WELLINGTON NORTH – A Mount Forest youth is among five high school graduates who made a big impact in their schools and communities who are being recognized for their academic excellence, minor hockey participation and extracurricular work outside the rink.
As hockey players, coaches and referees in the Ontario Minor Hockey Association, they are the inaugural winners of $8,000 post-secondary bursaries from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario.
The recipients are: Ethan Andrews (Mount Forest), Adam Huras (New Hamburg), Vincent Robbenhaar (Barrie), Chloe Ryder (Kent) and Andrew Salgo (Guelph). They were selected from the 2019-20 minor hockey season and are currently attending university.
Andrews was involved in over 30 clubs in addition to playing AAA hockey with the Grey-Bruce Highlanders.
A graduate of Wellington Heights Secondary School, Andrews was named the school’s Athlete of the Year as well as earning three School Letter awards. He earned academic honours while often taking classes a grade above his level. His work ethic and leadership were noted both in the school hallways and on the ice, where he was named team captain.
To play AAA hockey with the Grey-Bruce team meant his closest practices and games were almost an hour away.
But the Mount Forest native excelled with dedication and time management, with coaches describing him as one of the hardest working players they had ever seen.
“Over the course of my high school career, I was part of over 30 clubs and teams. I found it to be a very important part to becoming a very well-rounded individual – not just academically but also in different sports. You should do as many as you possibly can,” Andrews said.
He was on the school’s Athlete’s Council and provided lunches on certain days to the whole school even though he was away studying at co-op placements.
Dave Griffiths was his co-op teacher.
“He wasn’t there at school, but he would have a group chat saying what needed to be done. He would be at co-op but still have the lunch ready for when it was time,” said Griffiths.
In addition to the Athlete’s Council, Andrews also served as the head of student council finance. He led the school’s Relay for Life, raising over $30,000 for Canadian Cancer Society as well as the Warm Winter Wishes campaign.
Andrews helped run an annual charity youth hockey tournament and volunteered as a youth basketball coach.
Andrews is now enrolled in Western University’s business program.
The Dairy Farmers Ontario Bursary program provides minor hockey players recognition of their outstanding contribution to community service, athletic and academic success. Applications for 2021 Bursary Program will be announced in the coming weeks.
“We are extremely proud of the five recipients chosen for the Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary,” said OMHA executive director Ian Taylor.
“Each of these student-athletes demonstrates the dedication and commitment needed to succeed on and off the ice.
“Their leadership and desire to give back to hockey and their communities through coaching, officiating and volunteering, has positively impacted the lives of many around them.
“We wish them all the best in their post-secondary education.”
“Congratulations to each of the DFO and OMHA bursary recipients for your outstanding contributions both on and off the ice,” said Murray Sherk, DFO’s Board Chair.
