Darren Shankel receives Young Alumnus Service Award

The faculty and staff of Canadian University College along with the Alumni Association are proud to honour Darren Shankel (HS 1989; CUC 1995) with this year's Young Alumnus Service Award.   Mr. Shankel  received his award during Sabbath services November 26.  "We are very proud of what Darren has accomplished," said President Mark Haynal.  "His work as a teacher and school administrator has been a life-changing blessing to hundreds of boys and girls."

Remarks by Alumni President Loney Ziakris

Darren graduated from PAA in 1989 and from CUC in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education ready and eager to begin teaching.  The “small school” intrigued him (or was it more the location of the “small school” and what that might mean to pursuing his extra curricular hobbies??) and therefore he found himself up in the Yukon as Principal of the Whitehorse SDA School.  It was a great place for Darren to get his feet wet and learn to be a multi-grade teacher and administrator.  

After two years, there were not enough students to keep the school running so Darren took his next job at the SDA School in Peace River, Alberta.  Two years later he and his wife, Dori made the tough decision to leave Peace River and move to the Okanagan.  Darren was offered a job teaching PE and Socials at Okanagan Adventist Academy in Kelowna.  It was during the seven years at OKAA that Darren’s vision for Adventist Education was born.  

When Darren, his wife and their three children, headed north for Chetwynd, he was ready for the new challenge and opportunity ahead of him.  He took on the principal role of Peace Christian School, a tuition-free SDA K-10 school of 40 students. Together with a group of like-minded, capable teachers and staff, a church committed to lift up Christ in their community, and a supportive parent group, Darren has pushed Peace Christian School beyond the traditional North America style of Adventist Education.  Enrolment is reaching 120, with 95% of the students being non-Adventist, and many of that number coming from homes with no Christian background.  On track for the addition of grade 11 in 2012 and grade 12 the following year, Peace Christian School is poised to become the 4^th K-12 school in BC.  

Peace Christian School is highly active in this community of 3000 people, sponsoring events that involve public schools, other Christian schools, and community members and organizations.  If you have the time, and the interest, Darren is always ready to share his vision and ideas for growing Adventist education, which he believes in, and is 100% committed to promoting and fostering.  

Darren is thankful and humbled by being chosen for this award.  He is also quite sure there are more than just a few of his past teachers/acquaintances who are a bit amused or surprised by this nomination.  I guess you never can tell!  Lastly, Darren wishes to thank his mentors, Coach Schafer and Professor Keith Leavitt, for never leaving his corner!