2008 scholarship Recipients

Faiza Aleem

Atkinson Housing Co-operative Inc.

Faiza attended Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for most of her high school education but will graduate this year from Harbord Collegiate Institute, where she has excelled in sciences. Working with the Creative Arts Council at Harbord, she organized a show of multicultural food, dress, music and dance, bringing to her new school a project that was successful at Marc Garneau. Faiza has volunteered as an organizer of special events at community centres and as a reading and writing coach at a public library. She works part-time and plans to attend Ryerson University.

Jamal Baptiste

Bleecker Street Co-operative Homes Inc.

At Central Technical School, Jamal was involved with the mentoring program for immigrant students and the Grade 8 exposition. He also worked with the teacher of his black literature class to mentor and motivate other students. At Bleecker Street, where he has lived all his life, he works on the Big Mouth newsletter crew and volunteers in a range of activities for younger children, including day camps and tutoring. Recently he has been especially involved in promoting energy conservation at the co-op. Jamal will attend George Brown College.

Christina de la Cruz

Bleecker Street Co-operative Homes Inc.

This is the second time CHFT has recognized Christina: she received the Youth Award six years ago. She continues to be an enthusiastic volunteer at Bleecker Street and an ambassador for co-op living. Christina attends Le Collège Français and maintains an A average. At the Cabbagetown Youth Centre, she works with children as a volunteer and as a dance instructor and counsellor in summer and after-school programs. Her duties include preparing teams for dance competitions. She will attend the University of Toronto.

Michael Dereje

Broadview Housing Co-operative Inc.

At Riverdale Collegiate Institute, Michael is vice-president for external affairs on the student council and a participant in a Tim Horton’s Youth Leadership program. He belongs to the school soccer club and also plays for a premier team at the West Rouge Soccer Club. For four years Michael has volunteered at the March Break and summer camps of the Riverdale Housing Animation Programs. He assists with planning and fundraising as well as supporting and mentoring at-risk children and youth. He plans to attend Carleton University or Ryerson University.

Mohamed Elmi

Harry Sherman Crowe Housing Co-operative

Mohamed graduates this year from C.W. Jefferys Collegiate Institute. He says that his parents’ struggles as new immigrants to Canada inspired him to help make the transition easier for immigrant children and teenagers. He approached Dixon Community Services two years ago and has been serving on its advisory board and designing and overseeing its programs for youth ever since. One of his initiatives to encourage community engagement has become a model for other organizations. Mohamed will study engineering at York University.

Adaline Huang

Orchard Grove Housing Co-operative

At R.H. King Academy, Adaline has been on the honour roll each year and has participated in the school orchestra, the yearbook and several other activities. But performing Chinese dance in multicultural shows is the role she finds most enriching. She has helped organize King Kollaboration, the school’s diverse dance crew; for the Christmas Assembly, Adaline choreographed a dance drama mixing Asian hip hop with break dancing. Now, with a partner, she is teaching other students how to start a dance crew. Adaline plans to attend Ryerson University.

Lina Ibrahim

Atkinson Housing Co-operative Inc.

Lina attends Harbord Collegiate Institute, where she has found her involvement with the West African Cultural Club especially fulfilling. This year she organized the Black History Month Assembly. At Alexandra Park Community Centre she volunteers as a tutor in the Homework Club. Last fall, with another student, she began an innovative art program at Alexandra Park called Learning Through Creativity. She now coordinates the program, which incorporates religious and cultural elements into art activities. Lina will attend Ryerson University.

Charlie Lindsay

Hugh Garner Housing Co-operative

Until Grade 11, Charlie preferred to hang back and let others lead. Then his basketball coach at Jarvis Collegiate Institute saw leadership skills in him and named him a team captain. Now he even gives advice to his Jarvis coaches. A talented player, he volunteers as a tournament scorekeeper and coaches young children. Students, teachers and neighbours alike regard Charlie as a role model, a strong team leader who guides his peers and younger students and helps other teenagers stay out of trouble. He works part-time and will attend the University of Windsor.

Clever Luu

Atkinson Housing Co-operative Inc.

When Clever was elected secretary of the Jarvis Collegiate Institute student council in her third year of high school, she noticed that students for whom English was a second language did not participate much in the school’s many social activities. She worked with other council members and the Multicultural Club to make the prom and other events more inclusive. In addition to her many other extracurricular commitments at Jarvis, she volunteers with youth at her church and in fundraisers for charity. Clever will attend the University of Waterloo.

Chantel Mawbey

Richmond Hill Housing Co-operative

At Thornlea Secondary School, Chantel made many friends among students for whom English was a second language but saw that some were having difficulty interacting in the school. She developed strategies to improve ESL students’ class work, social experiences and language-testing results. As a volunteer tutor and editor, she took great satisfaction in seeing her students get better marks and widen their social circles. Chantel has also volunteered to teach younger children about water conservation. She works part-time and will attend the University of Toronto.

Maryan Osman

Atkinson Housing Co-operative Inc.

Maryan attends Central Commerce Collegiate and participates in many school activities including sports, student council, Peer Helpers and LINCSS, a social and global issues club. She founded the school’s African-Canadian Club. Since age 13, when she joined the Leader-in-Training program, she has been an active volunteer at Alexandra Park Community Centre, most recently with the Young Women’s Program, which develops self-esteem in girls ages 9 to 16. At Atkinson Co-op, she is vice-president of the board of directors. Maryan will attend Wilfrid Laurier University.

