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Lessons in Leadership: TD Canada Trust scholarships reward students who are making a difference in their communities

5 minute read
By TD Bank Group
• May 7, 2009
The prestigious TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership recognizes 20 outstanding Canadian youth with up to $70,000 each OTTAWA, May 7 /CNW/ - Today, at an awards ceremony in Ottawa, 20 of Canada's brightest and most committed students were awarded the TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership. The $70,000 scholarship covers post-secondary tuition and living expenses, and offers summer employment for the next four years so that Canada's all-star team of students can focus on their studies and not worry about their finances. The scholarship is one of Canada's most prestigious and celebrates community leadership both in and out of the classroom. Organizing activities to bridge the social gap for new immigrants, developing an eco-friendly passive solar panel tracking system and preserving the Latino culture in the far north are just a few of the accomplishments of this year's TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership recipients who were selected by a panel of prominent Canadian Senators, business professionals and past award recipients. "This year's 20 winners are inspirational examples of the true potential and passion of young Canadians. By easing the costs associated with heading off to university or college, TD is helping these individuals have the financial support they need to stay focused on achieving their goals and dreams of being tomorrow's community leaders - across Canada and globally," said Tim Hockey, Group Head Canadian Banking and President and CEO, TD Canada Trust. "TD's scholarship program continues to be one of the country's most coveted awards. And when most funding has seen cut backs given the current environment, TD has actually increased our support of Canadian youth by awarding an additional $10,000 per scholarship recipient, making each scholarship worth $70,000." TD Canada Trust will provide more than $1 million to its current scholarship recipients, part of its commitment to youth education that will total more than $2.6 million in 2009. "Helping new immigrants adjust to their new lives in Canada brings me tremendous feelings of satisfaction," said Humza Nusrat, 2009 scholarship recipient. "As the son of immigrant parents, I have grown-up with an appreciation for the fact that Canada is a place of opportunity and I want to expose others to this. Receiving a scholarship from TD will allow me to experience opportunity in a different way while still making a difference in my community." "I feel pride and a sense of excitement for what Canada's future holds when I think of the achievements this year's 20 winners have made," said The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway who was the keynote speaker at today's ceremony. "These individuals are truly remarkable and serve as an example of what can be accomplished when the right combination of ambition, passion and teamwork takes hold. I can only imagine what positive change will take place as Canada's all-star team of students get ready to shape the future of Canada." Regional judging panels interviewed a shortlist of 63 finalists from the 3,800 applicants, which was led by the scholarship program's Executive Director, Dr. Jane Thompson. A complete list of recipients can be found at www.tdcanadatrust.com/scholarship. Some of this year's exceptional recipients include: Eden Full of Calgary, AB, invented an eco-friendly passive solar panel tracking system with a sustainable design that anyone can easily construct and repair. An aspiring social entrepreneur in engineering, Eden hopes to build a non-profit organization to patent and distribute her solar panel design globally. Humza Nusrat of Ajax, ON, created an intramural cricket league at his high school to help integrate isolated, young immigrants into the school community. Interested in human rights, he also founded an Amnesty International youth group and also started his own snow-shovelling business to support his family through difficult financial times. Ketaki Rawal of Brossard, QC, inspired by her volunteer work in India at an orphanage and an eye hospital, started a chapter of PRASAD (Philanthropic Relief, Altruistic Service and Development) at her college to raise awareness and funds for the blind in India. Mauricio Ruiz of Whitehorse, YT, celebrated his Colombian heritage by reviving a Spanish language newspaper, Voces Latinas, in order to preserve Latino culture in the far north. The print and web editions that he edits serve more than 130 Spanish-speaking members of his community. The 2009 judges included Janet Austin CEO, YWCA of Vancouver; Steven Endicott Director of Development, Vancouver Art Gallery; Dr. David Barnard President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Winnipeg; Senator, the Honourable Janis Johnson; Ruth Ramsden-Wood President, United Way, Calgary and Area; Dr. David Naylor President & Vice-Chancellor, University of Toronto; Senator, the Honourable Donald H. Oliver; Dr. Miriam Rossi Board of Trustees, BBPA National Scholarship Fund; Charlotte Teeple Executive Director, Canadian Children's Book Centre; Julie Toskan-Casale President, Toskan Casale Foundation; Dr. Thomas R. Williams Principal & Vice-Chancellor, Queen's University; Marc Chalifoux Executive Director, The Dominion Institute; Louis Larivière Director of Development, HEC Montreal; Manon Vennat Principal, Manon Vennat & Associates; Carol McDougall Director of Communications, United Way of Halifax and Claire Munroe Coordinator, Learning & Employment Centre, Phoenix Youth Programs. Joining the judging panel this year are former TD Scholarship winners Quyen Ly (1997 Recipient), Raymond Ko (2005 Recipient), Kristen Coutts (2005 Recipient), Melissa Martin (2005 Recipient), Philippe Lapointe (2006 Recipient), and Sara Mahaney (2005 Recipient). They have been asked to continue their legacy for this year's winners by acting as mentors. About the TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership Program The TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership is open to all students in their final year of high school, and who will be attending post-secondary school during the following year. Applications for 2010 will be available this fall at TD Canada Trust branches, high school and CEGEP guidance offices and online at www.tdcanadatrust.com/scholarship. TD Community Giving: Making a Difference Together Children's health, literacy and education, and the environment are the three main areas of focus for TD's community giving. Flagship programs within these areas include: TD Children's Hospital Fund; TD Friends of the Environment Foundation; TD Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup; TD Canadian Children's Book Week; TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership; and the TD Summer Reading Club. With support from customers and employees, TD is involved with a host of national, regional and local causes benefiting diversity, arts and culture and other community programs. In 2008, TD donated $35 million to more than 2,100 organizations across Canada. /NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca. Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/ For further information: or to arrange an interview: GCI Group on behalf of TDBFG, Stephanie Sayer, (416) 486-5921, stephanie.sayer@gcicanada.com; Naz Araghian, (416) 486-7225, naz.araghian@gcicanada.com; On-site contact number during the scholarship event in Ottawa: (647) 883-0820; TD Bank Financial Group contact: Jacqueline Burns, (416) 308-0177, jacqueline.burns@td.com

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