{"id":34507,"date":"2024-04-25T11:27:21","date_gmt":"2024-04-25T15:27:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/?p=34507"},"modified":"2024-05-06T15:50:25","modified_gmt":"2024-05-06T19:50:25","slug":"give-back-awards-celebrate-students-and-their-more-than-5000-hours-of-community-contributions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newspapers-online.com\/auroran\/give-back-awards-celebrate-students-and-their-more-than-5000-hours-of-community-contributions\/","title":{"rendered":"Give Back Awards celebrate students and their more than 5,000 hours of community contributions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ananya Murlidharan is driven by collaboration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Grade 12 student from Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School has fostered that during her high school career and is looking forward to doing that in her post-secondary education as well, pursuing studies in biomedical engineering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI plan on ensuring that biomedical technology is more accessible for people in the future to ensure that we\u2019re able to use the knowledge we have as a society to help people and make it more accessible to people who are in need, and also make it more accessible to our community because, if we have this knowledge, we must help each other.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Murlidharan\u2019s future goals echo the legacy she is set to leave behind at Williams, as well as the contributions that were recognized last Thursday night as she and 19 of her peers were presented with the 2024 Give Back Awards by Neighbourhood Network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Held at the headquarters at Magna International on Thursday, April 18 to coincide with National Volunteer Week, the ceremony honoured 20 students from Aurora, King, Newmarket, Whitchurch-Stouffville, East Gwillimbury and Georgina for the contributions they have made to their school environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor 15 years now, Magna\u2019s Neighbourhood Network team has been honouring the exceptional volunteer achievements of graduating high school students through our Give Back awards program and is part of our National Volunteer Week celebrations,\u201d said Erin Cerenzia, Manager of Community Relations for Magna International. \u201cThanks to your dedication to building better communities together, you have all collectively donated close to 5,000 hours of volunteer time during your high school years and that number is an incredible feat in and of itself, but especially when we consider that our group of recipients did this amidst the challenges of a global pandemic, many, many lockdowns, and, of course, we know that because they\u2019re volunteers they\u2019re very humble and that probably doesn\u2019t reflect their true commitment of service.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These sentiments were reflected by Magna\u2019s Kelly Harbridge, who said the students assembled there last week were \u201cinspiring young leaders\u201d who have given so much to their communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cToday we gather to celebrate the extraordinary achievements of 20 outstanding young individuals whose unwavering dedication to volunteerism has not only enriched the lives of all those people they have helped but has also inspired us all,\u201d he said. \u201cI would be remiss if I didn\u2019t recognize the parents, families and teachers who supported so many of these young people, young leaders, along the way. Philanthropy begins at home, as does charity, and so many of these young people here today wouldn\u2019t have got involved in terms of volunteering with their communities if it wasn\u2019t for all the excellent role models within their families. On behalf of all the parents here in the room, I think you deserve a round of applause for raising some fantastic young people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year\u2019s recipients include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ananya Murlidharan \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ariel George \u2013 King City Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aryana Molla \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avery Moschee \u2013 Sir William Mulock Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cameron Stewart \u2013 Cardinal Carter Catholic High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carson Wong \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Charlie Jackson \u2013 Sir William Mulock Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eden Traiberg \u2013 Newmarket High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jaylah Hall \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kiyan Sajadi \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Laurin Windebank \u2013 Huron Heights Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Pang \u2013 Sacred Heart Catholic High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew Pilling \u2013 Sir William Mulock Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michelle Kelly \u2013 Dr. J.M. Denison Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moira Boland \u2013 Pickering College<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Niki Zafar Heidari \u2013 Huron Heights Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parker Barnard \u2013 Huron Heights Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prisha Bhavsar \u2013 Stouffille District Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryan Zhang \u2013 Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sophia Yu \u2013 Newmarket High School<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her citation, which was delivered last week by former Aurora mayor Tim Jones, a Neighbourhood Network ambassador, Murlidharan was hailed for her community-building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFor Ananya, the act of giving back isn\u2019t just personal \u2013 she knows it\u2019s a catalyst for fostering a compassionate and supportive community that will thrive for years to come. Ananya is the editor of her school\u2019s newspaper, an executive member of the Changes by Coffee group, and the fundraising coach for her school\u2019s Relay for Life event. She has dedicated her time to tutoring grade eight students learning English as a second language and contributing to the Sringeri Vidy Bharati Foundation. Ananya says all these experiences have instilled in her a lifelong commitment to making a positive difference through harnessing collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In turn, she said the recognition made her feel like she had an impact on her community and that, in turn, motivates her to continue her work once she has left Williams behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s just about the idea of being able to collaborate with people one-on-one and help people in any way they need it,\u201d she said. \u201cI think that helps me as well because I am able to help myself while helping those people. I am just grateful that I can apply almost my knowledge in any way these people require.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This idea of just being able to help is also a driving force with Cameron Stewart, a Special Olympics athlete who attends Cardinal Carter Catholic High School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCameron is motivated to use his own life experiences to inspire others, demonstrating that everyone has the power to make a difference in their own community,\u201d reads his citation. \u201cHis involvement with Best Buddies, Choir, Special Olympics, Student Council and as a Grade 8 ambassador, shows the integral role Cameron plays as a leader amongst his peers. Beyond school, Cameron extends his generosity by crafting holiday cards for seniors, volunteering at the MCC Care & Share Thrift Shop<\/a>, the Sharon Temple National Historic Site & Museum<\/a>, participating in the Town of Aurora<\/a> Santa Claus Parade, and helping with charity book fairs and other fundraisers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCameron’s commitment to daily acts of kindness exemplifies his belief that everyone possesses the ability to contribute positively in their own unique way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is exactly what Cameron and his mother, Susan, hope his award underscores.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the future, I want to keep giving back to the community because they already give me the world, and now I want to give back to them,\u201d said Cameron, counting MCC, the Mission Store, and volunteerism at Newmarket\u2019s NewRoads Performing Arts Centre among his favourite opportunities. \u201cIf I can give something back to the community, then they can do great stuff out there; they can give a higher experience. When other volunteers go and experience more, maybe they can become role models.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Added Susan: \u201cThis just shows the community that Cameron can give back in his own way and that he is able to do everything that every other typical kid can do as well. It\u2019s just getting the opportunities and allowing others to see that he is able to give back to the community as they give to him!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the coming weeks, The Auroran will shine a spotlight on each of this year\u2019s Give Back Award recipients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Brock Weir
Editor
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter<\/strong><\/p>\n\r\n\"Facebook\"<\/a>\"twitter\"<\/a>\"mail\"<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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