students and was presented to Molly Rowan and Jada Stewart.

Katey Aucoin took home the Head Hawk Award which is presented to a Grade 11 student leader actively involved in a variety of school and community events.

The Students’ Council Citizenship Award which recognizes students who consistently exhibit behaviours NRHS is proud to see displayed in the school and community went to Jenna MacLeod and Ashley Kenney.

The Helen (Kirincich) Mullen Memorial Fine Arts Award for a female and male student dedicated to one or more of the arts and who plans to explore arts in their future, was presented to Grace Henshaw and Jud Gunning.

The last award of the event was the NRHS S.O.A.R. Award, which is combining academic excellence, school involvement and active participation in school events and activities, which went to Brooke Barsness and Tess Murray.

“I really appreciate it — kind of an artist of the year type of award,” Gunning said about receiving the Helen (Kirincich) Mullen Memorial Award.

“They put on a good job with the talent shows and coffee house and I was always willing to play,” he said. “Whatever they would throw at me, I would always take it.”

Henshaw also talked about the coffee house and how it was such a welcomed activity after COVID restrictions.

“When we finally were able to have our coffee house, we thought only a couple of people would perform and a couple attend, but so many people came, we were packed,” she said. “That was the big thing that stuck with me and always will.”

She said being able to get together for the awards ceremony was also huge.

“I was here in Grade 9, and this is what it looked like,” Henshaw said. “This is what it looked like before COVID and I think it’s cool we can be back and see people’s faces; see those who worked hard to do things, activities this year. I’m glad people are getting acknowledgment for what they’ve been able to do, even though there was a pandemic in the way.”

Barsness and Murray said they were pleased to be able to contribute to their school in a positive way.

“It’s nice to know I made an impact on my school,” Murray said.

“This, kind of, recaps my whole experience and makes me happy to be part of it,” Barsness added.

Like Henshaw, they talked about being able to celebrate as a school community in person.

“It’s definitely great to be able to see everyone at these events after the last couple of years of everything being online,” Barsness said. “Just seeing everyone up on stage and being able to clap for your friends.”

“We’ve had a great grad year doing events in person again and this is another good way to finish it off,” Murray said.