News Articles
2008 Chancellor's and President's Scholars
Thirteen award recipients bring academic accolades, international experiences, leadership achievements to U of G
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Back row, from left: Lydia Frost, Nicole Markwick, Nadine Frost, president Alastair Summerlee, Evan Bell, Isdin Oke and Duncan Parviainen. Front row: Lindsay Morris, Paisley McLeod, Kerith Gordon, Stephynie Sargent and Sylvie Vigneax. |
The Lincoln Alexander Chancellor's Scholarships and the President's Scholarships are presented annually to students of academic distinction who have made significant contributions to their schools and their communities and demonstrate the potential to become leaders in society.
The President's Scholarships are the University's most prestigious entrance awards. Established in 1987, the program has provided financial support and academic guidance to 242 students, including the 11 who are recognized here.
The Chancellor's Scholarships were established in 2002 to honour Lincoln Alexander, U of G's chancellor emeritus and former lieutenant-governor of Ontario, on his 80th birthday. The scholarships are awarded to students who are aboriginal, persons with a disability or members of a racialized minority, and are intended to enhance student diversity at U of G.
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| Chancellor emeritus Lincoln Alexander with Jeannette Goode and Kyle Runeckles. Photos by Grant Martin |
Recipients of both the Chancellor's and President's Scholarships were honoured Sept. 2 at a luncheon hosted by Alexander and president Alastair Summerlee. The event also recognized the contributions of faculty mentors and major donors to the scholarship program. The President's Scholarships honour these distinguished University leaders and supporters: Richard “Dick” Brown, Cecil H. Franklin and Ingrid Franklin, Charles S. Humphrey, Jack R. Longstaffe, Burton C. Matthews, Frederick Metcalf and Kathleen Metcalf, Rol-land Farms Limited and Lillian Stewart Usher.
Chancellor's Scholars
Jeannette Goode, Mayfield Secondary School, Brampton
Jeannette is a top student who excels in sports and the arts. She sang in the women's chorus at her school and was a member of the drama team. She was also an organist at the North Park Worship Centre. Jeannette was named Female Rookie of the Year in 2005 and MVP of the track-and-field team for her contributions as a leader and member of the 100-metre relay team. A skilled public speaker, she also served as a tutor with the Congress of Black Women's Tutorial Program and was a volunteer with the Heart and Stroke Foundation.
Kyle Runeckles, Newmarket High School, Newmarket
Kyle excels scholastically, socially and artistically. In high school, he was president of the music council, an executive of the Relay for Life committee, a link crew leader, a member of the social justice committee and a musician in school bands. As an Earth Day Canada certified eco-mentor and co-founder of his school's Ecology Club, Kyle helped reduce the school's eco-footprint by implementing a recycling program and taking part in community outreach, including Pitch-In days, Earth Day celebrations, anti-idling campaigns, tree plantings and provincial Envirothon events.
President's Scholars
Evan Bell, Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Orillia
Evan has received many awards and honours for academics and athletics. He was named Athlete of the Year three times, took top honours in the University of Waterloo math contest and earned the Principal's Student Leadership Award at graduation. An actor, vocalist and trumpet player in the senior concert and stage bands, he performed in school productions and had a role in the YTV movie King of the Camp. He also served as head boy, received the Excellence in Education Award and organized his school's anti-smoking campaign.
Lydia Frost, Sir James Dunn Academy, St. Andrews, N.B.
Lydia has taken her academic, athletic and musical talents to the national and international stages. In the academic realm, she was a peer tutor and maintained a 97-per-cent average. She is a national-level athlete who captured a bronze medal at the National Legion Track and Field Competition in 2007. Only a week before that competition, she performed in Beijing, China, playing bassoon with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra. The orchestra also performed at the opening gala for the 2007 East Coast Music Awards and took home the award for best classical recording.
Nadine Frost, Sir James Dunn Academy, St. Andrews, N.B.
Nadine was a peer tutor and a member of Teens Against Drinking and Driving, organized a 30-Hour Famine and served as props director for her school's production of Hamlet. An accomplished musician, Nadine travelled with the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra to Italy and China. She is ranked nationally as a top middle-distance runner, represented the Atlantic region at the North American Track and Field Championships and was selected as an athlete ambassador by Athletics New Brunswick.
