Wahkotowin Society honors students with drive

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On June 11, the University of Alberta's Faculty Club played host to the 1997 Edmonton Catholic School Board's Most Improved Aboriginal Student Awards.

Seventeen promising students received awards for improving their performances in school and in the community over the last year.

The awards ceremony has been held for the last nine years, and is put on by a group of dedicated volunteers of the Wahkotowin Society. The society raises funds for the event and helps put on a show for the students, parents and staff of Edmonton's Catholic schools and alternative learning schools.

Eva Bereti has been at the controls of Wahkotowin for the nine years it has been organizing the awards.

She said the recognition given to the students is special. It isn't always about top marks or competition, it is about personal growth.

"It's the kids that are turning their lives around. It's not for the academic so much as what they did so far to their life. It's to make them feel good and for someone to give them a pat on the back for it," she said."The most important thing is that they feel good about themselves. It's that someone sees them as being important."

During the two-hour luncheon and presentation, students were showered with words of praise from teachers and principals.

Several times throughout the presentations, the importance of parental and family involvement was emphasized as one of the most important factors in the success of the students.

"The values he has are directly attributed to his parents who are here today," said Ecole St. Cecillia Jr. High School teacher Michael Kovacs about his Grade 8 award-winning student Ryan Letendre. "When you see his parents at all of the meetings and all of the conferences, you know why Ryan is here today."

Clifford Whitford, a Native counsellor at St. Joseph Catholic High School, was impressed with his school's recipient of the award.

Last year, Miranda Desjarlais had only two credits and almost 300 absences, said Whitford.

"This year she has achieved all her credits (42) and her attendance has improved 95 per cent."

Desjarlais said she realized she was heading for trouble and had to make some big changes.

"I knew I had to buckle down and think about myself. I was slacking off. . . Personal problems got to me and I couldn't concentrate on anything."

Desjarlais, who graduated from St. Joseph's in May also received the Dr. Anne Anderson Scholarship from the school.

"It meant a lot," said Desjarlais. "It has brought tears to my eyes. It's a big accomplishment."

Desjarlais has some advice for students who are struggling at school and at home.

"Don't give up on what you want to do. It's a struggle and it's not going to be a straight path, but don't give up," she said.

Desjarlais is looking at going to university which could turn her life around full circle. She wants to be a teacher. She has her sights set on that goal and is using what she has learned in school to aim for it.

Desjarlais, along with the other recipients, took home their special award certificates for the most improved Aboriginal students and also received letters of congratulations from Edmonton Mayor Bill Smith and Premier Ralph Klein.