While the focus is normally on the students, Olds High School's athletic director has brought home her own accolades.
Wanda Vandervelden was awarded the Wink Willox Award of Merit by the Canadian Basketball Officials Association in mid-September for her contributions with the high school basketball community.
The award is presented to one person from each province every year, and recognizes the recipient's efforts as an official, their significant service to the basketball community, and contributions in an administrative role.
In addition to serving as athletic director for OHS, Vandervelden also coaches volleyball and track and field, and has been president of the Mountain View Officials Association for almost 25 years.
"It seems I really enjoy those positions as I am still president and co-assign games for our area," she wrote in a recent release forwarded by the school division. "I can only hope that I can help referees grow as so many great people have contributed to my experiences and growth."
"We are pretty proud of her," said girls' volleyball co-coach Shelley Smith, who forwarded the information to the school board, "so thought we would share."
"I can only hope that I can help referees grow as so many great people have contributed to my experiences and growth."WANDA VANDERVVELDEN
