Researching a cure for cancer, addressing social concerns such as bullying and the environment, fighting child poverty and exploitation, and developing age-appropriate sexual health workshops for youth are just a few of the accomplishments of 20 distinguished high-school and Cégep students awarded the TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership this year.
The scholarship program, one of Canada’s most prestigious, celebrates community leadership and academic excellence. Many of Canada’s brightest, most committed students were recognized at a ceremony May 15th in Ottawa for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions to communities across Canada and globally.
Selected by a panel of prominent Canadian Senators, business professionals and past award recipients, the 2007 scholarship winners receive full post-secondary tuition, $5,000 a year toward living expenses and an offer of summer employment at TD Canada Trust for up to four years – a total value of up to $60,000 each.
“At TD Canada Trust, one of the things that amazes us every year is how many young people are leading important, at times transformative, activities in their communities and they’re doing it with dedication, passion and hard work,” says Tim Hockey, Co-Chair, TD Canada Trust. “This year, TD received 3,800 applications from impressive youth across the country. TD is privileged to work with the 20 talented individuals who were chosen as scholarship recipients and help provide a solid financial foundation for them to pursue their dreams in a post-secondary environment and ultimately continue to make a positive impact in their communities. We are proud to be making a difference together.”
TD Canada Trust will donate more than $1 million to the scholarship recipients, part of its commitment to youth education that will total more than $2.5 million in 2007.
Demonstrating a passion for issues of local, national and global concern, as well as academic excellence, the 2007 scholarship recipients were selected from more than 3,800 applicants and hail from across Canada.
“I am extremely proud that my accomplishments are being recognized by TD Bank. For me, giving back to my community and helping others is the most important gift I can give to those around me,” said Kayla Cornale, 2007 scholarship recipient. “Receiving the TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership will allow me to pursue my post-secondary education, while giving me the freedom to concentrate on the things that I am most passionate about, including my community involvement.”
“When I evaluate the extraordinary achievements of the individuals who have been awarded the TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership this year, Canada’s future looks very promising indeed,” said Senator Donald Oliver. “The young people in this distinguished group represent a cross-section of Canadian youth who are dedicated to making a difference in their own communities and abroad. The achievements they have attained to date, are hopefully just the beginning.”
One recipient, Ted Paranjothy of Winnipeg, MB, who volunteers on experimental cancer research projects, seeks to develop non-toxic alternatives to chemotherapy at the Manitoba Institute of Cell Biology. Ted co-authored two articles in the biomedical journals, Cancer Therapy and Biology (2006) and Drug Resistance Updates (2007). He received a provisional patent on an anticancer agent with the ability to induce cell death in leukemia, breast, lung, and prostate cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue.
A complete list of recipients can be found at www.tdcanadatrust.com/scholarship. Three of this year’s recipients are Aboriginal. Their exceptional achievements include:
Ms. Jenna Broomfield
Hometown: North West River, NF & LB
High School: Lake Melville School
Jenna is actively engaged in the Inuit youth community where she is a member of the Rising Youth Council (RYC), which promotes the Inuit culture in Labrador. RYC hosts symposiums where the community meets with the Nunatsiavut government to discuss challenges and potential solutions to critical issues such as suicide and drug use. They also provide educational and cultural presentations on traditional Inuit clothing, food making, throat singing and drum dancing as well as on the Inuktitut language.
She is a founding member of Inusutuit Nipingit, an Inuit drumming group, performing at many events, including Canada Day celebrations, National Aboriginal Day, Labrador Winter Games, memorials and baby showers.
Jenna is a peer tutor, an intramurals coach and volunteers at the community summer festival every year. Jenna hopes to pursue a career in law.
Mr. Scott Franks
Hometown: Biggar, SK
High School: Lester B. Pearson United World College of the Pacific
Scott has been heavily involved in the development of a distance IT training program with First Nations Schoolnet, which provides education for youth on reservations in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Scott also helped to install VPNs (virtual private networks) and firewalls in some of the reservations, allowing him to freely communicate with some of the more isolated communities.
He has extensive volunteer involvement in First Nations community activities, including acting as a youth supervisor with the Becher Bay Band in Victoria.
He has also served as editor of his school newspaper and volunteers with Pearson College Radio. He plays and teaches guitar, is interested in photography. Scott hopes to pursue a career in international relations and is expected to attend McGill University in Montreal this coming fall.
Ms. Kate Russell
Hometown: Grand Forks, BC
High School: Grand Forks Secondary
Kate is involved in many activities supporting her local Aboriginal community and Aboriginal Education program at her school. She was an emcee and an organizer for the past two Aboriginal Day Ceremonies.
She won bronze in a national Aboriginal business plan competition, proposing a business that recognized under-represented local Aboriginal artists. She is mentoring this year’s project aiding in the promotion of entrepreneurship, leadership and self-confidence.
Kate is an executive leader of the Youth Advisory Committee of the Phoenix Foundation, which encourages youth initiative and provides grants for youth-driven projects.
Kate has organized mural paintings that promote free expression, instill teamwork and understanding, and is currently painting her school cafeteria. She volunteers at her local SPCA (Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals), is active on student council, her school newspaper, grad committee, and is a tutor. She is also coordinating a music marathon in support of war-affected children around the world. Kate hopes to pursue a career in geography and is attending the University of Northern British Columbia this coming fall.
The TD Canada Trust Scholarship for Community Leadership is open to all students in their final year of high school, and who will be attending post-secondary school during the following year. Applications for 2007 will be available this fall at TD Canada Trust branches, high school and CEGEP guidance offices and online at www.tdcanadatrust.com/ scholarship.