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Bow Valley High School hosts Blue and Gold celebration

“Bow Valley High School continued to set high standards for extracurricular activities within Rocky View schools, and we’re very proud for our achievements. This success is due to the tremendous effort that is put into our athletic, artistic, and community service-related programs," - Matt Baugh, Physical Education Teacher, Bow Valley High School.
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Bow Valley High School held its annual Blue and Gold awards Ceremony on Wednesday (June 24) to recognize student excellence in the areas of athletics, fine arts, and community service.

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

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