Manitoba students win Leaders of Tomorrow scholarships

Eleven Manitoba high-school students have been chosen as Leaders of Tomorrow and will each be awarded $5,000 or $2,500 entrance scholarships, the University of Manitoba announced Tuesday.

Students applying for the scholarship must be nominated by their high schools, have Grade 12 averages of more than 90 per cent, be involved in their school and community and display leadership qualities.

Here are the scholarship winners in their own words:

• Emily Lair, Gimli High School: "After witnessing homophobic behavior at my school, I worked with the Social Justice Committee and a professional filmmaker to create a documentary titled ‘In the Locker.’ I intend to pursue avenues to raise awareness in this field at university and throughout my life."

• Jacqueline Proctor, Warren Collegiate; "I am a Teen Talk representative, being available to fellow students for advice as well as doing presentations on topics of choices and difficulties that young people face. After visiting the National Holocaust Museum in Washington, I realize how lucky I am to get an education and have the freedom I enjoy."

• Evelina Mougorian, Shaftesbury High School: "As a person born in another country, and being a Christian, I have been faced with discrimination against me. As a student in university, I plan on standing up for those who are facing discrimination, and I want to be there for those who need help in this way."

• Breanna Mulhall, St. Mary’s Academy: "Art bestows on me the freedom of expression. I have had lead roles in musicals, danced in the Nutcracker and have had my artwork selected for a campaign to raise money for children in Lesotho. Art is my life."

• Victor Li, St. John’s Ravenscourt: "My long-range goal is to become a clinician scientist, and I have worked towards this goal by developing my ethical values and mental skills. Last year I challenged myself by investigating the effectiveness and mechanisms of a novel cancer therapy."

• Andrew Stammers, Murdoch Mackay Collegiate: "Over the past five years, I have been a referee for the Winnipeg Minor Hockey Program. But for me, school always comes first, and it is a challenge for me to create time for interests such as curling, hockey, golf and fundraising groups."

• Nicolas Humniski, Lord Selkirk Secondary School: "Being on both Junior and Youth Parliament for over six years, I have learned how our governing system works (and doesn’t work) along with a knowledge of many key factors within politics. As minister of state this year, I wrote bills concerning welfare system reform and making university available to all Canadians."

• Alexa Yakubovich, Grant Park High School, "When I was eleven years old, a family friend lost her battle with breast cancer. I was devastated but felt I had to do something, so I started beading and selling bracelets, donating all proceeds to CancerCare Manitoba, eventually establishing my own non-profit corporation."

• Talia Joundi, Balmoral Hall: "At school, I organized a spirit squad, founded an Amnesty International Student Group and volunteered at the Grace Hospital. I understand that as a collaboration of youth, the work we do makes a significant difference in the care of patients."

• Allison Ferley, Collège Béliveau: "Since volunteering in the Dominican, one of my special interests is raising awareness to help those less fortunate. I’ve arranged for the Absolute Organization to bring a multimedia presentation to my school and I have spoken about my experience in the Dominican at a conference of my peers."

• Rebecca Gole, Collège St. Norbert Collegiate: "I believe in encouraging children and building their confidence so that they have the tools to make wise decisions. I have volunteered at children’s festivals, been a clown for kids’ parties, taught children’s dance, Sunday School, been a camp leader and, for the Canadian Cancer Society, taught children how to stay safe in the Sun."

A video of these students from YouTube can be viewed below.