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Bentley School’s Stephen Lush wins award

We are very proud and excited to report that, on December 5 our school’s assistant principal, Stephen Lush, won an ASAA zone award
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Stephen Lush with two Bentley School students

Submitted by Lexi Moore and Jaxon Zimmer

Bentley School News Correspondents

We are very proud and excited to report that, on December 5 our school’s assistant principal, Stephen Lush, won an ASAA (Alberta Schools Athletic Association) Zone Award of Merit for Alberta’s Central Zone. Lush is Bentley School’s representative in the Central Zone which consists of 57 schools.

The ASAA Zone Award of Merit is presented annually in recognition of outstanding service to the students of Alberta schools in the promotion and operation of athletic programs in the Zone of the ASAA.

The Executive Director of ASAA, John Paton, delivered a touching speech as he presented this most prestigious award to Lush. The following is a portion of Paton’s speech:

Steve has taught for 17 years – three years in Fox Creek, nine years in Eckville and five years in Bentley and has been the vice principal/athletic director the last three years in Bentley.

He has been the CASAA president for 14 years and a very integral member of the Central Zone Association hosting numerous area, zone and Provincial championships.

Steve was on the ASAA Executive as Athletic Director and the Board as the Team Handball commissioner. He was very involved in bringing Team Handball to the Association.

He was the first Canadian to complete the NIAAA (National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association) Master Athletic Administrator Certification.  He was a major supporter of the creation of the AIAAA and in fact was amongst a group of five of us who went down to Indianapolis for three days in September of 2008 to meet with the NIAAA, learn from them, and start to create our own association. Steve was the first President of AIAAA and represented that group in presenting this Athletic Director Initiative to School Sport Canada in St. John’s Newfoundland a few years ago.

He currently coaches Jr./Sr. high cross-country, Sr. boys’ volleyball, Sr. boys’ basketball, Jr./Sr. High team handball and Jr./Sr. high track.

He organizes all home tournaments, trains student referees and scorekeepers, organizes transportation for out of town games, mentors new coaches and facilitates the sport page on the school website.  He is the epitome of a small school athletic director who is committed to the overall success of the school and students. He is also known as a giver in whatever aspect of community he involves himself in, being an active member of the local firefighter association for a number of years now. Every now and again, Steve finds time to sleep.

Steve is often the first teacher to open the door at the school in the morning and the last one to close the door at night.

Congratulations Steve on a very well deserved award; you have touched, and continue to touch, many lives.

Lush responded with a speech of acceptance in which he thanked his wife Marsha, and their three children, Hayley, Ian and Andrew, for allowing him the time to pursue these commitments that are so important to him. He also thanked the Bentley School and students for their interest and commitment to sports, and the Bentley School parents for trusting him with their kids. Lush ended his speech with the motto he and Bentley School’s Principal Lane Moore, use:  “Whatever is right for kids at our school – we will do it!”

Congratulations, Mr. Lush!  Bentley School is proud of you and your dedication to young athletes within our school, and in our zone! You are awesome!