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Kent Hanna was awarded the Lieutenant GovernorÕs Social Studies Education Student Award last week. He says it is an honour.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
After four years at Medicine Hat College, Kent Hanna’s time at the school is now over.
The 21-year-old got a bit of exciting news this past week, learning he was being awarded with Lieutenant Governor’s Social Studies Education Student Award.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling – I had a really big smile on my face when I found out,” he said. “It shows that all of my hard work over the past four years at the college has paid off.
“To be recognized for something that I’m passionate about was also pretty cool.
“Social studies has been a passion of mine for a long time and this shows that I can go out there, teach and be good at it.”
Hanna studied education at the college, with a major in early elementary education and a minor in humanities. He is now living in Maple Creek, where he will begin teaching in the fall. His first job will be teaching Grade 8 at Maple Creek Composite School, where he will get to teach social studies, English and health.
This is the second year the award has been handed out, and Hanna was responsible for writing an essay and submitting it for review. After winning the selection panel over with his essay, Hanna then presented in front of three judges. He was then selected as a winner.
“I’ve wanted to teach since about Grade 9,” he said. “I had a hockey coach, Mr. Steffler and he was my English teacher at the high school. He made a great impact on my life and I wanted to carry on the work he did and the legacy.
“Whenever we went into his classroom, it was interesting, fun and engaging – that’s what I want.
“I want to make a lasting impact on students’ lives.”
Hanna is originally from Ontario and plans on doing a Masters in the future.
