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Trail students awarded Grey Cup tickets and trip to youth summit

A call to the principals offices turned into tickets to the Grey Cup for Ashley Quigley and Rayanna Miskulin
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Ashley Quigley (left) and Rayanna Miskulin are warming up for this year's Grey Cup game slated for Nov. 30. The day after the big game

An unexpected summons to the principal's office can give any high schooler the jitters.

After the call turned out to be a surprising windfall for two Grade 8 students, the jitters turned into high fives all around the school's office.

Ashley Quigley and Rayanna Miskulin were each presented with a ticket to this year's Grey Cup game and seats to the BC Lions Skills for Life Summit in Vancouver the following day.

“We got called down and I was so scared wondering 'What did I do?'” said Miskulin. “When Ms. Jones explained to us what we were in the office for, I started jumping around I was so excited.”

The girls were chosen from 147 Grade 8 J.L. Crowe Secondary students over a five-day vetting process that included input from all their current teachers and past grade school teachers.

Quigley and Miskulin have proven leadership merits, a good report card status and positive attendance records at Crowe and Webster Elementary and Fruitvale Elementary schools respectively.

“Our school won the opportunity to send two students to the Grey Cup game,” explained counsellor Loretta Jones. “We had a list of Grade 8's narrowed down to 18 students and these girls emerged as the top candidates.

“Their families should be very proud of them and the school is certainly very proud of them and what they will learn from this experience.”

Jones, who is the trip's chaperone, said creating leaders within the school through opportunities such as the summit supports Crowe's mandate for promoting positive school climate and culture.

“We look forward to them returning to JL Crowe and sharing their knowledge with us,” she added.

The summit brings together students in grades 6 to 8 from each school district across the province to participate in a one-day event.

The gathering will be hosted by BC Lions players, who will hit on topics like erasing bullying, the impacts of gender violence and mental health issues, plus the power of positive choices.

During the first few months of high school, the girls admit to being overwhelmed by hallways packed with older students and high school culture in general.

“I was scared and nervous at first,” said Quigley, while Miskulin nodded in agreement. “But we've gotten into the groove, and now we hope to bring back ideas from the summit.”

With the Grey Cup still over a week away, (Nov. 30) the teenagers are already planning what to pack for their trip, which includes a plane ticket to Vancouver, accommodations at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, and SkyTrain fare to and from the stadium.

Miskulin is looking forward to revisiting the city and seeing the 102nd football championship live. And she predicts it'll be the Montreal Alouettes or the Edmonton Eskimos for the victory.

But like most teenagers, what she is most anticipating is shopping in the metropolis.

Quigley, on the other hand, has never travelled to the coast so she's ready for the bright lights and big city adventure.

“It's going to be a new experience, and my Mom is so excited for me. She said this is something I cannot miss.”

The BC Skills for Life Summit takes place at the Richmond Olympic Oval. The event provides an opportunity to tour WorkBC's Find Your Fit, a hands-on session to help with career planning and leadership role playing called 'Be More Than A Bystander.'



Sheri Regnier

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