Photo Courtesy Peace Wapiti Public School Division

By Tanner Smith

Community Award

Whispering Ridge School is ‘grateful’ after being presented the Ryan Wagner Award

Oct 13, 2022 | 2:16 PM

The 3D Children’s Charity has announced the winner of the Ryan Wagner Memorial Award.

This award was created in memory of Ryan Wagner, a Grande Prairie kid who fought a life-threatening illness from birth and passed away from cancer at the age of 18.

This year’s recipient is Whispering Ridge School for raising the most money throughout the school year.

Principal Abbey Stilwell says they have a lot of students who participated in the 3D Children’s Charity Tournament and it meant even more to the kids having the Wagner family at the assembly, taking in the moment.

“Just for them (students) to see really, the money that they’re raising is making a difference and to really just put a name and a face to where the money is going and who it’s helping, even during the presentation we showed a little video that highlighted a little bit more about the charity and some of the other students it’s impacted.”

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Stilwell adds this was their first full school assembly of the year and the kids were in shock to see all the important people here for them, but that wasn’t even the best part for the kids.

“When the assembly was over I could hear some of the students talking and even they were saying how grateful they are for their own health and how amazing Ryan’s story was, I think that really hit home with them, one girl even took the time to go up to Ryan’s mom after the presentation and share a bit about herself and her challenges and how she was able to relate to Ryan’s story.”

Stilwell says this is the second time the school has won an award, the first winning in 2018, and for students who couldn’t participate or did raise money back then it’s cool for them now to see the lives they affected.

” Honestly that is the part that hits home the most, is for the kids to truly see that the money they’re raising, is going to help people in the community and their peers, and I think they are able to see, it’s kids just like them who have some challenges they’re working through and they just need some financial help.”

She adds for the kids seeing all the dignitaries that showed up as well to support them was very fulfilling, having these ‘important people take the time out of their schedule to celebrate the community and the kids, especially after having lots of of their students participate in the 3D Charity Tournament on a rainy spring day, and still remaining positive and having tons of fun.

This is the 22nd year of the foundation. Since it began it has raised $1.3 million for travel, food, and medical equipment for sick kids in the Peace Region.