KIPPENS — While William Forsey is perhaps best known for his athletic achievements, it’s being well-rounded that has led to him being offered more than $117,000 in scholarships.
In the end he chose St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S. as the institution where he will be doing his post-secondary education as he works toward completing a business degree and pursuing a career in dentistry.
It was from there he received the President’s Scholarship of $32,000, and was offered the opportunity for a spot on the cross-country and track and field for the St. Francis Xavier X-Men, which also attracted him to the school.
“I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work to keep a spot with the X-Men, but I plan to step up to the challenge and I think I can improve considerably while with the team, which is coached by Bernie Christholm in cross country and track and field,” he said.
Forsey was recently chosen as School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Athlete of the Year and received an award of $750.
But in addition to sports, he excelled academically, graduating from Stephenville High with the highest academic average in his graduating class and was chosen class valedictorian.
Other schools that tried to attract him with scholarship offers included Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. with the D&R Sobey Atlantic Scholarship of $60,000; a $20,000 entrance scholarship to Dalhousie University; and free tuition at Lakehead in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Forsey was involved in numerous school and community projects. In 2010, he was selected by School Sports Newfoundland and Labrador to represent the province at a National Student Leadership Conference in Indianapolis, Ind. He was also selected to represent his school at the Provincial Leadership Conference in 2009 and 2010.
He attended the Provincial Robotics Competition and he has completed the bronze, silver and gold levels in the Duke of Edinburgh program. In addition, he was a member of the Humanitarian Club, Spirit Week Committee and school’s decorating committee.
For three years, Forsey was a member of the high school band and a member of the math team and took part in Lions Club Speak-Outs. In 2010, he organized a beautification project for his school, soliciting donations and gathered a team to help him with planting trees and shrubs around the school.
Forsey was an assistant coach with the Hershey Track and Field Program and coached with the Bay St. George Special Olympics.
In school athletics, he was a member of cross-country running team of which he was captain through high school. He was on the school’s volleyball team, soccer team, member of the cross-country ski team, track and field and badminton team.
In his community Forsey was a member of the Stephenville Badminton Club, Whaleback Nordic Ski Club, cross-country ski team and track and field. He has won medals in many sports at the local, regional, provincial and national level.
He is the son of Bill Forsey and Rosemary Ryan Forsey of Kippens.
“It feels good to be recognized for all the hard work I put in during my years in high school and to be rewarded for that. I try to be a well-rounded person and I think that’s a lot of what attributed to my winning the scholarships on top of my academic success,” he said.
