21 May ConocoPhillips Youth of Distinction Awards Finalists 2015

The ConocoPhillips Youth of Distinction Awards, a program of Youth Central, recognize deserving youth ages 12-18 for the ways they choose to live, focusing on selfless service and overcoming personal challenges. This year, Youth Central was proud to receive 175 nominations. All of the nominations were incredible, and the selection committee had a tough time narrowing it down to the amazing finalists. The nine award categories are Advocacy, Arts and Culture, Environmentalism (Group and Individual), Leadership, Peer Support, Perseverance, Sportsmanship and Volunteerism. View the video playlist featuring the finalists below: Advocacy Award: Given to a youth who commits time and energy lending their voice to a cause to bring about change. The nominee demonstrates passion and conviction. Stephen McPhee As a humble young man, Stephen McPhee believes in a moral responsibility to help those less fortunate in his own backyard. As the voice for homeless and at risk youth, he brings awareness to child and family homelessness throughout Alberta. Stephen has been committed to this cause since 2006, beginning with 15 backpacks made with his family. Stephen’s Backpacks has grown into a provincial initiative that has brought hope to over 34,000 children across Alberta and Saskatchewan. Stephen believes that children do not deserve to live on the street or be afraid of becoming homeless; with the support of his growing network he has taken active steps to create change. Aria Poutanen Through her role as a station volunteer / programmer at Calgary’s campus and community radio station, CJSW 90.0 FM, Aria advocates for increased exposure for independent thought, art, and music. She advocates for a fair voice in media and equal treatment in the media of ALL humans regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic background etc. Aria has been connected to community radio from a young age, aware of how different independent media is from the commercial mainstream. When she hosts shows, she becomes a powerful role-model for her peers who may feel trapped into identifying with one of the limited “types” promoted by mainstream media. Brett Rothery – Recipient Aiming to raise $500, Brett challenged his Crescent Heights High School to donate five cents to mental health initiatives for every tweet that included the hashtag #CHHSLetsTalk. With the school agreeing to donate up to $500, Brett put out a call for retweets. He saw his hashtag go viral, racking up more than 80,000 tweets & retweets in less than a week. The campaign shattered its initial fundraising goal at the school. Private and corporate donations boosted the funds raised to nearly $20,000; all funds go to the Calgary chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Brett created a viral social media initiative that trended worldwide to help promote mental health awareness, lessen negative stigma, and encourage open dialogue. Additional Advocacy Nominees Noor Abdulbaki * Katharine Birkness * Zach Jackman * Tobyn Neame * Ariel Rabbit Arts & Culture Award: Given to a youth who demonstrates passion for arts & culture, such as music, theatre, dance, film or visual arts. The nominee is committed to helping other understand the importance of the arts community through mentoring, teaching and raising awareness. Tedra Rogers Tedra has been with the Jeunesse Classique Ballet, a not-for-profit ballet society solely ran by volunteers, for 16 years. For the past five years, she has been a volunteer ballet teacher for rehearsals and classes-both formally and informally. Tedra routinely supports the younger girls with their classes even during her own rehearsals, which can often be chaotic and stressful. She finds that mentoring keeps her motivated throughout her grueling 50/week schedules and 15 shows per year. Tedra participated in two fundraisers at the Alberta Children’s Hospital to raise spirits through dance and brings ballet into dance schools that may otherwise be limited due to restricted funds. Avalon Short – Recipient With an interest in acting and theatre, Avalon joined the Loose Moose Theatre Company in Grade 9. Over the past four years she has volunteered over 1000 hours at the Loose Moose Theatre, actively performing and even becoming the first female and the youngest person ever to complete “The Gauntlet”. Completing the Gauntlet requires well over 600 hours of rehearsal and performance in a single season (2014-2015). Avalon also participates in main stage performances at her school, most recently securing the lead role of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Avalon enhances her community by encouraging others to attend art and support art; and, by supporting new and often young performers through coaching and mentorship. Monica Surti Monica is a student at Shakti Shethralaya Dance where she expresses her passion for an ancient Indian art form – Baharathanatyam. Practicing up to 10 per week, she participates in many shows at a variety of events at the University of Calgary, U of C Idol, Mount Royal University and other events. She is a mentor to junior