Physical and Health Educators of Manitoba – Regional Recognition Award
Congratulations to Taryn Luhowy!! He is the recipient of the 2020 Regional Recognition Award from PHE Manitoba (Physical and Health Educators of Manitoba). This award is presented to individuals who provided leadership in their region by hosting workshops or area tournaments, developing outstanding programs, contributing to the community and going the extra mile to benefit programs for students.
Taryn started his career in 2009, first teaching in Lundar for one year and then Ashern for his second. He then moved back west and began teaching at Rivers Collegiate in September 2011. Once he arrived at RCI, he immediately made an impact on students, staff, and community members. His dedication not only to athletics but also with his students was inspiring. He is able to connect with students on many levels and challenges them all to be the best person they can be whether that's in the classroom or on the court.
Taryn has also been a major contributor and facilitator to the improvement of our physical school environment. He worked with multiple agencies (Regional Health, Community Foundations, various other community grants) to access funding to support our student's healthy lifestyles and promoted an option for them when participating in Physical Education. He has been instrumental in the development of a school fitness facility at RCI. The fitness room has now become a major part of the PE program and has fostered many of our students to become better athletes on their way to play in the WHL, MJHL, College and University level athletic programs.
Taryn has also worked closely with our Hockey Canada Skills Academy and Rivers/Elton Rage Hockey team. He helped to fundraise, find sponsorship and funding to support students in need of equipment to ensure their participation in the program. Along with the Shops program, Taryn also built in a give-back program - the students who are part of the Hockey Skills Academy made lockers for the community rink facility as a part of the Shops program. Taryn also ran our Student Council for several years and promoted these programs as part our student's sense of belonging in the school. We regularly had a full house at Rage hockey games. Many of our student's memories of high school are supporting the Rage program, even when they didn't play on the team. Ticket sales, 50/50 draws, canteen workers, cleanup crews and general fans were all made to feel part of the team. This helped to build identity in our school and a overall sense of pride and belonging in our school.
Taryn has hosted multiple MHSAA Provincial Championships including, Hockey, Curling, and Volleyball. He is very organized and runs a fantastic tournament. He even hosted hockey provincial qualifiers one year when nobody else wanted to--I'm not even sure we had a team that year! Through his involvement in sports, he was also asked to host the local All-Star hockey games when other communities were unable to take it on. Taryn is ever willing to put in the time and effort to the school and the students. He holds high expectations of students and instils an understanding that he wants his students to give back to their community, just as he is doing for them. He's connected well with his athletes and volunteers in the past, and students appreciate his efforts and mentorship.
In the teaching part of his job at Rivers Collegiate, he teaches Physical Education and High School Math. Because of his commitment and way with students, he's a favourite amongst the students and a go-to guy with our staff. For a young teacher, he's a veteran on our school staff. He's someone that teachers will go to for advice and help in situations. He's a trusted member of our team and has made many valuable contributions to our school community over the past years. He leads by example!
Taryn is also a Physical Education leader in our division - always mindful of up and coming program opportunities for PE programs, especially at the high school level. He has taken a leadership role in managing itinerant equipment for all PE programs in the division and has maintained certification in the Red Cross program to teach CPR and First Aid to Rivers students. In these pandemic times, Taryn has worked hard to reinvent parts of his program to support students in their physical and mental health by creating opportunities to be active outdoors and in safe environments.
In the community, Taryn is president of the Minnedosa Golf Club. He golfs and curls when his "old man back" and time allows him to and this spring he's signed up to coach Rally Cap baseball for his son's team. In the school athletics community, he has served 2 terms on the Manitoba High School Athletics Association board, been president of both the Zone 7 Athletics and Rolling River School Division Athletic Associations.
Taryn received this award on Wednesday, April 21 during the online Awards ceremony organized by PHE Manitoba. The first people he would thank are his wife Rachel, son Linden, and daughter Blaire. They are the ones that also give up the time so that Taryn can be part of his volunteerism. They are excited for him to receive this award!
In Rolling River School Division, we are lucky to have him as a physical educator.
On behalf of the Rivers Collegiate students, staff, and community, Thank You for all that you have done and continue to do!