As a result of his excellence on and off the ice, Cayleb Peitz was selected for the Ontario Minor Hockey Association (OMHA) and Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) Bursary program. The program selects only five high-school graduates from across the province, who have made a big impact in their schools and in their communities in the 2022-23 school year.
Recognized for their roles as players, coaches and referees in the OMHA, as well as their grades and extracurricular work outside the rink, each winner will receive $8,000 to go toward his/her post-secondary education.
Peitz, graduate of John Diefenbaker Senior School, will be enrolled in the Bachelor of Physical and Health Education at Nipissing University next year.
“My volunteering experience will help me as a teacher because it gives me practice on how to reach out to the kids and how to get them to hear what you’re saying and not just listen to it, but actually understand what you’re saying,” said Peitz.
“Cayleb is phenomenal with kids. I’ve seen him at the rink with CanSkate and with his own nieces and he just has a very nurturing personality,” said his former teacher, Tina Samounty. “He’s playful with them and you can tell that he truly loves being with them. I’m looking forward to one day maybe teaching beside him.”
Peitz is also an active member of his local lacrosse team as a player and volunteer and also gives his time to help out with the skating club. He also balances working a part-time job at the local hardware store. In the OMHA, he suited up with the West Grey Warriors.
“On behalf of DFO and Ontario’s 3,273 dairy farmers, congratulations to this year’s OMHA-DFO Bursary program winners for their achievements as outstanding students and athletes,” said Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dairy Farmers of Ontario. “In partnership with OMHA, the bursary program recognizes five youth with tremendous resilience, sportsmanship and leadership on and off the ice, and who have shown dedication to their studies and commitment to supporting their communities. We hope the $8,000 bursaries will help the recipients’ reach their post-secondary goals.”
“The OMHA and Dairy Farmers of Ontario share a goal of developing great people who will become the next generation of leaders,” said Ian Taylor, the Executive Director of the OMHA. “It’s impressive to see what our players are doing to make their communities a better place – whether on the ice, in the classroom or through their volunteerism. The five recipients chosen this year for the OMHA-Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary program are shining examples of what it means to be a student-athlete and good citizens.”
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About the Ontario Minor Hockey Association: The Ontario Minor Hockey Association, founded in 1935, is a leader in community sport and oversees a participant base of 300,000 consisting of players, coaches, trainers, officials, hockey volunteers and parents across the province. The OMHA works with its 225 local minor hockey associations and annually coordinates 28 leagues to create the best minor hockey experience in Canada. For more information, visit www.omha.net.
About Dairy Farmers of Ontario: Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) is the marketing board for the largest sector of Ontario agriculture. Our mission is to provide leadership and excellence in the production and marketing of Canadian milk for a dynamic, profitable growing dairy industry. Ontario’s 3,273 dairy farmers, their families and employees are proud to produce high-quality milk for Canadians. For more information, visit www.milk.org.
