Photo provided by Chinook's Edge School Division.
Sundre High School students completed community service for this year’s May Queen tradition.
The 55-year-old tradition started as a way to raise funds for graduation celebrations for students. Each year, students approach businesses and residents in the community to find projects that need to be done.
May Queen has expanded throughout the years, to include raising funds for field trips, extracurricular activities, and scholarships.
“May Queen is a tradition that students enjoy, and our community looks forward to every year,” said Scott Saunders, Principal of Sundre High School. “This event has a way of connecting us and creating a positive energy that spreads throughout our school and into our community, and back to us again.”
Last year, students participating in May Queen raised $29,000. This year’s tally is still being calculated.
Photo provided by Chinook's Edge School Division.
The event is competitive, as each grade competes to see which grade brings in the largest amount. Since May Queen has been around for so long, the competitiveness has extended through generations of families who have participated over the decades.
“I loved being with friends after school when I was a student,” said Pamela Hengen, a Sundre High parent and former May Queen participant.
Hengen’s mother participated in the first May Queen event, so it is an experience three generations of her family have been involved with.
“My husband’s grade won four years in a row, and he still brags about it,” she said. “I think it’s good for students to meet people in the community.”
Grade 12 student Kate Finley said the competitiveness adds to the May Queen’s success and energy.
“It teaches you to work with people and be organized. It may not sound very fun to rake for four hours, but being with friends, playing music and working, and then eating dinner outside together, is good. I enjoy it,” Finley said. “I think it’s good for the community to meet us. I like that they trust us with their jobs.”
Tracy Pedersen, an Educational Assistant at Sundre High School, parent, and former May Queen participant said she loves the energy the tradition brings to the community.
“I love to see the students challenging themselves to meet their own goals. It’s also great that our teens are seen in a positive light by the community,” Pedersen said.
Grade 11 student Ryder Dach said, “I think it’s good for the community and good for students. It creates a better community. I like that May Queen brings groups of kids together with the community to support the school.”