Kerith Gordon, Citadel High School, Halifax, N.S.
Kerith received the Nova Scotia Schools Exemplary Participation Award and is a three-time recipient of honours with distinction. As a member of the provincial ringette team, she has competed at five Canadian championships and at the Canada Winter Games. She also competes in soccer, ice hockey, field hockey, cross-country, track and field, rowing and Highland dancing. Kerith has a strong commitment to community service. She has led programming at the Adventure Earth Centre, mentored young ringette players and worked with a local church to aid the disadvantaged.
Paisley McLeod, John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute, Guelph
Paisley is a musician, songwriter, fashion designer and filmmaker. She produced a CD called Fancy Pants and Pseudo Hairstyles and a music video for the single Mr. Fancy Pants. She also produced and edited a video and helped create a postcard campaign to raise awareness of teen suicide. During high school, Paisley was involved with the arts council, the Gay/Straight Alliance and the Ross Ambassadors and volunteered at Rogers Television, the Ed Video Media Arts Centre, the Hillside Festival, the Guelph International Film Festival and the River Run Centre.
Nicole Markwick, Iroquois Ridge High School, Oakville
Nicole organized school conferences on youth culture, youth empowerment and HIV/AIDS. The events were well-received and featured high-profile speakers, including Stephen Lewis. Nicole is also education co-ordinator for Oakville's “Million or More” campaign, which aims to raise more than $1 million for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. In addition, she has carried the AIDS message to feeder schools and community groups. Nicole has been part of the school's student-staff learning team, 30-Hour Famine, student council and Relay for Life.
Lindsay Morris, South Carleton High School, Richmond
As student council co-president and a student trustee with the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Lindsay spearheaded a two-year campaign for Free the Children that raised $20,000. She also organized her school's 30-Hour Famine and Dollars for Darfur campaigns, planned World AIDS Day celebrations and co-ordinated an AIDS awareness concert. A volunteer with Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving, she was also on the mayor's committee for a “Youth Against Hate” concert and was named “Person of the Year” by the Manotick Messenger in 2006.
Isdin Oke, Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute, Guelph
Isdin placed first in the Pascal Math Contest, won two gold medals at the Science Olympics and took top spot at the 2008 Brain Bee. He also developed a project for the National Sanofi-Aventis BioTalent Challenge that earned a gold medal at the Waterloo-Wellington Science and Engineering Fair. He competed in Reach for the Top regional matches, the National Biology Competition, the Avogadro Chemistry Contest and the OAPT Physics Contest. He was also a founding member of the Eta Pi School Enrichment Club.
Duncan Parviainen, Uxbridge Secondary School
At graduation, Duncan was recognized with a number of academic awards. He was also an active member of the Voices of Youth committee, which organized events to showcase the talents of teens. He tutored his peers in math, science and biology, and organized his school's involvement in Canada's National Day Against Homophobia. He was also active in various extracurricular activities, including wrestling, rowing, yoga, canoeing and playing the flute. After graduation in 2007, he backpacked though India and Nepal and spent three months volunteering at two orphanages in Ghana.
Stephynie Sargent, Clarington Central Secondary School, Bowmanville
During high school, Stephynie provided leadership to her figure skating team, organized a 30-Hour Famine, was co-president of student council and received the Ontario Principal's Award for Leadership. At graduation, she earned the Governor General's Academic Medal and a number of subject awards and was named one of the top three students by the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. A 4-H member, Stephynie was chosen as one of six provincial ambassadors in 2007. She also received the 2007 Holstein Ontario Spirit of 4-H Dairy Award.
Sylvie Vigneax, West Hill Secondary School, Owen Sound
Sylvie received awards for excellence in math, science and English and competed in cross-country running, Nordic skiing and rugby. She also participated in a number of community choir and theatre productions. In 2006, she performed at Carnegie Hall in a North American choral showcase. That same year, she spent a week on Parliament Hill with the Forum of Young Canadians. Sylvie has co-ordinated food drives, a 30-Hour Famine and Cops for Cancer and was a youth volunteer with the Grey-Bruce Health Unit.