School officials and a mother kept a secret about a surprise $30,000 scholarship for a Holy Rosary student until the announcement on Wednesday, Mar. 19.
Jace Zidar was coming back from a shift at the indoor pool where he works part-time as a lifeguard. He got back to school for a meeting with a career counsellor which was a ruse to get him to the real meeting with the University of Saskatchewan representative.
He knew it was going to be a busy morning as the boys’ senior basketball team is heading to provincials in Fort MacMurray and he needed to be on the bus right away.
The look of surprise was priceless as the youngster who wants to be a dentist got the news from Tina Zheng, student recruitment officer at U of S. Zheng says they help students who want to come to the university to find what they are passionate about.
“Whether they are doing great in their high school. Or show us their big interest in their sports. Or leadership. Or do a lot of community service. We will support them with scholarships and awards.”
Jason Almond, career guidance counsellor expressed Holy Rosary’s pride in all its students and especially winning a deserving scholarship.
“Jace is a very well rounded young man. He works really hard in all areas – both the academics and athletics. It is a surprise, but it’s not a surprise that he is a winner of this scholarship because of his hard work.”
Looking across to his mother, Amy and his sister, Jace stood in disbelief holding the large cheque in both hands.
“I had an idea but I had no clue.”
The achievement clearly means a lot to the student who is happy to see his efforts paying off. He shares about how he finds balance in his life.
“I try to fit it all in, and I try to do what I like the most. It’s hard. Sometimes you got to miss something. Choose something over something else. It’s about making sacrifices to get what you really want.”
Jace will study bio-medical science over the next four years and plans to play football.
The soon to be Holy Rosary grad is a lifeguard and swimming instructor. Jace is heading out right away to represent his school at provincial basketball in Fort McMurray.
As he ventures out to have new life experiences, Jace says he is going to miss home.
“I have lived here pretty much my whole life. So, I’m moving away from everyone I know.”
The world awaits the next chapter in the life of Jace and the graduating class of 2025.
