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Aspiring Cape Breton filmmaker, altruistic international human rights activist among leading scholars
Take, for instance, Lauren (Christie) MacNeil, a 17-year-old Cape Breton native with a 98 per cent average who wants to be the third generation in her family to pursue filmmaking. Her father is a freelance film producer, her mother decorated the set for Margaret's Museum, and her grandfather was a director of photography for the National Film Board of Canada.
Shades of New Waterford Girl: Cape Breton student/ aspiring filmmaker pursues dream "down the road"
Like the main character in the critically acclaimed movie, The New Waterford Girl (a film by Cape Breton writer Tricia Fish about a girl wanting to escape small-town life to pursue her artistic talent in the big city), MacNeil too wants to see where her artistic aspirations and her thirst for learning can take her in Toronto. "Growing up in the small, isolated region that is Cape Breton can have either positive or negative influence upon an individual. Fortunately for me, I believe it has been the former," says MacNeil, who will be joining York University's Faculty of Fine Arts Cultural Studies Program.
"Despite its friendly people and strong cultural background and traditions, the Island's severe economic and environmental situation has instilled a pessimistic, dismal attitude in most. Many younger Cape Bretoners believe that they must move away in order to have employment and to be successful. For some time now, I have been ready to leave this island in hopes of gaining new experiences and knowledge, of which I aim to bring back to my home in order to sustain development and create positive scenarios for other young people," she says.
MacNeil, who ranked first out of a graduating class of 260 at Sydney Academy in Sydney, NS, was also active in her school's Model Parliament, Yearbook Committee, environmental club, and Amnesty International chapter. Equally dedicated to her community, she volunteered as a candy striper at Cape Breton Regional Hospital, tutored at Sydney Pier Literacy Centre, and worked as a guide at Fortress Louisbourg. She also co-ordinated the Sydney Academy Youth Round Table Discussions on AIDS Awareness, fundraised for the AIDS Coalition of Sydney, and was a kitchen assistant for Loaves and a Fishes, an organization which helps feed the poor and hungry.
MacNeil is among a group of extraordinary students to receive one of York's Awards of Distinction, earned by students with outstanding academic records and accomplishments in community service, leadership, the arts, or sports. Valued at $8,000 per annum, they are renewable for up to four years of undergraduate study, and include the cost of first-year residence.
Altruistic top Toronto student helps imprisoned children in Bolivia, poor in Africa, and local Somali refugees
Felicity Williams, 18, is clearly an academic star -- she is graduating from Weston Collegiate Institute in North York with a 90 per cent average -- but it is her altruism which sets her apart. Her compassion and commitment to helping the poor and incarcerated has taken her to the prisons of Bolivia, South America and twice to Mali, West Africa with the Canadian humanitarian organization, Hands Across the Nations (HATN).
During a HATN mission to Bolivia in 1995, Williams, who immersed herself in the performing arts and music at the Etobicoke School of the Arts, helped develop and implement recreational programs in music, drama, sports, and crafts at a local church feeding station for children. She returned with HATN during the summer of 1997 to work with children living with their incarcerated parents in the prisons of Cochabamba, Bolivia, and worked alongside Bolivian leaders to provide prison children with educational assistance, nutrition and recreational programs.
Williams traveled to Mana, a small village in Mali, with HATN in 1996, and again in 1998. There she worked and lived with the people of Mana to build housing for local families and a girls' school dormitory. Having been in French immersion until grade eight, she also served as a translator for the HATN team in Mali ñ a francophone country.
Williams' altruistic spirit is equally evident in Toronto, where she volunteers at least three days a week with the Somali Refugee community in Etobicoke as an English, French, Math, Science, Music and Art tutor. She also volunteers with the Somali Women and Children's Support Network, teaching ESL, and with Matthew House, a refugee settlement and transition house located in downtown Toronto.
"I plan to continue my involvement in the international community, and I hope to live and work in Africa eventually," says Williams, who will join York's Faculty of Environmental Studies to pursue studies in Global Development, Peace and Justice. "I am very interested in peace and reconciliation work in countries fragmented by war, genocide, and poverty."
Williams is the recipient of the Harry W. Arthurs Alumni Entrance Scholarship (named in honour of President Emeritus Harry W. Arthurs). The scholarship is worth $2,500 per annum and awarded to a student with a minimum admission average of 90 per cent, outstanding accomplishments in community service, and who is the child or grandchild of a York University graduate. Williams' mother, Bonnie Heather Parsons (nee Nolte), is a York Alumna, BFA '76.
Bright, budding digital and graphic artist Katie Sweet brings colour and commitment to Cobourg
Katie Sweet, 19, is a budding digital artist and animator of extraordinary talents who is graduating with a 99 per cent average from St. Mary's Secondary School in Cobourg, Ontario. A resident of nearby Grafton, Sweet helped to launch and edit The St. Mary' Arts Magazine (with help from English teacher and York alumnus Joe Pignataro), produced a claymation film short, and made it as a semi-finalist in the arts category during this year's YTV Achievement Awards.
