Bargender named Abbotsford Lions Student of the Quarter
Abbotsford High School senior Blake Bargender has been named the Abbotsford Lions Club Student of the Quarter for the third quarter of the 2023-24 school year.
Bargender carries a rigorous class schedule that includes World Literature and Composition, Psychology, Calculus, Food Science, Fish, Forestry and Wildlife and teacher assistant. His co-curricular activities include National Honor Society, Mathletes, and Safe School Ambassadors. He is also a member of the football, basketball and baseball teams.
Technology Education Instructor, Randall Pempek, highly recommended him for the Student-of-the-Quarter award. “Blake has taken a leadership role in Tech Ed; it is my pleasure to have him as my teacher assistant,” Pempek stated. “He excels with honors in all his classes, is the first to provide guidance to students, and is well respected by his peers. He has outstanding problem-solving skills and a terrific work ethic, taking on difficult projects to completion. He has a great mechanical aptitude and the ability to research and figure out complex software issues with Fab Lab software.”
Bargender’s volunteerism attests to his belief in community service. He has been actively involved by helping with the Abbotsford Christmas Parade, Future Falcon Basketball Youth Camps, Abby Heat Baseball/Softball Youth Camps, and church-related events.
When asked to identify an outstanding feature of the community, Blake stated, “I commend the Abbotsford community for the many caring people who are willing to give back to the community in any way they can. With previous advancements at the school and on the athletic fields, multiple donors have stepped up to pay for those projects. Community members and groups also offer many local scholarships to help the next generation get good educations. Whenever there is a fundraiser or a charity event, this community gets involved.”
When asked to define a major world problem, Bargender responded, “The problem I would confront is world peace. War brings about many unnecessary deaths, holds the human race back from its full potential, and separates the world. Along with deaths, it causes losses of housing, food supply, and separation of families, even affecting worldwide economy. Without war, countries could focus on research, medicine, lowering pollution, and building better futures for their citizens. People have wanted world peace for centuries, but the desires of some countries to try to reach world domination rather than peace has led us off the path and countries separated. World peace would make the world a better, safer place to live in.” Blake currently works as a groundskeeper at Borealis Chiropractic/Wellness Clinic, umpire for Abby Heat baseball games, and with his family fire wood business. After graduation, he plans to attend a Wisconsin university pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering.
He is the son of Ryan and Brooke Bargender of rural Abbotsford.
Blake Bargender