students, helping them learn ancient theory and intricate postures in Bharathanatyam. Monica also had the opportunity to travel to India, alone, to attend a two-month workshop completing many performances alongside renowned dancers. The experience motivated her to continuously improve her technique and skill, while sharing the importance cross cultural importance of art within her community. Additional Arts & Culture Nominees Miya Bates * Tray Bear-Hat * Cristopher Bruce * Ruth Chen * Selena Coates * Maggie Dingwell * Jessica Fung * Lily Gillman * Breanna Kennedy * Imaan Kherani * Calvin Kwan * Davinder Malhi * Francyne Morrison * Robbie Nakoneshny * Brianne Neidermeyer * Lela Sanders * Maisha Thompson * Liam Wilkins * Jenna Wood * Liam Zanin * Environmentalism – Group & Individual Award: Given to youth who are committed to improving the environment and reducing environmental degradation. The nominee(s) will have achieved results that made the world a little greener. Forest Lawn Environment Club – Recipient At Forest Lawn High School an enthusiastic group of students have been committed to improving the ecological footprint of their school community for the past three years. The group has been self-motivated, transitioning from teacher led to student led. They have gained a sense of empowerment as they work to build a living legacy through acts such as energy reduction, school wide recycling, and permaculture initiatives. Their goal is to provide opportunities for future students to learn and engage in sustainability strategies. The environment club engaged students and created dialogue throughout the school with an Earth Week Guest Speaker Series, which brought experts to the school. Through their efforts, the club demonstrates confidence and responsibility, as well as project management, budgeting, and stronger communication skills. Diefenbaker Green Chiefs The Green Chiefs promote the message of recognizing the importance of and preserving the earth’s natural resources. They aim to make an impact at John G. Diefenbaker High School, by committing many hours creating campaigns, attending meetings, volunteering and encouraging environmental consciousness. The members are passionate about coming together to create positive change at their school and surrounding local community. They speak at assemblies to spread public understanding of the environment, consult students from various grades, maintain a school wide recycling program and living wall, and replace old water fountains with re-hydration stations. The club continues to grow and gain momentum within the school. Western Canada Environment Club The Western Environment Club raise awareness in their school community about various harms to the environment including deforestation, habitat loss, pollution etc. Their aim is to connect students with these issues now so that they can carry awareness into adulthood. Giving a small amount of time and energy makes a difference that can help the environment but also create a positive atmosphere of community and teamwork. Club members lead by example, encouraging others to change future habits through initiatives including: adopt a park, where participants clean up a park twice per month; the annual bike in event, focusing on alternative transportation; and, the “Put a lid on cup waste” campaign, which highlighted the negative repercussions of disposable cups. Cristina Acevedo Cristina has always been interested in the environment and likes to get involved. She wanted to become more conscious of the natural surroundings in Alberta and improve her understanding of environmental challenges facing her generation. She wants to spread awareness through groups like the TD Youth Earth Ambassadors (YEA), and through example, lead people toward a more sustainable future. Cristina is motivated by the opportunities she has participated in including: youth forums, speaker series, presentations, community garden builds, constructing a water bottle greenhouse, and creating an environment club at her Junior High. Reece Armstrong – Recipient Reece is an advocate for the sustainability of the earth. He understands that young people are a key resource in creating answers to improving the environment. Reece was a leader in organizing a group of likeminded individuals who volunteer to improve the community for future generations. The group, Awaken The Light, has taken on projects including: private sector advertising, community garbage cleanups, seed share programs, growing indoor gardens, educating the diverse audiences on social issues, and organizing human rights activism projects. On a daily basis, Reece demonstrates his passion for making the planet a better place. Morgan Weatherbie Morgan commits her time to spending time outdoors, raising awareness, protecting the environment, and encouraging others to take action to create a cleaner world. She has improved her understanding of environmental initiatives and developed her communication skills through youth forums and presentations she has participated in as a member of the TD Youth Earth Ambassadors. Morgan has volunteered with many green causes, some