CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP WITHIN SPORTS
The Northwest Conference loves celebrating our student-athletes in and outside of the classroom. Character Development and Leadership are a top priority in the conference, and we want to provide our communities with a simple and efficient way to see character, leadership and sportsmanship of our student-athletes through the traits that make them up.
The Northwest Conference is asking every school to select two of the 32 character traits to show recognition to two student-athletes within their programs for that trait. This will be going on throughout the summer and will include the follow words:
| PASSION | APPRECIATION | PREPARATION | SELFLESSNESS | GRIT | ACCOUNTABILITY |
| SPORTSMANSHIP | HUMILITY | COMPETITIVENESS | HONESTY | CARING | CONFIDENCE |
| COMPOSURE | TOLERANCE | COURAGE | POSITIVE ATTITUDE | SERVICE | ENTHUSIASM |
| LEADERSHIP | DETERMINATION | CHARACTER | EFFORT | COMMITMENT | TEAMWORK |
| DESIRE | WORK ETHIC | COACHABLE | TRUST | FOCUS | GOOD JUDGEMENT |
| PERSEVERANCE | INTEGRITY |
Character and Leadership play an important role in the development and success of our schools, and athletics show them in one of the most polarizing ways possible. Today we are recognizing two stellar student-athletes from Nooksack Valley High School!
NOOKSACK VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
COMMITMENT
Kate Shintaffer (Nooksack Valley)
The Valley is proud to highlight Kate Shintaffer as one Student/Athletes of Distinction in the area of Commitment. Kate is highly involved across the board at NVHS. Her groups and programs included Inter-High, ASB Leadership, Fall Cheer, Girls Soccer, Track and Girls Basketball. Kate does a tremendous job of making each of these groups high functioning, organized, with a positive climate. She is a member of our 2 time 1A State Champion Basketball Teams, a state placer in Sprint Relays and Long Jump in 1A track. Kate also represented Nooksack Valley on the NWC sportsmanship poster this fall.
Kate has a been committed to continually elevate the student climate and culture here in the Valley. This has been evident with student assemblies, staff/student activities or appreciation cards notes to various people. We are glad Kate is a Pioneer!
TEAMWORK
Lance Van Berkum (Nooksack Valley)
Finding a NVHS athlete of distinction who personifies team work, Lance immediately came to mind. Lance is a multisport athlete ( Football, Basketball, and Golf) a member of NVHS Inter-High, and our ASB Leadership group. As an outstanding Offensive Lineman he values and understands the teamwork that goes into paving the way for others. He is the same on the basketball court as a workhorse under the boards feeding the ball to his teammates. Lance has is an understanding teammate who mentors our young less experienced golfers each spring.
All his coaches feel exactly the same about him, consistent, coachable spirit, brings his best everyday and makes others around him better. Lance is that face, teammates want to see in the huddle or on the court. Thanks Lance!
