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Parent and Student Info » Rotary Student of the month

Rotary Student of the month

Student of the Month is a Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise initiative that recognizes outstanding students for exceptional achievements in academics, extracurricular activities, community involvement, leadership, and service to others. The Club is proud to acknowledge Penticton Secondary School and Princess Margaret Secondary School as project partners, and Cascades Casino Penticton for their generous financial support.

Dylan Wheeler is Rotary Club's Student of the Month for November 2025

 

The Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise recognizes Dylan Wheeler -- a charismatic, ambitious, industrious and altruistic grade 12 student at Princess Margaret Secondary School -- as Rotary Student of the Month for November.

 

Club members praised Wheeler for her strong leadership, service-driven outlook 

Dylan Wheeler

and unwavering commitment to building an inclusive school culture aligned with Maggie’s mission of “Empowering all Learners to Thrive,” all while excelling in both academics and athletics.

 

Born and raised in Penticton, Wheeler is the second of four children in a tight-knit, outdoors-oriented family. She credits her parents, especially her father -- “my biggest supporter and the best role model I could ever ask for” -- for instilling confidence, resilience, and a love of the outdoors. The two share a passion for deer hunting and other wilderness pursuits.

 

Wheeler has been a key figure in Maggie’s leadership program since Grade 10. In just the first two months of the current school year, she co-led the school’s annual Terry Fox Run and revived the popular Haunted House fundraiser, which had been on hiatus for a year. Planning and executing these two major events required more than 225 hours of work.

 

To promote the Terry Fox Run, Wheeler visited each classroom to remind students of cancer’s wide-reaching impact and the importance of fundraising for innovative, life-changing research. Her efforts helped mobilize roughly 650 students and staff, contributing meaningfully to Terry Fox’s enduring vision of a world without cancer.

 

In October, Wheeler led a team of 30 volunteers to transform the school into a full-scale animated haunted attraction inspired by classic horror films. After five weeks of planning -- coordinating actors, props, set designs, and logistics -- the Haunted House drew enthusiastic crowds and raised $1,700 for local charities.

 

“Seeing the event come together -- the laughter, the smiles and the enjoyment our school community shared -- was amazing,” said Princess Margaret principal Bo Boxall. “It only occurred because of the vision and planning that Dylan put into it.”

 

Wheeler’s academic record is equally outstanding. She has maintained a 91.7 percent average through grades 10 and 11, including a 95.5 percent average in science courses. She cites life sciences and super-fit (weight training) as her favourite subjects, reflecting both her fascination into the intricate workings of living organisms and her dedication to physical wellness.

 

“Dylan is an exceptional academic student with a jam-packed extracurricular schedule,” said biology teacher Tim Haberstock. “She balances tasks with remarkable discipline and consistently strives for excellence. Her leadership in organizing the Haunted House and Terry Fox Run was superb. Her well-honed time-management and leadership skills will be greatly missed.”

 

Driven by a dedication to children rooted in babysitting since age 10, Wheeler has volunteered for the past two years in the pediatric and gynecological wards at Penticton Regional Hospital These experiences have reinforced her longstanding ambition of supporting families as a pediatrician.

 

Athletics also play a central role in Wheeler’s life. She began playing basketball in Grade 3 with her father’s encouragement and quickly developed a lasting passion for the sport. She has attended about 15 development camps and competed on multiple school teams, including Maggie’s junior girls’ squad in Grades 9 and 10 and the Senior Girls team in Grade 11. She also played for the Lake City U15/U16 club team last year.

 

Wheeler credits basketball with teaching her teamwork, perseverance, and the value of self-sacrifice. Now a core member of Maggie’s senior girls’ team, she values the bonding built over years of shared effort. “While mentally draining at times, I cherish the genuine connections and positive energy from pursuing our goals together,” she said.

 

PE teacher Brett Fleming described Wheeler as “an exceptional young woman who leads by example, inspires those around her, and embodies excellence, honesty and service. She deftly balances demanding academics with extensive extramural duties and will be an anchor on this year’s senior girls’ team. Her intelligence, integrity and initiative make her a natural leader.”

 

Wheeler also supports international students through the School District 67 Global Ambassador Program, reaching out before their arrival and helping them navigate their first weeks at Maggie. She assists with planning monthly social events for international and local students, including a beach volleyball and pizza party, a corn maze visit, and an ice-skating outing.

 

Wheeler is also a member of the Penticton Youth Council, a civic-minded group of Maggie and Pen-Hi students currently fundraising for SOWINS. The council advocates for youth perspectives on mental health, climate change and other issues affecting young people.

 

Last spring, despite having no prior running experience, Wheeler committed to training for a half-marathon. She spent the summer rising at 5 a.m. for training runs, building both discipline and endurance. She recently completed her first race in Burnaby, pushing through cold, rain, and fatigue by trusting her training. “Running has fortified my determination and shown me that with passion, discipline, and grit, I can achieve goals that once felt impossible,” she said.

 

A lesser-known aspect of Wheeler’s background is her strong aptitude for animal care developed during summers on her grandparents’ cattle farm. She has raised a wide range of animals, including goats, chickens, rabbits, dogs, cats, and even a turkey -- experiences that build confidence and compassion.

 

Upon graduation, Wheeler plans to pursue a nursing degree at Camosun College and UVic, gain clinical experience, and eventually attend medical school to become a pediatrician. Her rare blend of intelligence, discipline, grit and empathy suggests she is exceptionally well-prepared for the challenging journey ahead.