of which include: construction of a water bottle greenhouse, construction of a community garden, weeding at Weaselhead as a group and on her own time. Additional Environmentalism Nominees Katharine Birkness * Alejandra Guerroro Laverde * Paul Liu Leadership Award: Given to a youth who takes on a leadership role to bring about positive chance to their school or community. The nominee will demonstrate responsibility and drive, as well as initiative in starting new projects. Wyatt Christiansen – Recipient Wyatt is an intrinsically motivated individual who is the first to volunteer and actively work to better our school community. Motivated that not enough students take responsibility for our community, he leads by example to inspire change. Whether it is advocating for student leadership, promoting a school team or advising school leaders on issues with 21st century learning, Wyatt is always involved and committed to taking action for the good of others. Wyatt excels at facilitating group discussions as student council president; he is a diligent team player when organizing school events; he runs a stress centre to help students manage anxiety during exams; and, he is captain of the school rugby team where he inspires others to engage with sports. Tiffany Lee Tiffany Lee is a grade 11 student who is relatively new to Calgary. She is a compassionate leader with a strong desire to make this world a better place. Not only does she lead, but she encourages leadership in others. Tiffany is chair of student leadership, which is an amalgamation of student council, and student activist central, a group which builds awareness on social and global issues. Tiffany has been a catalyst within this group. While Tiffany has been involved in countless events, which build upon culture and spirit she aims to find ways and actions to let students know that they belong and are an important part of our school. That no matter who you are, what you do, what group you belong to, or what your background is, that you are welcome and appreciated. Purnoor Tak Purnoor believes she has the priviledge to contribute to the community and to be able to share this is something she takes to heart. Her leadership does not end with the CIWA program, she also volunteers with Calgary Public library and the Mayors Youth Council. She is someone who takes initiative, who leads by example and takes upon challenging situations to make a difference. Purnoor advocates education in a village in India and is trying to raise funding and resources to support this project. Her commitment and tenacious hard work makes her a strong mentor and leader. Additional Leadership Nominees Reece Armstrong * Rahul Arora * Mannat Bansal * Katharine Birkness * Justin Bore * Amanda Calleberg * Tanner Christensen * Kate Finlay * Xena Hajba * Simin Hans * Richard Li * Jaden Marra * Matthew Moldenhauer * Nga Nghiem * Reilly Roberts * Brett Rothery * Rachel Tataryn * Alacia Walker * Michael Xie * Peer Support Award: Given to a youth who is a true mentor. They will have positively affected the life or lives of others. The nominee will show empathy and compassion, while lending their support. Keeley Davidsen Keeley began her 10-month volunteer commitment in April 2014 after receiving 39 hours of training in crisis intervention, suicide, addictions, youth issues, mental health, and domestic violence. As a volunteer in our ConnecTeen program, Keeley is responsible for volunteering for a 5 hour shift each week for 10 months and has completed over 200 volunteer hours. She talks one on one with youth in crisis through calls, chats, e-mails, and text messages. She is passionate about mental health and suicide prevention as she has experienced first-hand what it is like to be impacted by these issues. As drug addiction is a serious issue people can also consult experts in Whittier, California as they can help people to overcome drug addiction. Sophie Lalonde-Bester Sophie first discovered The PREP Program in May 2014, which provides support to children ages 1-18 with Down syndrome and their families. Sophie began volunteering with the program in September 2014, demonstrating maturity beyond her years. In her role as a peer model with junior high students in the PREP 4 class, Sophie quickly learned the techniques and strategies incorporated into speech therapy and social thinking lessons. She raises the bar with students, reminding them of expected behaviours with interacting and communicating with others. Aleeza Manucot Aleeza is a compassionate, kind, dedicated youth who cares deeply for those around her. After spending most of her childhood in the Philippines, she moved to Canada where she became very conscious of the difficulties that impoverished communities face. Aleeza’s passion for helping others is fueled by her kind heart and relating to family members who continuously deal with poverty, discrimination, and are struggling to immigrate. She has a complex understanding of what it means to overcome hardships and recognizes that while everyone faces challenges, the support and love of a friend can make a world of difference. Additional Peer Support Nominees