Grade Nine Student Receives Provincial Award

Grade Nine Student Receives Provincial Award
Posted on 04/28/2023
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We are so proud of grade nine student Olianna Stone, from Prairie River Junior High School, for being chosen to receive the ASBA (Alberta School Boards Association) Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award. This award is presented to students with exemplary leadership, courage, and commitment to their cultures and educational paths. Olianna was one of 12 students who were selected from among 224 nominees.

 

Olianna was nominated by one of her teachers, who noted many of her accomplishments and leadership qualities. Olianna is an active YCR (Youth Council for Reconciliation) member. As such, she organizes and carries out activities for school honour days, such as Orange Shirt Day. Olianna felt her school needed a daily Land Acknowledgement and took a lead role in bringing this idea to fruition. Now a part of the grade 9 ELA program, students create original Land Acknowledgements, which Olianna announces throughout the year. Another of her ideas was to design matching ribbon hoodies for her hand games teammates. She assisted in designing and creating these hoodies, which feature the team mascot and "we play hand games" in Cree syllabics. Olianna also developed a logo for the Prairie River Mathlete Minions, a club she is a member of.

 

Her teacher went on to describe Olianna as "a star student in our school. Her work is always done to the highest standard in all core subjects. She only says kind words and encouragement to everyone she meets. She is a strong academic student and is always willing to help people reach their academic goals".

 

Prairie River School's Indigenous Education Coach supported the nomination by adding, "This young leader always carries herself in a kind and gentle way. She encourages her fellow members of the YCR group and makes everyone feel like their ideas are important and valid, and supports them in making those ideas a reality. Olianna has a bright future in front of her and takes on these things not because she wants recognition but because she sees how improvements can be made and works to get them done. She does this because it is the right thing to do".

 

All winners received an award certificate and congratulatory letter, a unique hand-crafted Star Blanket, and a $2,500 scholarship sponsored by Keyera.

 

The Honouring Spirit Award Ceremony was held on Saturday, April 15, at Government House in Edmonton. For more information about this event, go to https://www.asba.ab.ca/12-students-receive-indigenous.../.

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