Polina Bogdanova, Weston Loran scholar William Lyon Mackenzie CI, North York, ON
Polina is the executive director of a student organization devoted to sustainable energy. She coedits a creative writing publication, is captain of the tennis team and has her grade 10 in piano. She also sits on a city-wide youth environmental council, for which she helped organize a youth symposium. Stephen Brophy, Loran scholar Holy Spirit High School, Conception Bay South, NL
As youth representative for a local community group, Stephen has helped to initiate the transformation of an abandoned green space into a nature park, organizing clean-up and maintenance activities. At school, he revived the defunct student newspaper, taking over editorial duties and recruiting writers and artists. He has also fostered student involvement in charities as president of the Interact club. Benjamin Carr, Loran scholar Citadel High School, Halifax, NS
This year, Ben founded a group in his school to increase student engagement in the community. He has already succeeded in building partnerships with other organizations, obtained a funding grant, and recruited 50-plus members. Ben is co-captain of the football team and editor of the newspaper. Zamyla Chan, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholar York House School, Vancouver, BC
Zamyla has founded a peer mentorship group and, as head girl, created a new orientation program to handle the largest intake of new students in her school’s history. A Shad Valley alumna, she is on the soccer team and plays violin and saxophone. Zamyla also represents youth on advisory committees for the city’s police department and the RCMP. Jonah Clifford, Weston Loran scholar Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Peterborough, ON
Jonah currently serves as a development and relief worker for an organization in Thailand; among other things, he’s developing a program to help displaced Burmese children register for schools. He edited a school magazine and served as a volunteer camp counsellor. Patrick Colangelo, Weston Loran scholar St. Michael’s College School, Etobicoke, ON
Patrick is the editor in chief of his school newspaper, and the founder of his school’s historical and classics societies. He is an elite soccer player and student council president. Patrick created and planned a walk-a-thon which raised some $17,000 for a cancer research organization.
2010 Loran scholars
Dylan Collins, Loran scholar Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Peterborough, ON Dylan owns and runs Collins Care, a business he founded to make use of his alpaca, llama, and goat husbandry skills. He also applies his expertise in this field as a member of the marketing committee for a national alpaca association. He coaches soccer and is a certified equine massage therapist. Daniela Corsetti, Weston Loran scholar Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School, Thornhill, ON
Daniela served as chair of her school’s athletic association. She plays basketball, soccer and helps coach a hockey league. In March 2009, she was part of a team that travelled to India to work with street children, providing education and activities. She is president of the student council. Sarah Ens, Loran scholar Landmark Collegiate, Landmark, MB
Sarah was president of the environmental club and student council. She is editor of the yearbook, plays oboe and is a member of the softball team. Sarah has played an active role in an anti-bullying program, developing and giving presentations to foster tolerance among her fellow students. Jenna Gall, Weston Loran scholar Montmartre School, Montmartre, SK Last year, Jenna took part in an educational research expedition to the Arctic. Inspired by her experience, she subsequently started an environmental group and newspaper at her school. Jenna is also coordinator of an after-school sports program for young children, organizes a running club, and coaches and referees soccer. She is the yearbook editor. Ryan Harley, Ryan Family Fund Loran scholar Hampton High School, Upper Golden Grove, NB
Ryan helped develop and implement an annual orientation day at his school that connects grade nine students and upper-year students. He also served as student council treasurer and as editor of the newspaper. Ryan has performed in Macbeth and stage managed an awardwinning theatre production. Alexander Harmsen, Weston Loran scholar Cobourg District Collegiate Institute East, Baltimore, ON
Having earned his own pilot license, Alexander now helps others working toward theirs as a volunteer pilot ground school teacher. He is also a coordinator and squadron commander in his Air Cadets group. He also passes on his knowledge to younger students as a volunteer tutor and member of a mentoring program at school.
2010 Loran scholars
Adam Hasham, Loran scholar Marc Garneau Collegiate, Scarborough, ON
Last summer, Adam participated in a six-week placement developing software for a nuclear technology company. Adam, who is also a youth lay minister, has shared his technical knowledge as an after-school robotics instructor. He also served as a volunteer tutor, heads the debating team and plays hockey. Emma Herrington, Loran scholar Orillia, ON In Grade 9, Emma initiated a science project to reduce harmful C02 emissions from vehicles. She has since gone on to advocate cleaner living as her school’s eco team secretary and student representative on her city’s environment advisory council. She sits on the local Rotary chapter, plays soccer and is captain of the wrestling team. Michael Jacobs, Weston Loran scholar Fredericton High School, Fredericton, NB Michael has represented his peers on district and provincial student education councils, as well as being student president at his school. In the latter capacity, he helped create a program to link unsettled students with mentors. Michael has competed in international track and field events and captained his province at the Canada Summer Games. Nazampal Jaswal, BMO Loran scholar Byrne Creek Secondary School, Burnaby, BC
The chair of an Amnesty International club at her school, Nazampal played a leading role in a campaign to prevent the deportation of a fellow student, organizing rallies and generating media publicity to promote the cause. She is a peer mentor, chairs the grad council and is president of the student council. She also plays field hockey. Haley Kawaja, Loran scholar Corner Brook Regional High School, Corner Brook, NL Haley is a leader in a children’s youth group, supervising a group of 30 kids. She has travelled to Brazil on a humanitarian trip, which inspired her to form a social justice club at school. A longtime soccer player, Haley has coached children for the past few years, as well as captaining several teams. Priya Koilpillai, Weston Loran scholar Halifax Grammar School, Bedford, NS Priya spearheaded a book drive to collect educational materials for an orphanage in India, as well as volunteering at a local children’s hospital and as a big sister. In partnership with a Nova Scotia food bank, she created an umbrella organization that coordinates volunteer efforts by youth to assist food banks.
