Connor Watrych does a lot in the community. The Yorkton Regional High School student was recently recognized by the City of Yorkton鈥檚 Citizen Recognition Awards in the youth category. He鈥檚 the SRC president, as well as captain of the football and basketball teams, as explained by Jessica Matsalla at the announcement of the award winners. Watrych has also helped organize the YRHS Thanksgiving Feast, Telemiracle fundraising and Terry Fox runs, and has helped prepare meals for the Soup Haven.
Watrych said that his goal was never about getting recognition, but has been inspired to get out and make a difference by others in the school before him, and that it feels good to organize things that make a difference.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 do it to get recognized, but it鈥檚 awesome when you do.鈥�
Watrych was also founder of Touchdowns for Kids, a program which donates to football scholarships every time the YRHS Raider Gridders score a touchdown. Watrych donated money, which was matched by other programs. A total of $4,000 was raised for football scholarships for kids. He was inspired to start the program because of his experiences in football, both coaching and as a player.
鈥淲hen you work with youth, you want everybody to have that opportunity. Reflecting on my own journey, football really shaped my life and made me the person I am today, and I know it鈥檚 not available to everybody. I want to make sure that it could be.鈥�
Now in the same position as many of the students who inspire him, he hopes that the younger kids just entering YRHS also get involved in their community.
鈥淚 hope that they see if they put their mind towards something, they can do it, that every little bit counts, all of the little things add up to the bigger picture.鈥�
The Grade 12 student said that his community involvement will continue long after his high school career. Now in the process of applying for post-secondary education, Watrych believes his time at YRHS will set the tone for the rest of his life.
鈥淚 want to continue to do great things in whatever community I go to outside of Yorkton when I go to school.鈥�
Watrych is also familiar with the other Civic Recognition Award recipients, having prepared meals with the Soup Haven and having been coached by Mark Schendel.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e both awesome... Mr. Schendel is one of my football coaches, and I like to call him Mr. Positivity on the football field because he鈥檚 always full of positive energy. He loves coming out to help people. The Soup Haven... They鈥檙e amazing, amazing people to dedicate the time and the effort into what they do and getting all of the sponsors to help them do it. It鈥檚 amazing and a great thing for Yorkton.鈥�
See related stories on all , and .
