Two former Kleefeld students received the prestigious Governor General Caring Canadians award for their work with the Students Helping Other Communities (SHOC) team.

Teacher Christine Friesen says the SHOC group raised $10,000 last year to build a school in Ghana which was recognized by the aware committee. She explains the Governor General Caring Canadian award recognizes individuals who volunteer their time to help others. It recognizes their efforts, their hope heartedness and their boundless generosity. She adds it's an award you receive through nomination only.

Friesen says they were asked to chose a nominee to accept the award. After polling the teaching staff at Kleefeld School it became apparent both Kiana Friesen and Madison Gigolyk should be submitted as nominees for their work within the SHOC team and the volunteer work they participate in, in their personal lives.

"They do a variety of things from creating and selling journals and sending that money to Cancer Care or the Winnipeg Children's Hospital, working in the soup kitchen in Steinbach, or volunteering in their churches," notes Friesen. "Madision is going to be doing a major fundraiser this spring for diabetes, the Diabetes Association. So they [both] put in a lot of time and effort and they have very compassionate hearts. So they were the ones nominated to accept the awards on behalf of the SHOC team."

Friesen says it was an honour, not only to be nominated, but to have both Friesen and Gigolyk win adding there were a total of ten awards given to students in Manitoba.

"I also donate clothing to Anna's House and to MCC and have some sponsor children," notes [Kiana] Friesen. "It was overwhelming [to win the award] and when they applauded for you at the end [of the ceremony] it was just so very awesome to get that standing ovation. It was a very good feeling."

Gigolyk adds it was encouraging to be rewarded for the hard work the entire SHOC team put into fundraising the $10,000.

Friesen and Gigolyk, now in Grade 9 at Steinbach Regional Secondary School, say they want to continue helping other people through serving and volunteering.

"It definitely influenced me to want to do more," notes Gigolyk about receiving the awards during We Day celebrations. "It's just a great inspiration. Even to see people like Spencer West, it was a good inspiration to me to see him and speak to him. So I want to do more because it's an awesome thing to do."

[Christine] Friesen says their motto last year was 'The Little School That Could' encouraging the SHOC team to continue putting their hearts and minds into the project and their hard work would pay off, which is has.

"It empowers the students that they can make a difference," notes Friesen. "They can be the change in the world and I feel it's very important, as a teacher, to set the students out in life as compassionate and caring learners. So the goal is to make it a lifelong adventure for them."