A graduate from Rosetown Composite High School is getting a financial boost from 4-H Saskatchewan after demonstrating community leadership and academic excellence. Megan Anderson is one of only 18 4-H members that received a scholarship from the provincial organization to put towards her post-secondary school ambitions.

Anderson joined the Crystal Springs Light Horse 4-H Club after her family moved out of town to a farm and got horses, which was a long-time dream for her mom. Anderson started attending 4-H in order to learn how to ride, but ended up learning a lot more along the way.

“I’ve learned a lot about riding and different skills and other things like public speaking. I’ve become more confident with doing speeches and also organizing and managing groups, which I think will help me moving forward whether it’s at University or after.”

Anderson joined 4-H five years ago and after her first year, decided to take on the role as president for the club, a position she has now held for four years.

Between her 4-H club and her school, she has been motivated to also give back to the community of Rosetown by volunteering.

“In the community, for the past two years, I’ve been apart of the Volunteens program at the hospital, so once a week I will go and help and do some jobs there and hang out with the people, it’s fun and I really enjoy it.”

She added that it’s bittersweet to think about leaving the community as she said she will miss all the people she has seen at the hospital over the past two years through volunteering.

Additionally, Anderson has been a student volunteer at the local food bank for the past year-and-a-half and credits different relationships she has throughout the community for allowing her more opportunities to pay it forward.

“My retired piano teacher, she is part of it and got me involved with it and I’ve really enjoyed that as well, so it’s really through different people and connections that I’ve been able to get involved and give back to the community.”

Anderson is getting ready to graduate from RCHS this month and after this summer, she will be attending the University of Saskatchewan and is enrolled in the horticulture program, an interest that was sparked after working at a local greenhouse.

Anderson was awarded the Gordon and Eileen Bonnar Scholarship through 4-H Saskatchewan in the amount of $1000, which she said will help out quite a bit as she starts her post-secondary education.