OFSAA Announces 2024 Alumni Scholarship Recipients
Five deserving student-athletes from Ontario High Schools have been awarded $550.00 scholarships by the OFSAA Alumni Association. Over 45 applications were received from the following eligible associations: COSSA, TDCAA, GHAC, NCSSAA, CISAA & NWOSSAA. This year’s winners are Gabi Grof from I.E. Weldon (COSSA), Anderson Steiner from Nelson (GHAC), Michael Kung of ÉSC Pierre-Savard (NCSSAA), Kaden Busch from St. Patrick (NWOSSAA) and Aya Kinsey from Fr. John Redmond (TDCAA).
Gabi Grof is a grade 12 student who plans to study Human Kinetics at the University of Windsor in the fall. During her time at I.E. Weldon in Lindsay, Ontario, Gabi took part in the following sports: cross country, golf, rugby, hockey, soccer, badminton, and track & field while maintaining a 95% average in her academic courses. She was also the Co-President of the school’s Athletic Union which was responsible for organizing numerous events for students and staff throughout the school year. Gabi was also heavily involved in community organizations including Care for the Elderly, Lindsay Lynx Girls Hockey Association and Fresh FueLL. In her personal statement, Gabi stated that “high school athletics have allowed me to experience a wider variety of sports at different levels of competition and have increased my social confidence significantly”. One of Gabi’s teacher-coaches said this about her importance to the athletic program at I.E. Weldon: “Gabi was considered one of the leaders on all of these teams, as she played a pivotal role for each and every team that she was a part of. Her positivity lifts the team when they need it and the coaches can always rely on her to get the momentum back on their side if need be.”
Michael Kung is a grade 12 student at ÉSC Pierre-Savard in Nepean, Ontario. Michael was involved in numerous sports at the school including volleyball, badminton, ultimate and volleyball while at the same time maintaining an average of over 90%. Michael was also a two-year member of the school’s student council and was President of the Sports Committee for the past two years. He has helped out in numerous school activities like the Relay for Life as the Marketing Director as well as being the photographer and editor of the school’s yearbook. His community outreach involvement is highlighted by his involvement as the volunteer coach in various club and elementary school volleyball programs in the Ottawa area. Michael believes that his involvement in school sport has allowed him “to become a student leader who has dedicated a lot of time into promoting physical health and encouraging people to try new things, in hopes that they will have a good time.” One of Michael’s teachers had this to say about him: “Michael’s leadership capabilities are evident in his current role as a coach for the grade 7 boys’ volleyball team, where he not only imparts his knowledge and expertise but also instills in his players the values of hard work, perseverance, and unity.” In the fall, Michael will be studying Commerce at the University of Ottawa.
Anderson Steiner is a grade 12 student at Nelson High School in Burlington, Ontario. Another outstanding student-athlete with an average of 90%, Anderson participated in six different sports during her high school career. Being involved in basketball, volleyball, soccer, football, soccer, ultimate and badminton clearly illustrate how organized and dedicated Anderson was towards both her studies and athletics. In addition, Anderson was the President of the SAA as well as a member of the school’s Student Council and was the lead organizer in the first ever Relay for Life at Nelson. Her community involvement was extensive and included volunteering in activities like Special Olympics, track and field, and club tennis events. In her letter to the committee, Anderson emphasized that being a part of sports teams has allowed her to “learn valuable lessons about the genuine meaning of being a leader.” In her letter of recommendation to the committee, one of Anderson’s teachers said this about her: “In the realm of athletics, Anderson is a true standout. She is a phenomenal athlete, demonstrating exceptional skill, discipline, knowledge and sportsmanship.” In the fall, Anderson will be studying Business at either Western or Queens.
Kaden Busch is a grade 12 student at St. Patrick High School in Thunder Bay. During his time in high school, Kaden participated in golf, football, soccer and track and field. In addition, Kaden was involved in Student Council and Athletic Councils in leadership roles. His community involvement included volunteering as a minor baseball coach, assisting with drama and play productions and offering his services at local craft fairs. In his application, Kaden said this about the role of high school sports in his overall development: “Sports offer the ultimate opportunity to learn about yourself, to conquer your fears, to overcome every obstacle placed in front of you and grow as an individual and to challenge yourself not only physically but also socially, mentally and emotionally.” One of his teachers had this to say about Kaden: “Most importantly, he uses his abilities and personality to advocate for other students and teammates and focuses on making the school community an inclusive one through his kindness, positive attitude, and humility.” In September, Kaden is going to study Police Foundations at Confederation College.
Aya Kinsey is a grade 12 student at Fr. John Redmond CSS in Etobicoke, Ontario. In the fall, Aya is planning on attending Western University to study Economics. While at Redmond, Aya played soccer, softball, basketball, hockey, ultimate and was part of the track and field team. Aya is also an outstanding student, carrying an overall average of 97%. Aya was also extensively involved in community service in her local church and the City of Toronto sports camps as well as playing hockey on a boys’ team in the GTHL. In her personal essay, Aya reflected on her involvement in sport and how it helped to shape her as a person: “As a team player, I learned the importance of respect, dedication, and discipline as I balanced academics and extracurriculars. Through encouragement and challenges by coaches and teammates, I learned the importance of perseverance, as I navigated not only team adversities but personal ones.” One of her teacher-coaches had this to say about Aya and the impact that she has had at the school during her time there: “I have not seen many students her age excel as young leaders and driven people early in life, as a person, athlete and student. Aya has single-handedly transformed athletics at Redmond, where through the use of Instagram to create social media content, highlights and messages resulting she was able to significantly increase traffic in just a few months.”
OFSAA would like to congratulate Gabi, Michael, Anderson, Kaden and Aya and wishes them well in all of their future endeavours.
