StFX student Oliver Storseth. (Source: StFX University)

A StFX student has been named one of 10 recipients of this year’s 3M National Student Fellowship Award.

Oliver Storseth is entering his final year at the university and says that the award means a lot to him.

“it’s a huge honor. And I was very surprised to learn that I had won the award… I’m very thankful for the mentors I’ve had in my life that helped shape me into who I am, and I think I owe them a lot of ‘thank-you’s for helping me get to where I am,” said Storseth.

The award recognizes students at Canadian universities who have a passion for inclusion and use it to make a difference in their communities. Storseth began working with Unified Sport when he was in grade 11 as a basketball coach. He said that from the very first practice he attended he had a smile on his face the entire time.

“I think that was one of the first times I really realized that I had something to give to that community. And at the same time, I was learning a lot about myself from that community as well,” said Storseth.

Unified Sport is an organization that works to create spaces for people of all ability levels to be included in sport.

As an active member of the StFX community and a leader on its men’s soccer team, Storseth has taken part in X-Chem Outreach and is a leader in the StFX Student Athlete Leadership Academy.

He says that it has taken hard work to reach this achievement but that when you love what you’re doing it never feels that way.

“There’s definitely a lot of hard work but for me it’s kind of always felt like I was doing things that I really enjoyed and loved doing. You know, school was one of those things, and sport, and my volunteer work they all were just things that seemed very easy to me because they were just things I really loved doing,” said Storseth.

Storseth is looking forward to meeting the rest of the award recipients at a conference in Charlottetown in July.

He says that coming from a small town like Antigonish, it’s been surreal to be recognized for a national award like this.

“I think growing up in a small community, I’ve learned the importance of volunteering and being involved in the community and giving back,” said Storseth.

He plans on pursuing a medical degree once he finishes his undergrad and will continue to work with Unified Sport this summer and beyond.