Mangin receives huge honour 0
By Dan Falloon, Portage Daily Graphic
Submitted photo - Kalene Mangin of St. Claude School Complex (far right) accepts a Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association Scholar Athlete Award at Government House in Winnipeg on Thursday. Also pictured, left to right, are Matthew Kochan (St. Paul's High School), Alyssa Kidd (Glenlawn Collegiate), and Mikayla Gawiak (Hapnot Collegiate - Flin Flon).
Kalene Mangin turned heads on the field of play throughout her high school career, but she's just as proud of what she accomplished in the classroom in that time.
Mangin, a Grade 12 student at St. Claude School Complex, was honoured by the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association as one of four recipients of a 2012 Manitoba Credit Unions High School Scholar Athlete Award in Winnipeg on Thursday.
The awards were presented at Government House by the Honourable Philip Lee, Lieutentant Governor of Manitoba. In all, 28 students were nominated.
Mangin competes in volleyball, badminton and track and field while maintaining a 95% average. She also was her class representative for student council and was the vice president of the grad committee. In her free time, Mangin volunteers with the St. Claude and Haywood Fall Supper and at the Notre Dame Hospital, among other endeavours.
Mangin said she was glad to receive an all-around award.
"I was really happy about that, because I work really, really hard in school," said Mangin. "I not only do all the sports and extracurriculars, but I try really hard in my academics as well."
All nominees were invited to Thursday's ceremony, where the four winners were revealed, leaving all 28 up for the awards in suspense.
"I actually didn't know that I was getting it. I was just invited to the ceremony," said Mangin. "All the nominees were invited, so it was a surprise to me and everyone there that I had won it, so I was pretty excited."
Mangin said the atmosphere wasn't what she was used to.
"(It was) extremely formal. We all got to meet the lieutenant governor and his wife," said Mangin. "There was media everywhere."
Mangin helped lead the Olympiens volleyball team to gold at the Provincial 'A' Girls championship on home court this past fall, which she said was the pinnacle of her high school athletic career.
"Definitely hosting and winning the volleyball provincials this year (was a highlight)," said Mangin. "(We were able to win it) in front of family and friends."
Academically, Mangin also won the Governor General's Academic Medal for highest academic average at the school's convocation over the weekend.
Mangin will attend the University of Manitoba in the fall to pursue a science degree before applying to medical school.
Mangin said she'll try out for the Bison volleyball team while playing intramurals to keep active.
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