COCHRANE – Bow Valley High School held its annual award ceremony on Wednesday (June 24) via a live stream on YouTube, to celebrate student excellence in the areas of athletics, service, leadership, fine arts, and group activities.
The ceremony was led by Physical Education teacher, Matt Baugh.
Baugh opened up the ceremony by thanking the staff and community members who volunteer their time and effort to these programs to make them successful.
“Bow Valley High School continued to set high standards for extracurricular activities within Rocky View schools, and we’re very proud for our achievements,” he said. “This success is due to the tremendous effort that is put into our athletic, artistic, and community service-related programs.”
Baugh noted the success of the athletic programs, who made their way to regional and provincial competitions, and to the community-related programs that strengthened connections at home in Cochrane through advocacy and leadership.
The success of these programs, Baugh noted, “confirmed Bow Valley as a community that not only achieves at a high level but strives, above all, to contribute positively to the world around it.”
“A heartfelt congratulations to all students and staff who put time and energy into making BVHS successful,” he added.
The students recognized throughout the ceremony were noted for their initiative, positive attitudes, and willingness to learn and grow, demonstrated through their dedication, teamwork, and passion for their various crafts, Baugh said.
He also took time to recognize the clubs and teams that could not run as usual due to the restrictions put in place by COVID-19 and the school shut down during the pandemic, including boy’s soccer, track and field, cheerleading, and boy’s and girl’s rugby, among others.
Baugh noted that the staff of Bow Valley High School is looking forward to seeing the return of those clubs next year.
Near the end of the ceremony, the ceremony took note of the excellence of a few of Bow Valley High School’s staff as well.
Special honors were paid to Terri Marchand for her 36-year career, with 20 of those years spent at Bow Valley High School.
Marchand spent 18 years on the grad committee, wrapping up those years of service having to adapt to the challenges of the pandemic, and making changes to and restructuring this year’s grad production.
Marchand was the Mathematics department lead for 18 of those 20 years at Bow Valley High School, but was involved in many other ways, said Math teacher Jarett Hooper.
“Throughout her career, Ms. Marchand has always been an amazing educator, leader, colleague, friend, and mentor. Her legacy and dedication to the profession of teaching will be present here at Bow Valley High School for another 20 plus years” Hooper said. “We are truly grateful for your commitment and dedication to Bow Valley High School. Congratulations to you on such a wonderful career. Enjoy your retirement, Terri.”
The touching sentiment was followed up with a series of video clips of staff, faculty, and students recognizing Marchand’s contributions to the school and their lives.
The special presentation also included a farewell to another teacher who taught their last year at Bow Valley High School, Grant Hoe, who is moving on to teach at Bert Church High School next year.
“We lose a giant. We really do,” said Social Studies teacher Scott Thompson. “We’re losing the Scottie Pippen of Social Studies. We’re losing the Marc Messier of Social Studies.”
Thompson went on to note the success Hoe has had as a teacher during his career.
“Mr. Hoe is one of the top five social studies teachers in the province,” he noted. “He set the standard, for marking and creating questions for the entire province.”
In addition to his many contributions to the culture at Bow Valley, Hoe was a coach, athletic director, staff sponsor for basketball, regularly attended Students for Change events, Leadership events, and fundraising events, noted Thompson. “He was committed to social justice, and social change and that sort of thing.”
Although not mentioned during the program, Bow Valley High School is also seeing the departure of Math teacher Lindsey den Otter.
Den Otter was involved with several courses and clubs at the school.
“She is a positive light at BVHS, who takes on things with energy and excitement; she is a strong strategic thinker, who puts learning, growth, and care of students at the top of her priority list, doing so much to open meaningful opportunities for all learners in our building,” English teacher Tara Sly said of den Otter, who is moving on to an Assistant Principal position at the Rocky View Schools Learning Centre.
Principal Jim Reilly ended the ceremony with a few closing remarks and congratulations to everyone involved at Bow Valley High School. “I want to congratulate all of the Bobcats whose achievements we are recognizing today,” he said. “While we’re celebrating individual achievements tonight, and the hard work, dedication, and commitment that entails, those individual achievements are also a reflection of the great teams, dedicated staff, sacrificing parents, who support, drive to practices, and selflessly give up their time and money to support our kids.”
Many students were recognized for their outstanding performance at the ceremony.
For a full list of names and awards, see below.
