While Ryan Nembhard now runs the floor for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, his story of global success began in York Catholic District School Board gyms. On June 23, the YCDSB named the Aurora, Ont., native one of this year’s 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award winners, reminding the faithful how Catholic education nurtures both talent and character.

Alongside Nembhard, the board honoured singer Nicolina Bozzo, the furthest-advancing Canadian in American Idol history; Dr. Amelia Ciofani, a cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Brampton Civic Hospital and St. Michael’s Hospital; Fr. Alvin Joys, the associate pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Woodbridge; and Justice Linda Shin of the Ontario Superior Court. 

The Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates graduates who are living out the Catholic School Graduate Expectations and who have integrated faith values into their daily lives. 

Advertisement

“Our 2026 Distinguished Alumni prove that a YCDSB education prepares students not just for careers, but for lives of purpose,” said Jennifer Sarna, interim director of education, in a news release.

In addition to the honour itself, posters featuring the winners are now on display in all 103 schools across the board, which serve approximately 49,000 students, to inspire future generations to pursue excellence while remaining grounded in Gospel values.

One of those schools is Aurora’s St. Jerome’s Catholic Elementary, which first opened its doors to students in September 2005. There on that day was Glenn Reid, an intermediate teacher and multi-sport coach, who remains an educator at the school to this day. While Reid taught hundreds of students during his time at St. Jerome’s, few in particular stood out as glowingly as one young boy who entered his class in 2013, particularly on the school’s hardwood.

“He was one of our starting guards for our Grade 7 and 8 intermediate team when he was in Grade 4. We won the board championship that year with him and his brother Andrew as our two point guards, and it was unbelievable the talent these two had,” he said, referring to Nembhard’s sibling, who also plays in the league for the Indiana Pacers. 

While Nembhard’s exceptional talent and athleticism, which led him to play with stars like Kyrie Irving, Klay Thompson and Cooper Flagg, were glaringly apparent, it was his emphasis on moral character that stood out to Reid more than anything. 

“He was someone highly respectful, determined and driven, I think, especially to want to be like his older brother.  He never played hockey, but I would joke around that I could have thrown skates on him and he could have been an NHLer because it didn't matter which sport you put him in. He had that perseverance and drive, but also those Catholic virtues. It was phenomenal to see the respect that he had for his opponents,” he told The Catholic Register. 

Advertisement

Reid, who didn’t play basketball himself, was a key figure in taking those Catholic life skills and expanding them in Nembhard, rather than the technical skills that he admits were already taken care of. 

One way, as the teacher still recalls years later, was the team’s defensive man-to-man rule, even when opposing Catholic schools would be forced into double or even triple-teaming his guards. 

“I remember you could see his level of frustration, and I told him this is what life is, you are going to come against people who are going to skirt the rules, but that I knew he would be the better person for overcoming it,” Reid said. “He would find the pass to his teammates instead — it made him a better leader.” 

St. Jerome’s also had a strict rule against running up the score, a rule the Nembhards respected fully out of humility and respect for opponents. It was these qualities that bred the foresight of the award recipients' future potential, more than any stat sheet could. 

“I think we all believed that we were witnessing something special with this kid. Just to see the role model that he's become when you look at the numbers in this area of a percentage of kids that now play basketball because of people like him,” his former teacher said. 

He also highlights the Nembhard Family Foundation, a charity founded by his family, that often hosts youth basketball clinics and helps provide athletic equipment to underserved neighbourhoods across the GTA and Indianapolis

“That, to me, is more important than what he does on the court, and that's the stuff that you really can't teach. His mom and dad have been a big part of that,” Reid said. 

Nembhard’s story, even if overshadowed by the grandeur of his place on basketball’s biggest stage, still stands today as evidence of the power of Catholic education’s mission of developing the whole person, whether academically, spiritually, philosophically or even athletically. 

Advertisement

However proud of his former student athlete’s professional success, Reid sees June’s award as the recognition of a life of purpose truly shaped by such a Catholic education.

“ I just think we do offer something of a tangible light when it comes to support and guidance. We want (to help grow) those well-rounded individuals, and Ryan is one of them,” he said.