Owl Award

The Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education

Owl Award

History

On July 5, 2010, the Board of Education started the Owl Award for Excellence in Public Education. The School District No. 73 Award for Excellence in Public Education was established by the Kamloops-Thompson Board of Education to recognize an individual, a group or an organization that has distinguished themselves by providing outstanding service to public education in the Kamloops-Thompson School District. Superintendent Sullivan commissioned the services of a local artist, Mr. Terry Norlander, to create a statuette of a burrowing owl that is native to the Kamloops area and on the endangered species list. 

 

Past Recipients
  • 2023-2024 - Annemarie Watts for her local, regional, and provincial impact on students and public education through teaching and coaching secondary athletics. Brent Buck for his leadership in developing and popularizing the Forestry Logging program at Clearwater Secondary School, which expanded within and beyond the District.
  • 2022-23 - Tracy Clarke and Steven Powrie for their years of service in Music Education, community service, and extracurricular commitments. Wayne Deptuck and Dan Sargent for preparing and maintaining the grounds, facilities, and trails, working with partner agencies and multiple ministries to champion the needs of the McQueen Lake Education Centre.
  • 2019-20 - Robert Hogeveen, a long-standing advocate for music education. 
  • 2018-19 - Fiona Clare, for her contributions to learning throughout the region.   
  • 2017-18 - Nathan Matthew, for his work in developing and supporting Aboriginal Education in SD73 
  • 2016-15 - Chris Rose, whose long career in Special Education had tremendous impact on the lives and learning experiences of generations of children, particularly those with autism.
  • 2014-15 - North Rotary Club, for more than 40 years of support and hard work at the McQueen Lake Environmental Education Centre
Criteria

The award will recognize outstanding, system-wide contributions to public education in our school district by an individual, group or organization in the following areas:

  • Student Learning/Teaching
  • Athletics
  • Fine Arts
  • Community Well-being/Partnerships
  • Extra or Co-Curricular Learning
  • Administration and Support
  • Governance
Eligibility

For an individual, (i.e., This does not have to be an SD73 employee. It can be someone who has worked closely with SD73), group or organization to receive the award they will have made significant, system-wide and outstanding contributions to public education in SD73 over a period of time (five years or more), and have had a positive, significant impact on the development of students, parents, teachers, support staff and educational leaders. 

Deadline and Nomination Process

By March 31, 2024, complete these three steps to nominate a person, group, and organization:

Step 1: Complete the nomination form:  

Step 2. Collect the following support documentation:

  • Three letters of support

Step 3: Upload the nomination form and support documentation here:

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