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May 9, 2000
Contact:
Brian Jamieson
Public Affairs Officer
(905) 727-0022, ext. 2380
Aurora - Sixteen outstanding students, representative of approximately 90,000 in the York Region District School Board's 135 schools, will be singled out tonight (Tuesday) at the Board's 13th Annual Awards reception at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel in Richmond Hill.
The Celebrating Student Success Awards event gets underway at 7:30 p.m.
The ceremony honours the stellar achievements of students and the significant contributions of teachers and parents to students' success. The Celebrating Student Success Award recipients are community leaders in every sense - scholastically, athletically, socially, and artistically.
The following information summarizes their achievements.
Maria Banda, of Thornhill Secondary School, is academically gifted and multi-lingual. She has already completed six OAC credits and has achieved perfect marks in Italian and German. She is a member of the school's Prefect Society, the Terry Fox Committee, the Debate Club, DECA, and the History Advisory Board. As well, she volunteers with the Red Cross and has been instrumental in raising money for Kids' Help Phone. She accomplished all this since emigrating from Croatia in 1996. Maria hopes to study international relations prior to earning a degree in law.
John Bartlet, of Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School in Aurora, is a goal-setter par excellence. He is on track to represent Canada in the 2004 Olympics in the 200 metre breast stroke, will graduate with a 95 per cent average in his top OAC courses, and tutors fellow students in mathematics. As well, he is a skilled trumpet player and teaches swimming to 7 and 8-year-olds. John plans to study engineering at either Simon Fraser or Eastern Michigan University.
Jane Chow, from Milliken Mills High School, has her sights set on a career in medicine. She has been an honour roll member throughout high school and an award winner in chemistry and advanced science. Jane organized Kiddies Korner, a craft room in the Old Unionville Library Community Centre; ran a bilingual playgroup in English and Cantonese for three to five-year-olds at the Armadale Community Centre; and has been a volunteer fundraiser for the York Region's Children's Aid Society and the Red Ribbon Campaign for people with AIDS. She lists hobbies including: swimming, skating, skiing, rock climbing, hiking, racquet sports, math, science, and reading.
Jenny Clement, from Langstaff Secondary School, is a school prefect and a member of Langstaff's Interact Club whose goal is to improve the quality of life for everyone in the school and the community. Jenny, who faces the daily challenges of living with cerebral palsy, is a spokesperson for the National Access Awareness program and helps people become better informed about individuals with physical disabilities. She is a recipient of the Richmond Hill Citizen of the Year Award, and is an Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Award winner. Jenny is a member of the school band, has been involved in Guides for six years, and enjoys gymnastics. She reminds us that ability is a choice and that whatever obstacles come our way, they can be overcome.
Tiziana Cotechini, from Ballantrae Public School, Tiziana maintains an overall academic average of 90 per cent, is a talented musician who has played on Ballantrae's various bands, and is an extraordinary athlete in volleyball, basketball, and soccer. She is a reading buddy to a Grade 1 hearing impaired child and has organized the school's food drive for the local food bank. As well, she serves as a lunch monitor, a school secretary, and is involved outside school in a drama club.
Christopher Earle, from Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School, likes to be involved. He is a five-year honours student, a graphic website designer, an actor, a team and group leader, an athlete, yearbook editor and writer, and President of Denison's Students' Council. He has organized food drives, dances, and an orientation program for Grade 9 students. In addition, he has served as the school's webmaster, and has been the Lighting Designer and Technician on more than 10 productions at the Sears Drama Festival, the York Region Heritage House Festival and the Newmarket Theatre.
Dana Evans, from Sutton District High School, makes it her mission to serve others. She spearheaded a Wellness Program for Grade 8 students coaching them against the use of drugs and alcohol, serves as a student mentor, and has participated in everything from blood donor clinics and Terry Fox runs to food drives and community youth rallies. In 1997, she travelled to Ecuador to run a Vacation Bible School for 200 children, and to build housing and a church for the impoverished village of Guayaquil. On top of all this, she maintains an honours' average and is a friend, confidante to students throughout the school.
