APEX nominees worthy of recognition

Posted on May 1, 2025 by Taber Times

By Cal Braid
Taber Times
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The return of the APEX Youth Awards after a four year hiatus is undoubtedly a win for local students. The awards rightly recognize young people whose virtues stand out as they navigate the challenges of growing up.

 APEX committee member Dorthea Mills said the awards “were created to recognize individuals that represented the best qualities in our youth from Taber and area; youth who unselfishly give of themselves in the service of others and who have shown resilience when faced with adversity.”

 In resurrecting the awards, the committee decided to transition from hosting a ‘one and done’ gala evening and instead opted for distributing three $1,000 bursaries to the winners.

 The committee members are Mills, Wilco Tymensen, Sheila Laqua, Jodie Gross, Pat Bremner, and Henk DeVlieger. Though the APEX committee consists of a number of Horizon School Division (HSD) employees, the awards are not related to any school or division. Nominees aged six to 20 must be from the Town of Taber or M.D., and students from outside counties are not eligible.

 The committee has released a colour booklet featuring pictures and bios of the 10 nominees. It can be viewed on the HSD website. The following are excerpts from the bios in the booklet. Access to the source material is courtesy of Mills.

 Here are the 2025 APEX Youth Award nominees:

 Lilly Bennett is a grade eleven student at W.R. Myers High School. Darrell Bergmann, athletic director for W.R. Myers says, “Lilly truly has a magnetic personality that draws everyone closer to her.” He continues by saying, “coaches always rave about how coachable Lilly is, her dedication to the team and how they wish they had a “team of Lillys.”

 Nikolas Binnie is a grade eleven student at W.R. Myers High School. With a positive attitude and outgoing personality, Nik falls into a leadership role naturally.

 Jasmine Downey is a grade eight student at D.A. Ferguson Middle School in Taber. Jasmine’s teacher, Michelle Sawchuk states, “A natural leader, Jasmine carries herself with self-respect and maturity. She leads through example demonstrating humility and a strong work ethic in every endeavor.”

 Zuri Gardner is a grade ten student at W.R. Myers High School. Zuri is described as being kind, caring, talented, and accepting of others. Zuri shows great passion for everything she does. Zuri is very talented and is passionate about the fine arts.

 Sebastian Hoekstra is a grade twelve student at Taber Christian High School. Sebastian is described as a positive, cheerful young man who brings an infectious energy and enthusiasm to everything he does. Teacher Trina Mantler Friesen says, “His ability to balance both individual effort and teamwork makes him an outstanding role model and a true asset to any group or project he is involved in.”

 Ivy Hughes is a grade seven student at D.A Ferguson Middle School. Kristen Irvine, previous head coach of the Taber Vipers Swim Club, describes Ivy as a silent leader. She says, “Ivy is an example of what it means to be a silent leader. Her impact is not made through being loud or being in the spotlight, but rather through the quiet consistency with which leads by example. She exudes kindness, humility, and grace.”

 Tate Nakashima is a grade eleven student at W.R. Myers High School. Tate is described as bright, funny, and empathic. His ability to communicate with both young and old is commendable. Tate takes time to engage in conversation with anyone. Tate has the ability to engage and make people feel valued.

 Torynn Plumb is a grade eleven student at Vauxhall High School. School Principal Todd Ojala says, “Torynn exemplifies what it means to be a quiet, yet impactful leader, one who influences others through her actions, character, and commitment to serving others.”

 Kaydence Smith is a grade nine student at St. Mary’s School in Taber. Kaydence is the type of person that doesn’t like to sit around and do nothing. She has quite a full schedule but she always finds time to lend a hand. Kaydence’s school principal, Michelle Nevil says, “Kaydence is inclusive and non-judgmental, consistently offering others a chance and fostering a welcoming environment for all.”

 Brilynd Unser is a grade eleven student at W.R. Myers High School. Brilynd is known for his sense of humour, his willingness to lend a hand to others, his quiet strength and resiliency.

Congratulations to the nominees who make their schools and communities a better place by their presence.