L'Essor volleyball player wins 100K scholarship

A familiar face on the local high school volleyball court has received one of Canada’s most prestigious honours in academics. Regan Lane, co-captain and setter of the L'Essor Senior Girls volleyball team, has been named one of only 100 students nationwide to receive a highly competitive scholarship recognizing excellence in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

“It is such an honour for me to be recognized among some of the most hard-working students in Canada,” Regan told Powerplay Sports. “It reminds me how lucky I am to have had so many amazing people supporting me along the way. I’m so grateful to be among this group of future STEM leaders and I’m very excited for what’s to come in the following years.”

While this isn’t an athletic scholarship, Regan’s leadership on the court and dedication in the classroom and off the court played a major role in her selection. The award celebrates not only academic achievement, but also community engagement and potential to lead in the future of STEM.

Regan leads a youth program at her chruch, volunteers at the HK Lab at the University of Windsor and works as a certified lifeguard and swimming instructor for the Town of Lakeshore.

She applied for the scholarship this past winter but said she never expected to win.

“I did fill out an application for this award in the winter, however I never imagined that it would be possible for me to win it knowing that there are so many other deserving students out there,” she said. “I was absolutely shocked when I got the email and it felt like it came completely out of nowhere.”

Looking ahead, Regan will begin her postsecondary studies at Queen’s University in the fall, where she will focus entirely o

n academics. Although she won’t be continuing her volleyball career at the varsity level, she reflects on her time with the L’Essor team with pride and gratitude.

“My time playing volleyball for L’Essor was unforgettable,” she said. “It was marked by the most supportive and passionate teammates and coaching staff, and so many memories were made on and off the court that I’ll look back on forever. I’m so grateful to have been a part of that program. That team taught me so much about hard work and leadership, and someone was always holding me accountable to fight my hardest every point. The drive those girls taught me is the same drive I hope to have in every area of my life moving forward. L’Essor’s volleyball program will always have a special place in my heart.”