Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award Winners
The Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award will be presented to a grade 11 or 12 student who best represents the spirit of the award which is to ‘live out’ global and local service.
2011 GCK Youth Award Recipient - Erika Nairismagi
Erika Nairismagi shows exceptionally strong leadership, participating in and leading service clubs with a global perspective at her high school. Erika is active with 'Me to We', as a participant and a facilitator, for 5 local high schools, while, at the same time, volunteering with community institutions (Care Centre/Food Bank). The list of her fund-raising activities is extensive and includes, amongst other things: supporting AIDS orphans and building playgrounds in Africa.
She was recognized by her teachers, receiving the school Service Award in Grade 11. The recommendation provided by a teacher (Irene Maier) described an outstanding student who 'set herself apart as the top student leader of our student leaders', ... able to focus her strengths in adversity.'
2010 GCK Youth Award Recipient - Haley Pipher
Haley Pipher, an outstanding example of leadership in humanitarian work was the deserving recipient of the 2010 Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award. Haley works tirelessly to motivate those around her and lead those younger than her in awareness and action to address the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Leading by example, Haley initiated and serves as President of the Kelowna all Youth Empowerment group that puts on motivational assemblies at local schools to raise global awareness of humanitarian issues. At her own school, she participates in the Global Services Club and, along with fellow students, helped to build a school in Kenya which they visited during Spring Break. In addition to her tireless humanitarian efforts, Haley Pipher is an outstanding competitive swimmer, having won numerous provincial age group championships and podium finishes at both the national and international level, all the while maintaining excellent (4.0 GPA) academic standings.
2010 GCK Youth Award Recipient - Yamesha Ranatunga
2009 saw the presentation of the first Global Citizen Kelowna Youth Award.
YAMESHA RANATUNGA, a grade 12 student from Kelowna Secondary School was the deserving recipient.
Yamesha believes that education is critical to end the cycle of poverty and has demonstrated exceptional leadership amongst her peers in promoting the UN's Millennium Development Goals.
Her many accomplishments include:
* Founding the 'Build an Education Club' at her school
* Organizing the shipment of used eye glasses to those who need them overseas
* Building a shelter for the visually impaired in Sri Lanka
* Educating Sri Lankans on the importance of sanitation
* Raising over $5,000.00 for Tsunami victims
* Being one of only ten students from British Columbia and the Yukon to participate in the Heart and Stroke Foundation's High School Summer Research Programme.
Craig Kielburger - 2008 Global Citizen Kelowna Award Winner
Craig Kielburger was the inaugural winner of the GlobalCitizen Kelowna Award (2008)
Craig Kielburger is an accomplished child rights advocate, leadership specialist, New York Times best-selling author and a speaker with a powerful message. He is the founder of Free The Children, the world's largest network of children helping children through education, and the co-founder of Leaders Today, a world renowned youth leadership organization.
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