Sweet has shared her talent in digital arts and computer graphic design with The Cobourg Daily Star, for whom she designed a web page, and with The Cobourg Police Service, for whom she painted a wall mural. "York's Faculty of Fine Arts enjoys a fantastic reputation and seems to me to be a place where superior creative intelligence can flourish, and where I can nourish my talents to their optimum," says Sweet, who both gives and takes art lessons. Sweet, a York Award of Distinction recipient, will be joining York's Faculty of Fine Arts Visual Arts program.
Exceptional West Coast student, theatre enthusiast, aims to put international women's rights at centre stage
Emily Cohen, 17, is an aspiring Canadian diplomat who graduated from Oak Bay High School in Victoria, with a 96 per cent average and a string of academic and community accolades to her name. Cohen founded and led a school theatre group which teaches younger students the importance of resisting peer pressure. She also helped lead a group called ASPIRE which offers female students a forum for their opinions and the chance to meet women leaders in the community. As well, Cohen has volunteered at the Belfry Theatre, been a youth representative on the Oak Bay Community Theatre Society Board of Directors, and volunteered as a camp counsellor for children with physical and developmental disabilities.
Cohen says she wants to continue her work in the community and pursue a career in international affairs and diplomacy, focussing on international women's rights and equal access to education opportunities in poorer countries. "An active life of contribution to one's community and world leads to a passionate and fulfilling life," says Cohen.
In addition to receiving recognition for her superior academic performance, Cohen, who will be joining York's Faculty of Arts to study Sociology and Political Science, has been awarded numerous awards for her community service, including the Zonta International Young Woman in Public Affairs Award, and the Soroptimist International Youth Citizenship Award. She is a York Award of Distinction recipient.
Talented and motivated student from Pakistan ranks top in Math, rules the Cricket pitch
Sohail Zaheer, 19, is a member of the last graduating class of Midland Avenue Collegiate Institute in Scarborough (it is closing the end of this term as a part of a series of GTA schools closures), leaving with the distinction of earning a 99 per cent average.
Zaheer, who arrived in Canada from Pakistan three years ago, was among 25 talented and motivated students from across Ontario selected to study Math and Science at an advance level at the Ontario Science Centre School for a semester. He volunteers as a peer tutor during lunches and assists Grade 9 Math classes four times a week. He won the Warner-Lambert Academic Award for Chemistry and Calculus, and earned the highest marks in OAC World Issues, Algebra and Geometry, and Finite Math at his school.
A Cricket enthusiast, Zaheer says he dreams of becoming a neurosurgeon. He will be joining York's Faculty of Pure and Applied Science to study Biology. He is among a group of extraordinary students to receive one of York's President's Awards, valued at $5,400 per annum and awarded to students presenting the highest entrance averages.
Identical twin brothers and their best friend find strength in numbers in achieving academic success
Raktim and Nilava Ghatak, 19, identical twin brothers, and their friend and study partner Siddharaj (Sid) Chudasama, 18, are all graduating from Kipling Collegiate Institute in Etobicoke, each having achieved 98 per cent averages.
"At the beginning of high school, we competed against one another for the highest mark," says Nilava. We came to the conclusion ëWhy bother?' and started to help each other out. That's the point when we started to achieve higher grades."
Nilava adds that he and his brother were in the same classes throughout high school, ensuring that if one were absent, the other would help him catch up. The Ghatak brothers and Chudasama will be joining York's Faculty of Pure and Applied Science, majoring in Physics and minoring in Math. They are each recipients of York's President's Awards.
High School dropout ready for new challenges ahead with a second chance at an education
Nancy Trepanier, 26, dropped out of her Quebec high school at 14 due to a turbulent adolescence. She married at 18, had a child at 20, and became a divorced single mother at 23. She says the penalties for leaving school were not confined to the working world. "I soon learned to expect put-downs, social snubs and easy assumptions from those fortunate to have an education. While I did not accept this stereotypical perception of my worth, it eroded my self-confidence nonetheless. I felt stigmatized and trapped. Now, I feel like I can do anything. I never dreamed I could go to college, let alone university."
Trepanier achieved a near straight A average in her first semester of Seneca College's Law Enforcement program. She will be joining York's Faculty of Arts to study Psychology, is considering minoring in Law and Society or Political Science, and intends to pursue graduate studies. Trepanier is the recipient of the Mature Student Award -- valued at $3,000 per annum -- available to eligible mature applicants who are entering first year.
For more information or to arrange an interview with any of the students, please call:
Ken Turriff, Media Relations Officer
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