Richmond Review • Page 19
Friday, May 8, 2015
The 22nd Ethel Tibbits Women of Distinction Awards Youth Award
Sasha Johal launched Feminism is for Everyone
S
asha Johal is a humble, hardworking student whose community involvement has helped chart her path in life.
Youth Award winner Sasha Johal.
Six years ago Johal attended a WE Day youth empowerment event, organized by Free the Children, which proved to have a profound impact on her future. Winning the 2015 Youth
Award at the Ethel Tibbits Women of Distinction Awards, the Cambie student offered plenty of thanks in accepting the prize, including to all the inspiring women she met at the event, and high school teachers who have helped open doors for her. Following her WE Day experience, Johal took part in numerous fundraisers, and last year travelled to Bagad, India with Free the Children.
For three weeks she was immersed in daily life with Indian children and their families from remote rural communities. She learned of their struggles surrounding rape culture, feminism, male gender superiority and poverty. The experience launched her into action: she led a presentation about the trip to 70 leadership students and founded a club, Feminism is for Everyone.
Nominees Elaine Ho Elaine Ho is a natural born leader. She is currently the chair of the Richmond Youth Foundation, which provides grants for youth, and helped raise $2,200 for the foundation’s endowment fund. Elaine serves as the cultural department head of the UBC Chinese Varsity Club, and the director of finance at the UBC Marketing Association. A proud graduate of StevestonLondon secondary, she is in her third year at the University of B.C.’s Sauder School of Business, and intends to specialize in marketing and business technology management. Aside from studying full-time, she also holds down a couple of part-time jobs, yet manages to give back to the community with the time she has.
Here’s to Women of Distinction. May We Know Them, May We Be Them, May We Raise Them.
Karnpreet Sanghera Karnpreet Sanghera isn’t satisfied with being good. She strives for greatness. Currently studying at the University of B.C., she has lived in Richmond since she was seven and graduated from the incentive academic enrichment program at R.C. Palmer Secondary School. Her list of accomplishments is long and diverse. From serving as the co-vice president of her high school’s student council in her Grade 11 year, to becoming president in Grade 12, to earning a UROC award for her outstanding work in high school, her extra curricular activity has extended beyond the school. She was one of the youngest members of the Coast Capital Savings Richmond youth team and was selected by Port Metro Vancouver’s Leadership Program.
Anne Guo A well-rounded student who believes deeply in making her school and community better, Anne Guo has managed to balance academics with athletics and volunteerism. A student at AR MacNeill Secondary, Anne pioneered the school’s first business club, helping it to thrive and setting it up for future success. She’s active in student council and peer tutoring, writes for the school’s newspaper, captained her school’s volleyball team, and for the past couple of years has mentored elementary school aged girls in the after-school Hey Girlfriend program. Her nominator said this: “Anne demonstrates passion in being a leader while learning about business. She has a big heart and is always thinking about making the community a better place to be.”
Congratulations to this year’s Ethel Tibbits Award Recipients & Nominees. Your passion and dedication transforms our community.
Conway Richmond Limited
Ethel Tibbits - 2015 Pioneer Award Sponsor