Bellerose Composite High School student Shea-Lynn McGaw, who died in a vehicle accident May 2021, had a motto: “Be strong; never give up.”
The line comes from Disney’s Aladdin films and is spoken by Princess Jasmine’s character, a favourite of McGaw’s growing up.
“When she was smaller and learning to ride a bike or do other things that were challenging, she would say to herself, ‘be strong; never give up,’” said Brenda McGaw, Shea-Lynn’s mother.
It’s also the name of a new award in memory of Shea-Lynn McGaw: the Shea-Lynn McGaw “Be Strong, Never Give Up” Award.
It is the first award specifically for St. Albert senior high volleyball players and will go to one graduating student at each of Bellerose, Paul Kane and St. Albert Catholic high schools.
Winners receive $1,000 to go toward their post-secondary education, and the award, through the St. Albert Community Foundation, will be offered to future St. Albert Grade 12 students in perpetuity.
The award is for players who show strength of character, integrity, persistence and dedication, and who encourage their teammates and friends.
Shea-Lynn McGaw began playing club volleyball between Grade 7 and Grade 8, and remained invested in the game as she started high school.
“She was still developing her skills,” Brenda McGaw said. “But I think her biggest contribution to the team was her energy. People always described her as having a quiet sense of confidence. She was just so warm and encouraging to her teammates. They loved playing with her.”
During one difficult practice with the St. Albert Sturgeon (SAS) volleyball club team, Shea-Lynn was the last one standing as she struggled to get her overhand serve.
“They were running this drill and she couldn’t get it,” Brenda McGaw said. “[Her coach] could see she was getting frustrated. He said, ‘Shea-Lynn, let it go.’ And she was like, ‘Nope. I’m here to do a job and I’m going to see it through until I get it.’ Her whole team saw her perseverance, and so they decided to get up and support her and continue to serve until she got it over.”
“That was sort of the dynamic she created for the team.”
Stories like these drove SAS Volleyball Club coaches Chad Sekundiak, Rob Rubuliak and Jason Segger to approach Brenda McGaw and her family about creating an award.
McGaw said she was overwhelmed with gratitude when she heard the idea.
Although Rubuliak didn’t coach Shea-Lynn McGaw, he saw how hard girls in the SAS summer volleyball camp had taken the loss, according to Brenda McGaw.
The group sold T-shirts and received donations from members of the volleyball community, as well as local businesses. Sekundiak made and sold art for the cause, while Rubuliak donated funds collected through running summer volleyball camps.
“You don’t have to be the MVP of the team,“ Rubuliak said of the award. “Just like Shea-Lynn, the criteria are that you had some challenges, but you just never gave up.”
Last week, Bellerose High graduate Kendra Schwer received the first award. Students from Paul Kane and St. Albert Catholic High School will receive the award in the coming weeks.
Schwer played on a team with McGaw and the two were classmates at Bellerose. Losing McGaw was very hard, she said.
McGaw would have graduated alongside Schwer this year.
Schwer said there was no sense of competition between her volleyball-playing classmates when they heard the award had become available.
“We all knew Shea-Lynn, and we all want to represent Shea-Lynn,” Schwer said. “Whoever gets it, just be proud of them.”
Schwer was excited to be identified as someone who demonstrates McGaw’s many admirable qualities.
“She was always smiling, a very bubbly personality, and she put a smile on everyone’s face. She always put others before herself.”
