FOUR graduating student-athletes were named recipients of the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s Scholar Athlete of the Year on Thursday.

Heleyna Moniz, Nico Nadeau, Ryleigh Schellenberg and Taylor Schepp stood out among a group of 51 nominees province-wide for being exceptional in the classroom, the community and sports throughout the 2024-25 school year.

Each winner was awarded a $2,000 scholarship for maintaining a minimum 85 per cent average in their academics while playing in at least two interscholastic sports.

Moniz, a student of St. Boniface Diocesan High School, finished the year with a near-perfect 99.6 per cent average in the classroom while playing five sports and being a consistent volunteer at her church.

Named the school’s athlete of the year in Grade 10 and 11, Moniz was named the school’s Most Valuable Player in soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton and track and field.

Nadeau, who attends Glenlawn Collegiate, maintained a 97 per cent while having an outstanding year on the soccer pitch — where he left a two-time AAAA provincial champion — and the volleyball court, where he ranked No. 4 among all varsity players, was named to the “All-Manitoba” team and led the Lions to a final four appearance at provincials.

Nadeau was equally impactful in the community, volunteering as a youth volleyball and basketball coach.

Schellenberg, who attends Rosenort School, maintained a 98.4 per cent average in her studies and leaves the Redhawks athletics program with provincial medals in volleyball, basketball, badminton and three-on-three basketball.

Schellenberg was named captain of her volleyball team and earned Graduating All-Star honours this season. She shone brightest in hoops, where she helped the Redhawks to a gold medal at single-A provincials while being named Most Valuable Player, and was celebrated as a graduating all-star and Female Player of the Year.

Her lengthy resumé as a volunteer is highlighted by her time as co-president of the student council.

Schepp, a student of Dakota Collegiate, was as fierce on the basketball court as she was in the classroom. The Grade 12 student-athlete held a 98 per cent academic average while collecting a host of awards in sport, including being named the No. 1 player in the Free Press’ coaches poll, honoured twice as Dakota’s Athlete of the Year and winning two varsity provincial championships.

Schepp was also a champion in cross country and handball during her high school athletics career, and was a dedicated volunteer at several basketball camps.

— Joshua Frey-Sam