Larissa Haluszka, from Newmarket High School, is an honour roll student in the Newmarket's gifted program and has won awards for English and vocal music. She is active in peer counselling, on the Student Council, and has participated on the varsity field hockey and swim teams. Larissa is a member of the school's celebrated Jazz Choir, and a key player on Newmarket's championship Reach for the Top team that placed third in Ontario last year. She volunteers with the Bev Bernier Child Care Centre, and as a life guard with the York Region Athletic Association. As a young entrepreneur, she established "Larissa's Studio" where she teaches piano lessons and music appreciation to children aged 4 through 11.
Joyce Ko, from Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, is fluent in four languages - including English and French. Not bad considering she arrived in Canada four years ago from Hong Kong. She is a piano virtuoso, volunteers in the emergency department of the local hospital, and maintains near perfect marks in every subject. Joyce accompanies the school choir, serves as a piano tutor, and now tutors in French and mathematics. In addition, she likes to read, play tennis and badminton, and "help with chores around the house."
Nir Lipsman, from Westmount Collegiate Institute, is an award-winning playwright and philosopher who has already had two of his plays produced. Nir maintains an academic average above 95 per cent and volunteers at the local hospital and at a nursing home. He is known as a gentleman, an inspiration to his peers and teachers, and one who supports others, recognizes team efforts, and demonstrates leadership in a quiet, unassuming manner.
Adela Molero, from the Richmond Hill Adult Community Learning Centre, enrolled at the centre in 1998 to earn her high school diploma after arriving in Canada from Spain. In addition to working full-time as a hairdresser, Adela supports and promotes all of the school's charitable activities including the Care and Share Food Drive. She is a member of the Students' Council, has earned honour roll status, and generously gives of her free time to raise money for children with cancer.
Georgina Muir, from Summitview Public School, maintains a 90 per cent average in her school work, sings in the senior choir at her church, and plays the flute for the school band. She is an accomplished Highland dancer who will represent Canada this summer at the World Highland Dance Competition in Scotland. As well, Georgina is an active fundraiser, volunteer, and babysitter.
Khadijah Rawji, from Sixteenth Avenue Public School, is at the top of her class academically. She spearheaded a "Leaders of Tomorrow Today" leadership camp and created a series of Kindergarten lessons on bullying after which she led eight other students in the instruction of six Kindergarten classes. Khadijah chaired Sixteenth Avenue's "Teen Issue Discussion Experience" this year. As well, she serves as a peer tutor and is a founding member of the school's Multi-Cultural Club.
Ruchika Shukla, from Markville Secondary School, is in the top one per cent of her OAC class, is a multi-award winner in the sciences and mathematics, and is Markville's valedictorian. She has been instrumental in organizing charitable events for Kosovo victims, food drives, and a walk-a-thon for the Hope for Rwanda's Children Fund. Ruchika is an executive member of the Mayor of Unionville's Youth Council and an ambassador for the Mayor's Youth Task Force. Ruchika serves as a volunteer assistant to the Child Life Specialist at the Markham-Stouffville Hospital, acts as senior counsellor of the Dr. Bear Pre-Administration Surgical Program for Children, and has helped to prepare parents with the emotional trauma associated with surgery. She is the president and co-founder of the school's Helping Hands Club and a peer tutor.
Erin Thompson, from Armitage Village Public School, excels in Armitage's Grade 8 academic program, plays trumpet in the Newmarket Enrichment Band, has been a guide with Pathfinders for 10 years. She helps with all school blood donor clinics, food bank drives, car washes, and yard sales aimed at helping others. Erin serves on the school's Students' Council, performs in school drama productions, assists with updating the school's website, plays on the volleyball team, and writes poetry. She is also active in her church's youth group and as a babysitter within the community.
Tom Yen, from Milliken Mills High School, gives 10 hours a week to tutoring, the Diabetes Education Centre, environmental initiatives and the Red Cross in addition to maintaining outstanding marks. In fact, for seven years, he has been an honour-roll member.He is an accomplished musician having received the school's Best Junior Brass Play Award and Music Awards. He has also received awards for English, Chemistry, Business, Geography, History, Law, Mathematics, and Multi-Media. Tom is an active member of the Red Cross Youth Action Council, a member of the Chinese Cultural Association, and a cabinet member of the Ontario Secondary School Students' Association.
"These students are the pride of public education," says Director of Education Bill Hogarth. "They exemplify the many successes that occur everyday in our schools. Their achievement is also a recognition of the parents, guardians, teachers and complex support systems in place that help to make student success possible. We're tremendously proud of each and every one of them."
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