(Submitted photo/ Rob Kozinski)

By Nicole Reis

DEDICATED SCHOOL FACULTY

Carpenter High School teacher wins service award for dedication toward youth athletics

Jun 22, 2020 | 2:46 PM

The Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association has acknowledged Carpenter High School (CHS) teacher Rob Kozinski for a service award for his commitment to the Northwest Athletics Association. Faculty vote for staff members within one of 14 districts.

Kozinski told meadowlakeNOW he is humbled and honoured by the service award and attributes his success to the students he’s refereed and coached over the course of his 21 year career.

“It’s the kids that deserve the credit because over the years, it’s the kids that make or break a program,” he said. “If you’ve got good kids, you’ve got a good program – I don’t commit my time unless they do too.”

The service award acknowledges the hours of dedication from teachers, coaches and athletic directors put towards students of their school, the relationships they build with faculty but with parents in the community.

The Grade 9 CHS teacher joined Northwest Athletics in 2007 as athletics director with Jonas Sampson Middle School until last year, where he began at CHS.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

Kozinski has been coaching and refereeing volleyball, baseball, basketball among other sports since 1999. In addition to this year’s accomplishments, he was named Coach of the Year in 2013, and won a subsequent award for Outstanding Official in 2016. He has also recently been named as Officials Commissioner and is well-known for his expertise in Badminton.

“It’s a huge honour to be even nominated and I want to congratulate anyone who has won it before me,” he said.

While Kozinski says he’s disappointed with the cancellation of most summer athletics programs this year, he is looking forward to Fall when he can get back in to school athletics. He is considering branching his efforts into community programs and spent this past Father’s Day weekend fishing with CHS graduating students in Buffalo Narrows.

Bishop Lloyd middle school teacher Ryan Sklapsky nominated Kozinski for the award. Sklapsky teaches Grade 7 out of Lloydminster and said Jonas Sampson athletics teams have been rivals in past games. Kozinski’s previously role at Jonas Sampson allowed him to frequently accompany students on various tournaments and games in between the two cities.

“I felt Rob was very deserving of the service award because he has worn many hats with the Northwest High School Athletics Association District,’ he said. “He’s worked as an athletic director for many years and just this year he’s become the Officials Commissioner and took over for Dave Speirs and those are big shoes to fill.”

Sklapsky recalls Jonas Sampson students as the biggest rival in volleyball, basketball, badminton, track and field and many other sports.

“I feel he deserves it but I also feel that if there were others that were nominated, he would be honoured and grateful for the others to be honoured and grateful for other to be celebrated as well,” he said. “That’s just the type of character he is.”

The Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association created a tribute video acknowledging Kozinski’s accomplishment which can be viewed here.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722