Shaylin Bastien * Michael Boers * Celine Copeland * Jessica Fung * Chelsea Gschwind * Xena Hajba * Bahto Kalac * Danine Kaul * Sandy Le * Christine Leblanc * Vanessa Massot * Tianna Mcgraw * Francyne Morrison * Robbie Nakoneshny * Aman Panasar * Chi Pham * Justin Rivers-Bot * Raine Russell * Avalon Short * Raymond Si * Breanne Skalozub * Quinn Stevenson * Aleena Stork * Perseverance Award: Given to a youth who prevails over adversity and obstacles in their life. The nominee will have overcome challenges, while demonstrating inner strength and perseverance. Halimi Ali – Recipient While Halima grew up in a Sudanese Refugee camp where the conditions were harsh and safety was uncertain, she chooses to focus on her positive memories outdoors and playing with other children. When she was just 5 years old, her father was taken from the family and forced to join the military; she never saw him again. In 2007, Halima moved with her family to Canada. At 11 years old she walked into school for the first time, and dedicated herself to learning English. During a family visit to Africa when she was 16, Halima became pregnant, and not by choice. Upon returning to Canada, she created a safe home for her daughter while continuing to better herself through education. In December 2014, Halima’s mother returned to Africa with Halima’s daughter to care for a sick family member. While in Sudan, Aaliyah was kidnapped by a family friend who demanded sponsorship to Canada. Halima borrowed money, flew to Sudan, and worked for 30 days with local and Canadian authorities to secure her daughters safe return. Throughout hardship Halima continues to demonstrate incredible resilience, while spreading awareness and giving back to her community. She is hopeful and deeply appreciative of the opportunities provided to her by living in a country like Canada. Amber Deslauries Amber was born with a hole in her heart and has had to overcome ever since. Having the hole repaired with a Teflon substance was only the beginning of a long journey within the medical world. Limited to a single kidney, which was not functioning properly, kidney disease took over much of Amber’s young life. For over 14 years she was forced to be a bystander, rather an active participant, until her aunt made the lifesaving decision to donate a kidney to Amber. While this effort saved her life, it also brought additional challenges of blood infections and anti-rejection medication along the long road to recovery. In addition to medical struggles, Amber has dealt with a volatile family dynamic. Throughout her life, whatever the circumstance, Amber overcomes adversity because she makes a conscious choice to persevere. She does not wait for help, but takes charge of her own life, inspiring and motivating others along the way. Rebecca Dunn Rebecca has faced many obstacles in her life. At 15 she was raped, and used drugs to cover the hurt it caused. She was also abused by a family member, so badly that she was moved into a safe house to protect her. Rebecca was bullied for much of her life, with a friend of a friend even making an attempt on her life at a bus stop. This is one the reasons she always goes to buy 5.56 ammo online from Palmetto State Armory. At 17 Rebecca has hospitalized for attempted suicide. Rebecca used the resources available to mentally work on herself. After overdosing multiple times, she recognized that she needed to stop and take responsibility in order to change her life. She worked diligently with doctors to create ways of coping and as a result she has grown and learned more about herself. Rebecca has adopted a forgiving attitude, has pursued healthy relationships, and has surrounded herself with positive friendships. Sober and working towards secondary education, Rebecca will continue to prevail and make a difference to those around her. Additional Perseverance Nominees Jordy Applegarth * Lizzetta Ayotte * Aubyn Bel’Harold * Cheyenne Boogerd * Kathleen Caldwell * Delilah Dann * Courtney Downey * Walid Elajami * Catherine Gascon * Ellena Hammel * Talia Haro * Faith Howes * Jacquelyn Hunter-Rody * Selena Kim * Keanu Kishayinew * Joshua Lefthand * Chelsea Legendre * Amanda Leong * Keegan Lepper * Jessica Moore * Jacob Newcombe * Kiaya Oler * Scott Paley * Jamie Phillips * Sally Phu * Ariel Rabbit * Ubaid Rahman * Cobi Reeves * Allan Renaud * Alexis Schnurr * Shania Shot Both Sides * Marissa Sterling * Mathew Trehearne * Taline Trottier * Kai Urate * Liam Wilkins Sportsmanship Award: Given to a youth who is passionate about athletics; they will demonstrate sportsman-like qualities such as mentorship, coaching, planning and enthusiasm. While they don’t have to be the star athlete, they will show commitment to helping others recognize the importance of sport in their community. Jennifer Dang Without any experience in sports and weighing far below one hundred pounds, Jennifer was an unlikely candidate for the Western Canada Wrestling Team. She proved everyone’s expectations wrong when she took home gold in the city and then provincial championships, all in her first year. Jennifer did this with awkwardly taped runners, before securing