HAGERSVILLE — Hagersville resident Summer Wolfe has been named as a recipient of Libro Credit Union’s Student Award for the 2022-23 school year, earning herself $2,000 to put toward her future career goal of becoming an Adventure Guide.
The awards program seeks to highlight promising youth in the community who demonstrate “outstanding commitment to their community while balancing academic success.”
Wolfe, one of 34 recipients across the province for the year, recently completed Grade 12 at Holy Trinity School in Simcoe and has lived in Hagersville since she was born. In total, Libro paid out $68,000 in supporting local youth through the program for the year, adding to the $900,000 in total the program has handed out to 330 students since launching in 2012.
Wolfe outlined some of her achievements: “I’m involved in a bunch of stuff at my school, including four sports teams and also a bunch of clubs. I was student council president this year, which was my biggest leadership role to date. I’ve been involved in student senate, social justice, and in the community – I’m involved in the Lion’s Club, and the Summer’s End festival. Last December I volunteered with the Haldimand Norfolk Woman’s Services, and I’m also involved with the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program.”
Through the program, Wolfe was able to attend a three-day leadership event, where future leaders “gather together and do team building, leadership, and community service activities. I volunteer as group leader. I’ve been doing that for the past three years.”
Asked how she can successfully juggle so many commitments while remaining a top student in her classes, she responded, “I like to always be busy.”
“I feel really grateful that I’ve been recognized in this way,” said Wolfe. “I’ve put a lot of time and effort into both my schoolwork and being involved in the community. I’m really grateful to be recognized in this way formally by Libro. This is going to make a really big difference for my education. It will go a long way for sure.”
Wolfe is busy spending her summer preparing for college this fall, where she will attend the Simcoe campus of Fanshawe, studying Adventure Expeditions and Interpretive Leadership.
She said that her award money will effectively cover the entire first semester’s tuition, which she called a “really big deal.”
Wolfe prides herself on fiscal responsibility, calling it a motivating factor in her decision to attend college so close to home.
The program runs four semesters over two years. Wolfe added, “It’s really hands-on, that’s why I wanted to go to this program. They have an end-of-the-year expedition in northern Ontario. You also earn 16 industry certifications which will set me up really well for the future job market.”
As for how she’ll utilize her education post-graduation, “I’ll see whichever little niche I fit into, but right now I like multi-day backpacking expeditions, canoeing, kayaking, I’d like to be a snowboard instructor one day. Anything in the outdoors where I can share my love of nature with other people. I’m really excited.”
Wolfe thanked Libro for selecting her and concluded with some advice for other students interested in applying for the award, or similar awards: “Show your personality. A lot of people applying for these awards are going to have good grades on paper, probably have a lot of extra-curricular activities. What will set you apart is your ability to connect to the people who are evaluating, and to show your passions and that you actually care about what you’re doing and what you want to do in the future.”
Stay tuned for features on other Haldimand Libro Student Award winners.
