Cochrane High teenager Tyler Green could barely contain all the awards and accolades she received on Friday at school’s annual celebration of student achievement.
But there was one honour that carried with it a meaning beyond the trophy or the applause or the kind words from teachers.
Being named the recipient of the Brett Binder Memorial Scholarship offered Green an opportunity to say thank you to a teacher, a mentor and a friend who gave her the encouragement to achieve her high school goals.
“Mrs. Binder has been a huge help for me … helping me through life,” said Green of teacher Linda Binder, who has tutored the student in chemistry and math over her years at Cochrane High School.
“It meant a lot.”
“We are so grateful to the Binders,” echoed Green’s mom, Lisa. “They have been a really big part of her life and her school career.”
The Brett Binder scholarship was one of four honours earned last week to Green, who will graduate this month. She also received the Matt Krol Memorial Scholarship, as well as the Cochrane Lions Club and the Cochrane Activettes scholarship awards.
Binder is a longtime substitute teacher in the Rocky View Schools community, while her husband, Earl, was also a fixture in Cochrane classrooms before his recent retirement.
The family established the annual scholarship in the name of their son, Brett, shortly after the popular student and athlete at Cochrane High School died from leukemia in December 2007 at 19 years old.
Each year, Binder said she, her husband and their daughters look to celebrate a candidate who represents the spirit, energy and passion of their late son.
“We just want to keep our son’s memory alive, and because we’re both educators we wanted to give back,” said Binder, adding Green’s application stood out because of her work ethic in academics and her connection to coaching young people – including as trainer of the Cochrane Cobras football team.
“That was a big part of it,” Binder said. “Tyler continues to work hard … she’s nice, too. She’s just a very kind person.”
Brett Binder was quarterback of that same Cobras team when he walked the halls of Cochrane High School, and coach Rob McNab choked back tears when handing out the scholarship award to Green.
“Brett was an individual we all should strive to be … he epitomized commitment, character and community,” he said. “It’s always very difficult to do this.”
McNab said both Binder and Krol “had the full respect of the students and the staff of the building.”
“Tyler’s the same way,” said McNab. “She’s responsible, trustworthy, pleasant, smiling … just being a good Cobra. It’s doing what’s needed to make this culture great.”
After spending Friday handing out the Brett Binder scholarship at Cochrane High School, the family headed to Glenbow School on Monday morning to kick off the annual Brett Binder Memorial Walk and Run.
Each year, in the couple of weeks before classes wrap up, the entire student population runs laps around the field and collects Popsicle sticks as a way to celebrate the end of the school year.
Binder said the school renamed the run in their son’s name after a Glenbow teacher brought up Brett’s enthusiasm for the event during his eulogy.
“She couldn’t believe that someone would try so hard just to get a Popsicle stick,” said Binder with a smile.
Green will study nursing next year, and she said her message to students coming up through the high school ranks is to “do everything you can.”
Staying true to that celebrated work ethic that stood out for Binder and the rest of Cochrane High School, Green added: “I wish I even got involved in more.”
