Szalat, a senior at St. Edmond Catholic School, was honored as the winner of the award, the school announced recently.

The Father Patrick Walsh Leadership Award was renamed in 2002 to honor Father Walsh’s leadership as a teacher, principal and president for St. Edmond.

“I know that this award holds a lot of meaning at St. Edmond,” Szalat said. “I am very honored to receive it. I think the main reason the award means so much to me is because I know that I made an effort to honor my friends, family, teammates and school throughout my four years by being involved in activities.

“Earning the Father Walsh Award shows me that other people saw and appreciated that effort.”

Each year, the award is presented to a senior male at St. Edmond who meets the criteria of academic excellence in proportion to his ability, good citizenship in school and community, and participation and service in activities of school and community.

Szalat was involved in St. Edmond Honor Society, student government, Play Like A Champion and various service activities, along with cross country, track and baseball.

In the fall, he will attend Iowa State University, majoring in biology with plans to attend medical school to become an oncologist. Szalat will also be minoring in Spanish.

The other finalists for the award were Grant Webster, Isaac Landwehr, Tyler Rossmanith and Hayden Mayer.