2010 Loran scholars
Mimi Liu, Weston Loran scholar Stratford Central Secondary School, Stratford, ON
An accomplished violinist, Mimi is the founder of Vivace Student Music, a youth-led outreach program that provides free music lessons to children who cannot afford to pay for lessons. She also started up and coached a string ensemble at her school, heads the student council and the environment club. Lindsey Li, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholar Walter Murray Collegiate, Saskatoon, SK
Through her work with a local environmental organization advocating public transit use, Lindsey has campaigned for the introduction of a universal discounted bus pass for high school students in Saskatoon. She is also working on a project to support homeless people and has volunteered for a children’s helpline. She plays piano and was a member of the cross-country and track teams. Sarah Lone, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholar Cégep Vanier College, Montréal, QC
Sarah is an avid cross-country skier who has twice completed the Canadian Ski Marathon. She also organized a fundraising bike-a-thon to supply bicycles and bicycle-ambulances to HIV/ AIDS support groups. She leads the school’s WUSC and environment committees. Alexandria Mitchell, Weston Loran scholar Abbotsford Collegiate, Abbotsford, BC
Alexandria helped to initiate the creation of a new district-wide program recycling program in schools. She is now a member of her city’s environmental advisory council, as well as being a director of the youth commission. She is on the basketball and cross-country teams, sits on the local Big Sisters/Big Brothers board and helped to organize a multicultural festival in the community. Calvin Mitchell, Loran scholar Nepean High School, Ottawa, ON
In order to raise money to build a school in Kenya, Calvin founded a humanitarian club at his school. He gives talks at elementary schools to encourage community engagement. Calvin is also director of a school program designed to orient new students and prevent bullying. He has also managed and produced several theatre productions. Brady Olsen, Weston Loran scholar École Lacombe Composite School, Lacombe, AB
Brady is captain and MVP of his school’s basketball team, he started and coached a Grade 7 team and set up a basketball camp to meet the needs of local youth. Brady is a long-time Boy Scout and has received the organization’s highest honor, the Queen’s Venturer Award. He started his own lawn care business last summer.
2010 Loran scholars
Zia Saleh, Weston Loran scholar Old Scona Academic High School, Edmonton, AB
Zia founded a program called Sports For Hope, which provides opportunities for children in three inner-city elementary schools to play sports and develop teamwork and communication skills. He has also organized a hockey tournament and coaches ball hockey. A Shad Valley alumnus, Zia is also a leader with an Ismaili youth organization. Leah Secord, Loran scholar St. Malachys High School, Saint John, NB
Leah has directed a play and served as violin section leader for a string orchestra. The founder and president of Saints in Action, she works to raise money to support education. She is also secretary of the school's Key Club is a member of the school choir. Gaurav Sharma, Weston Loran scholar Chingocuasy Secondary School, Brampton, ON
Gaurav is the founding president of a student-run organization that provides free sports programs for younger children. He has also worked with kids as a volunteer mentor at a learning disabilities association summer camp and as a tutor in a credit recovery program. At school, Gaurav helped organize an anti-bullying week and is the goalie on his hockey team. Alexane St-Amant Ringuette, Weston Loran scholar Collège François-Xavier-Garneau, Québec, QC After ten years as a member of her local Girl Scouts chapter, Alexane is now giving back to the organization as a group leader. She plays soccer, basketball, rubgy and is on the cross-country team. She wrote and helped to produce a school play and leads the outdoors club. Evelyn Wainewright, Weston Loran scholar Oakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville, ON
Evelyn has been captain of her robotics team for several years, leading them to compete in a world championship. She planned a two-day robotics retreat in order to foster collaboration with other local teams. To share her knowledge and enthusiasm with younger students, she cofounded a program aimed at stimulating interest in science and technology. She is a Shad Valley alumna and practices Taekwondo. Zachary Young, Loran scholar Orchard Park Secondary School, Stoney Creek, ON
A member of his school’s robotics club since its inception, Zac has led his team to multiple Canadian championships and several appearances at international tournaments. In addition, he mentors others through a robotics program for elementary school students. He is a section leader in two school bands and teaches percussion. Zac also backstopped his hockey team to a provincial championship.
2010 Loran scholars