Rian, whose family roots are from Quezon Province in the Philippines, took ice hockey as a sport at the age of five and as the years progressed, she excelled in soccer too.
Last year, she was recruited to play in Phoenix and Montreal and will see action in the Alberta Winter Games.
Rian was among the young Albertans nominated for the award for her exemplary performance in sports, academics and community service.
The alternate captain and one of the leading scorers of the Southside Athletic Club Bantam doube-A team has been active in the Coats for Kids campaign that supplies underprivileged children and their families with warm clothing in the winter season.
The Santos family’s “wonder girl” received the award last January 9 at Rogers Place, the day that made the Filipino community proud specially her loving grandmother Fely. “I am very proud and I can’t describe the feeling,” a very happy grandma told the Alberta Filipino Journal.