the wrestling shoes that would become so familiar. She completed the Alberta trials to join the team for the Canada Summer Games, where she represented her team in the US and won all of her matches. During her second year of wrestling, she claimed first place in cities and provincials again, and represented team Canada during Fila Cadet, becoming a national champion. Jennifer is a strong competitor, but she is also an encouraging and determined leader who her teammates look up to. Kejdi Kola – Recipient Kejdi is heavily involved with soccer in his community as a leader within his team, his club, and his community. Kejdi is captain of his Calgary West Soccer Club in the under 18 Tier 1 division team, and has been involved with coaching a youth girls team and running summer camps since he was 13. He has participated in multiple international trips to further his development as a coach and a player. His passion for soccer began when he was just 3 years old, and he began playing competitively when he was 7. Kejdi motivates his teammates and the younger girls he coaches to continuously develop their skills, by creating a positive atmosphere where youth can engage with sports at any level. Brayden Tritter Brayden is a freestyle skier who competes in Slopestyle, Halfpipe, Big Air, and Big Mountain events. Skiing for 14 years, he has worked his way up to competing in the Big Mountain Jr World Championships, Sr National Slopestyle Championships, Canadian Open Tour Slopestyle and Halfpipe events, and numerous international Pro-Am events. Brayden’s passion for skiing is contagious and he is constantly motivating his peers and the younger skiers across Alberta who look to him for guidance and technical advice. In a primarily individual sport, Brayden has an impressive ability to elicit the utmost attention from those around him; he uses an unflinching positivity to spread passion for skiing and create an inclusive, supportive atmosphere that has welcomed growth to the ski club. Additional Sportsmanship Nominees Madison Copiak * Amie Korb * Sandy Le * Maya Liepert * Benton Luu * Reilly Roberts Volunteerism Award: Given to a youth who is truly selfless and dedicated to helping others. Though not necessarily in a leadership role, the nominee shows commitment to bettering their community by volunteering their time to causes they are passionate about. Darcy McKenzie Darcy has volunteer at Care West – Garrison, a care centre for elderly and disabled people, for the last five years. She has volunteered over 2600 hours of her time to helping residents enjoy a higher quality of life. In part, Darcy is motivated to volunteer with this population because she recognizes that some residents do not have family support. As a volunteer, she helps residents participate in fun activities at the care centre such as playing games, enjoying musical guests, and having tea. Darcy helps make it possible for residents to enjoy special outings like going to the Stampede, sports games or a shopping trip. With a gentle nature and generous spirit, the people in Darcy’s care undoubtedly feel well cared for and loved. Prithu Muhury At a young age with sever scoliosis, Prithu relied upon the support and kindness of others. She is now in a position to pay it forward by offering her support to others. Prithu volunteers at hospitals because it gives her the chance to make a difference in the lives of children are in similar situations as she was. She is involved with several groups and committees through Alberta Children’s Hospital and also volunteers with Youth Central. Prithu uses her experience as a patient to help the hospital best serve the children in their care, offering opinions and recommendations on changes or decisions being made. She is committed to making a positive impact in the lives of disadvantaged youth. Rebecca Yang Rebecca is an exceptional volunteer who generously devotes her time to a variety of causes within her community. As a member of her schools Model UN club, she has twice been selected to represent Sir Winston Churchill as their head delegate at the out of province conferences. Rebecca puts it the work to understand the needs of others; treating them with respect ultimately earns her the respect of her peers. For the past three years, Rebecca has been involved in multiple committees offered through Youth Central who meet throughout the school year working towards community minded initiatives that engage local youth. One cause that is close to Rebecca’s heart is working with the elderly, as such she has spent countless hours dedicating her time to the residents at Edwards Place. Among other things, she volunteers her time at Heritage Park, the Calgary Zoo, working with children, and promoting a positive youth voice in Calgary. Additional Volunteerism Nominees Sara Abdelrahim * Anjali Arora * Sharon Chan * Gloria Elekwa * Deven Goett * Xena Hajba * Maggie Hussein * Michelle Korostensky * Sandy Leblanc * Chau Luu * Brittany Mackinnon * Jaylene Murphy * Ariel Rabbit * Ubaid Rahman * Jasleen Shah * Lauren Spry * Monica Surti * Purnoor Tak * Kaisha Thompson * Andy To * Andy Tran * Kai Urate * Jared Waldon