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Graduate
Kevin Ward recognized for dedication and service to CHS
By Jeffrey
Pickette
Citizen Staff
During his
four years as a Class of 2008 officer at Canton High School,
Kevin Ward worked to unite the members of his class and make
their high school experience a memorable one. To return the
favor and show their appreciation for his efforts, his
classmates overwhelmingly selected Ward as this year’s CHS Hall
of Fame Spirit Cup recipient.
 “It’s nice
to be recognized for that because I tried to make their senior
year the best it could be,” Ward said. “I was definitely
surprised and definitely humbled by [receiving] it.”
Ward
received a trophy and a $500 scholarship at the school’s
scholarship night, held June 4. Since its inception in 2003,
members of the CHS graduating class have voted to select the
recipient.
Sponsored by
the Swardlick family — who had 11 family members graduate from
CHS from 1921 to 1973 — the Spirit Cup is awarded to a
graduating senior who is active within the school community
while displaying “pride in [and] loyalty to CHS.”
Ward was the
president of his class freshman and senior years, vice president
in his sophomore and junior years (a class president cannot hold
the office for consecutive years), a member of the student
advisory board that met with the superintendent, and a captain
of the spring and winter track teams.
“My
experience at Canton High really just set me up for life and I
tried to give back what it gave to me,” said Ward, noting how
important it was to him to “get involved.”
In addition
to helping to organize prom night festivities, Ward was
instrumental in planning the fall sports rally in October, where
many members of the student body and faculty took part in
spirit-building activities, including ‘mummy wrapping’ Principal
Doug Dias and Superintendent Dr. John D’Auria together with
toilet paper.
Ward also
spearheaded an effort to move graduation from the traditional
spot in front of the Rodman building to Memorial Field; and when
he spoke at a School Committee meeting in May, 70 of his
classmates came to support him.
Athletic
Director Danny Erickson was not only impressed with Ward’s
support of Canton High athletics; he credited him for his
devotion to his track teams as well.
“In some
years this award seems to go to the individual who was most
supportive of the athletic programs from the stands as a
spectator,” Erickson wrote in an e-mail to the Citizen.
“That is part of spirit, but Kevin not only won this award for
his diehard commitment as a Bulldog fan; he also won it for
showing the spirit of a Bulldog by supporting his track
teammates and being an excellent role model.”
He also had
an outstanding outdoor track season as a sprinter, earning
himself All-Hock honors and being named Canton Citizen
co-MVP in the spring for his role in the 4x100 meter relay.
Ward advised
all high school students to participate in sports and take part
in after school clubs. “Do something — not only for your resume,
but just for your own self,” he said. “Have fun in high
school…It goes by in the blink of an eye. You don’t want to wish
you did more.”
In the fall,
Ward will attend Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New
Hampshire. After college, he hopes to continue to give back to
CHS as a teacher in the social studies department.
July 24, 2008
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