Monday, March 29, 2010 — THE MEDICINE HAT NEWS Leaders of Tomorrow 2010 – 3

Hannah Crooks is a Grade 5 student in the Learning Assistance Program at Elm Street School. At any particular point during the school day, she can be found helping her classmates with their school work, solving a computer problem or offering to help her teachers with a variety of tasks, all of which are offered with a selfless, positive attitude. Hannah is a very compassionate young lady. She cares about everyone she knows and shows them through countless acts of kindness, always with a smile on her face. Within the school setting, Hannah loves to assist her Grade 1 book buddies, voluntarily participates in violin lessons, intramurals, Girl's Group, fundraising theme days, where her true school spirit shines through, and has been given the 'Terrific Kid' award through the Medicine Hat Gas City Kiwanis Club. She is definitely a positive role model for her classmates and the rest of the student body. Outside of school, Hannah participates in two dance classes at the Medicine Hat College and is a proud member of the Medicine Hat Light Horse 4H Club. As a member of 4H, Hannah rides her horse Jaydee and participates regularly in numerous riding clinics. With 4H comes numerous other responsibilities such as, presenting a speech in front of a panel of judges and her peers, making saddle racks and tack boxes and volunteer opportunities, like assisting in the annual highway clean-up, delivering Christmas hampers for the Santa Claus Fund, face painting at the Trade Show for Big Brothers and Big Sisters and being a lane ambassador for the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters Bowl for Kids. Hannah participates and volunteers with pride in everything that she does. Hannah lives on a farm with her parents Shawn and Dianne and sister Rebecca, just west of Medicine Hat. She has many responsibilities between dance and 4H. She is reponsibile for helping to care for their two horses, two miniature ponies, three dogs and numerous cats. Her farm responsiblities are quite evident as she often comes to school in the mornings with muddy boots and straw highlighted hair. In her spare time, Hannah is addicted to reading and is presently immersing herslef in the Diary of a Whimpy Kid series. Hannah embraces each new learning experience with wonder and excitement and is always willing to try something new. She always tries her best and works very hard to accomplish her goals. She does not like to disappoint, or feel like she has let others down, but is not easily discouraged and jumps right back in with both feet. Although Hannah is unsure of her career path at this point in her life, she is positive that it will have something to do with horses. She embraces new opportunities with such passion and excitement that her options will be endless. Her creativeness and incredible imagination will shine through in whatever career path she may choose.

Hannah Crooks

Hannah Ravanello is an enthusiastic Grade 5 student at Medicine Hat Christian School. She loves to be active, so playing ringette as she has for the last three years is a natural fit for her. This year, Hannah's ringette team is headed to provincials, so she will be prepared to defend the net as the team goalie with all of the energy she can muster. Ringette is not the only sport that Hannah enjoys. She has played in-line hockey on a boys team for the past two years and is looking forward to a new in-line season starting up soon. Off the ice, organized soccer has been a favourite sport with Hannah since she was four years old. Despite her busy family schedule, Hannah is committed to following her heart as a volunteer with the local SPCA. She and her sister Mickey both love to play with the animals and walk the dogs, every chance that they get. Being with the animals is a fun way for Hannah to relax and give of her time. Giving to others is a family commitment that extends outside of the local community. Hannah's family supports two girls in India through the Chalice Sponsorship Program, and she actively encourages these girls in their academic pursuits through regular letter writing. Hannah loves to learn and wants her two friends in India to reap all of the benefits that excellence in education can offer them. Hannah is an example to her peers of a well-rounded student who takes an active interest in academics, sports, animals, the needs of others, and music. She regularly shares her piano playing skills with her class on Music Sharing Days, and always give her best in all that she does. Her ready smile and friendly nature are a blessing to everyone.

Hannah Ravanello

Phoenix is a bright, friendly girl. Although she comes from underprivileged circumstances, she never uses that as a crutch or an excuse. She is a very conscientious, hard-working student whose selfless personality is uncompromised in her classroom. Phoenix does not have the opportunities to develop her leadership skills outside of school but with some mentoring and guidance, Phoenix could become a future leader in our community. Phoenix has lived in Medicine Hat since she was four. Some of her interests include playing soccer and guitar. She is aware of some needs around the school, such as adding more flowering plants to our garden to attract visitors, who will then need a nice place to sit, which means putting in some benches. Phoenix's future ambitions include going to college where she would like to pursue a career that would take her around the world. She would love to travel everywhere. Phoenix sees herself living in a big city like Vancouver.

Phoenix Malek

Jennifer Antonovitch graduated from George P. Vanier School in 2008. She has been with Core Association for over a year now and works hard in the kitchen to learn skills for her future. She is reliable and punctual, a hard worker, friendly, kind and enjoys working with people and animals. Jennifer is an excellent role model for her peers and she takes time to help them learn with her. Some of Jennifer's favorite things to do are horseback riding, listening to music, playing video games, cooking, baking and puzzles.

Jennifer Antonovitch

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Michaela, or 'Mickey' as she is known by her friends, shares her twin sister Hannah's ear-to-ear smile and eagerness to live life to the fullest. She has a contagious enthusiasm for learning that spreads to her fellow students, whether it is sharing her musical abilities on the piano on Music Sharing Day, or presenting a project on an endangered species. Mickey loves animals and it shows, not only in her academic pursuits, but in the time that she spends on weekends at the local SPCA. Walking dogs and playing with all of the animals there is a weekly highlight for Mickey, and an opportunity to give of her time. For the past year and a half, Mickey has enjoyed writing letters to the two daughters of a sponsored family in India. Mickey's encouragement to them to strive for excellence in their studies is a reflection of her own passion for excellence in the classroom. Outside of school, Mickey plays forward on a girls ringette team, a sport that she loves. Mickey's team recently won silver and gold medals at province-wide tournaments, no easy feat in light of her academic and volunteer commitments. This year will be the beginning of a new challenge for Mickey, who will be playing in-line hockey on a boys team for the first time. Add organized soccer to the mix, and you can appreciate Mickey's love for sports is something that continues all year long. Mickey is an inspiration to her teammates, her fellow students, and even to young girls in India who she has never met. She is an example of leadership in academics, in volunteering and in sport!

Michaela (Micke) Ravanello

Keelin Boechler volunteers at the Southridge YMCA once a week, setting up and taking down the equipment for the youngsters attending the kinder gym program. He's also donated to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank. For his sixth birthday, he decided that he had already had one birthday party with family, and presents, so he suggested that instead of receiving presents from his friends at that birthday party, that they should all make donations to the food bank. Keelin canvasses for Diabetes and Heart and Stroke Foundations and befriended many neighbors in the attempt to encourage donations for these good causes. All of the above were done with family, of course. But, the important and key element is that Keelin understood the importance of why he was doing it. During the school year of 2008-09 is when the YMCA volunteering took place, and Keelin was home schooled for this year (Grade 1). It was important to him, and his family, to be involved in community efforts. In times when many children his age would only be watching TV or playing videos, he gladly took on a higher challenge. He entered into the Medicine Hat Police Service contest to name their new dog. Although his name choice was not selected, he was one of the runners-up and was very proud of that. He felt a good name was really important for a dog carrying so much responsibility. Every year Keelin has participated with his mom in the MS Walk. Keelin has dyslexia. Although this can be a challenge in many, many ways on a day-to-day basis, he always welcomes a challenge with a smile. That in itself is an amazing quality and accomplishment. In short, Keelin is always a happy, caring person with a great love for people and animals. He can talk the socks off most anyone and always has a smile and laugh on-hand. His mom has always said (and many concur), he's a young boy with a wonderfully huge personality!

Keelin Boehler

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