Owen Pollonais

Campden Green Co-operative Homes Inc.

Owen attends Blessed Mother Teresa Catholic Secondary School. In addition to his leadership and outstanding contributions in a wide range of school sports, especially track and field, he has helped with social and peer support activities. Owen created and participated in anti-bullying presentations for elementary students and organized a large workshop called “Quest I’m On” at his own school. He has volunteered as a youth leader at Malvern Methodist Church, at his own church and at his co-op. He will attend George Brown College.

Akhil Shah

Upwood Park/Salvador del Mundo Co-operative Homes Inc.

An honour roll student at William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute, Akhil has been involved in the Science Olympics and the Arts/Literature Journal, in Student Vote 2006 and the “Reach for the Top” team. He is a youth representative at his temple, Sri Jain Mandir. At his co-op Akhil is a member of the By-law Review Committee, which works on many aspects of community development: establishing a newsletter, improving security, beautifying the property and increasing member involvement and social unity. He will attend the University of Toronto and hopes to become a doctor.

Rakitha Srinivasan

Kimroy Grove Co-operative Homes

Rakitha graduates this year from Agincourt Collegiate Institute. She choreographs and performs Tamil dances for the school’s variety and multicultural shows. At the Scarborough YMCA she volunteers in fundraising and other activities. Rakitha also belongs to the Y’s Youth Leader Corps, which encourages service to the community. Through this program she took part in an exchange with British Columbia teens and learned more about Canada’s diversity. She plans to attend the University of Toronto or the University of Ontario Institute of Technology and to pursue a career in medicine.

Sehajpreet Tathgar

Tapscott Village Co-operative Inc.

At Lester B. Pearson Collegiate Institute, Sehajpreet worked on the group that developed the school’s web site. He is a peer tutor in math, a weightlifter and a member of the Empowered Student Partnership, a group that raises awareness against youth violence. Sehajpreet helped to organize a school assembly this year with ESP. In a summer program run by Serve Canada, he developed social and leadership skills while cleaning up parks, helping children with reading and supporting seniors. Sehajpreet will attend the University of Waterloo.

Daniel Tsang

Atkinson Housing Co-operative Inc.

Daniel attends Western Technical-Commercial School, where he excels in a wide variety of courses and has been on the honour roll each year. Teachers and friends count on his technological skills, and he has won a scholarship for achievement in computer animation. He is also involved in his community in music festivals and in fundraising for charities. His participation in the 30-Hour Famine persuaded him that spreading knowledge about human need would be a powerful means to fight poverty. Daniel plans to attend Ryerson University.

Shu Yang Frank Zhao

Bain Apartments Co-operative Inc.

Shu Yang is in the magnet science and math program at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute. Among many remarkable distinctions, he won a gold medal and a Royal Astronomical Society Award at a science fair in 2006. He is a lead student in a community robotics program and was experiments manager for his school’s annual expedition in environmental science. Shu Yang’s proudest accomplishment, however, is as president of the school Concert Band, where he streamlined rehearsals, set up a leadership system in the band sections, and tutored bassoon students. He will attend the University of Toronto.

Mateusz (Matthew) Ziobrowski

Crown Heights Co-operative Homes Inc.

At St. Elizabeth Catholic High School, Matthew has played basketball and volleyball and belonged to the Global Culture Club. A member of I’m a Kid for Peace, he has also organized and taken part in fundraisers for the Sick Kids Foundation and Free the Children. These projects have strengthened his leadership skills, which he also puts to good use as a volunteer basketball coach for younger children and as a game organizer for a charitable organization. Matthew’s goal is to be involved in sports professionally, as an athlete, coach or trainer. He will attend York University.

Success Becomes You Scholarships

Cynthia Atkins

Jenny Green Co-operative Homes

Cynthia began studying in the Community Worker Program at George Brown College in 2000 and made the Dean’s List. But family challenges forced her to put her academic work aside. She continued to upgrade her skills through volunteer work with the Centre for Community Learning and Development, where she designed and presented workshops. At the Yonge Street Mission she serves on the planning and advisory committee and participates in the Immigrant Women Integration Program. She will return to George Brown College to enter the Community Worker Program.

Albin Lòpez

Peregrine Co-operative Homes Inc.

Albin has been working in the field of health promotion and lifestyle management for five years. Currently he works as a Service Access Coordinator at the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and helps to train other staff and volunteers. Last year he recruited and trained volunteers for a large research study that surpassed its targets and expectations. He also volunteers in community education, outreach and fundraising. Albin took the Academic Upgrading Program at St. Christopher House and received his GED certificate in 2006. He will enter the Community Worker Program at George Brown College.

Segundo Namuche

Scarborough Heights Co-operative Homes Inc.

Since achieving his high school diploma at Burnhamthorpe Collegiate Institute in 1996, Segundo has been working in the security industry and accumulating specialized certifications. Meanwhile he has served on his co-op’s social and membership committees, and he has been on the board since 2006. He also volunteers with Malvern’s Men: Making a Difference, a community organization that reaches out to encourage and support young people who face challenges. Segundo will attend the Police Foundations program at Centennial College.