Lakeshore student first recipient of award named for former principal Pat Hudak - StCatharinesStandard.ca

Aidan Atkins “embodies everything” that Pat Hudak tried to do in his career as an educator, says the wife of the late Lakeshore Catholic High School principal.

The Crystal Beach resident will graduate in a couple of weeks and then get ready for his next chapter at University of Guelph, studying sports and events management and playing for the Gryphons football team.

Atkins excels at sports and was a leader on and off the soccer and football fields, said principal Denice Robertson, noting he is a kind young man who also brought home exceptional report cards.

On Friday, he was presented a cheque for $1,000 from the Fort Erie Progressive Conservative Association of Women, a group that has been around for about 90 years. It has supported local students through bursaries since the 1980s, said Anne Marie Hudak, the mother of former Ontario Progressive Conservative party leader Tim Hudak.

Pat Hudak lost his struggle with Parkinson’s disease in August at the age of 78.

He was the first principal at Lakeshore Catholic, leading the Port Colborne school from 1987 until his 1997 retirement. His role in local sports was wide-reaching.

He was active at Fort Erie Tennis Club, a lead organizer of the Knights of Columbus basketball free-throw competition, and coached football, badminton, baseball and wrestling.

Hudak also officiated many high school football games after his retirement.

Anne Marie said Pat lived by the motto: “Think clearly, feel deeply, and act wisely,” which is also inscribed on a sidewalk outside the Port Colborne high school.

She said she is delighted to have worked with the school and the women’s group in choosing Atkins as the first-time recipient of the award.

“The ladies, together, wanted to honour Pat and find a deserving student who would be like Pat in many ways,” she said.

Atkins said he is proud to receive the accolade.

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“It’s pretty exciting,” he said. “It’s encouraging to know that when people in my community look at me, they see similar qualities to Pat.”

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Robertson, the school’s principal, was hired by Hudak for her first teaching job years ago, a reason she has a “great place” in her heart for him. She said Atkins easily fits the criteria of a worthy recipient.

“We couldn’t think of a better way to honour Pat than to give it to Aidan,” she said.

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Lakeshore student first recipient of award named for former principal Pat Hudak - StCatharinesStandard.ca
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