Junior Varsity Boys Basketball
Most Improved Player: Jayden Bileski
Most Sportsmanlike: Gurshan Badesha
Most Outstanding Player: Carter McCaw
Junior Varsity Girls Basketball
Most Improved Player: Piper McCormack
Heart Award: Jade Janzen, Ella Kruger
Coaches Award: Rachael Stewart
Most Valuable Player: Josie Powers
Senior Varsity Boys Basketball
Best Defensive Player: Ethan Krawec
Best Offensive Player: Ben Oliver
Most Sportsmanlike: Merek Coltman
Senior Varsity Girls Basketball
Heart Award: Parker Hubl
Rocky View Sports Association All-Star: Natasha Boisvenue
Team and Rocky View Sports Association League Most Valuable Player: Sadie Nielson
Junior Varsity Girls Volleyball
Most Improved Team Players: Sarah Trahan, Abby Stark
Heart Award: Josie Powers
Most Valuable Player: Shay Jeffries
Junior Varsity Boys Volleyball
Hustle: Andrew Grund, Taylor Kellock
All-Star: James Vliestra
Most Valuable Player: Carter Kusch
Senior Varsity Girls Volleyball
Coaches Award: Hayley Hodel
Most Valuable Player: Kayley Macintosh
Girls Soccer
Heart and Hustle Award: Piper Stephenson
Rookie of the Year: Sydney Whale
Offensive Players of the Year: Autumn Carr and Sofia Preece
Defensive Player of the Year: Mikaela Murphy
Cross Country
Heart Award: Mikaela Murphy
Most Improved Player: Avery McGuinness
Most Outstanding Athlete: Sophia Weston Curling
Most Improved Player: Morgan Groves
All-Star Award: Max Kruger
Rookie of the Year: Wilson McNab
Football
Offensive Player of the Year: Ben Oliver
Defensive Player of the Year: Merek Coltman
Most Valuable Player: Ethan Caldwell
Golf
Most Improved Players: Nolan Benoit, Josh Wine
Most Valuable Player: Zach Haydamack
Concert and Jazz Bands
Concert Band 9, Outstanding Musicians: Oliver Bowen, Anthony Juliano, Fisher Linton, Teagan Lord
Concert Band 10, Outstanding Musicians: Zoe Boisvert, Logan Enders, Tavian Friesen, Ethan Heusser
Concert Band 20, Outstanding Musicians: Jocelyn Eckert, Charlotte Vos
Concert Band 30, Outstanding Musicians: Owen Adekat, Lola Boisvert, Dhaniella Pedroza, Jorja Polischuk, Sean Proctor
Jazz Band 9, Outstanding Musicians: Jade Janzen Shelby Pohl
Jazz Band 10, Outstanding Musicians: Toby Carter, Gavyn Roper Paige White
Jazz Band 20, Outstanding Musicians: Bryson Hammer, Thomas Hicks, Max Kruger
Jazz Band 30, Outstanding Musicians: Kayden Hiebert, Emily Klassen, Makenzie Oswald, Sean Proctor
Performing Arts
Rookie of the Year: Owen Meyers, Theo Blough
Heart Award: Baillie McLauchlan, Liam Richardson
Most Valuable Performer: Toby Carter
Advanced Acting
Excellence in Directing: Sebastian Salomon, Riley Paffrath Excellence in Acting: Jeff Devost, Baillie McLauchlan, Adrianna Rosso Excellence in Technical Theatre: Toby Carter Excellence in Playwriting: Baillie McLauchlan Excellence in Multiple Categories: Tanner Gerhardi
Technical Theatre
Technician of the Year: Toby Carter
Heart Award: Keith Radford, Guy Farrell
Most Valuable Technicians: Toby Carter, Tianna Davidson
Leadership
Heart Award: Riley Paffrath
Rookie of the Year: Toby Carter
Most Valuable Player: Sophia Weston
Bow Valley CARES Award (Connect authentically, responsively, entirely, supportively)
Connects: Ethan Caldwell
Authentic: Theo Blough, Emma Novak
Responsive: Jade Janzen
Entirely Committed: Sharaya Loeppky
Supportive: Liam Richardson
Bow Valley Citizenship Awards
Grade 9: Ella Kruger, Madyson Cheverie, Isabelle Levisky
Grade 10: Toby Carter, Autumn Carr, Fiona Goodman
Grade 11: Jett Devost, Mikaela Murphy, Jorja Powers, Madison Switzer
Grade 12: Maegan Bradbury, Riley Paffrath, Sebastian Saloman, Sophia Weston
Performers of the Year
Sebastian Saloman, Riley Paffrath
Musicians of the Year
Jorja Polischuk, Sean Proctor
Junior Varsity Athletes of the Year
Autumn Carr, James Vlietsta
Senior Varsity Athletes of the Year
Jorja Powers, Mikaela Murphy
