Students Honoured for Making a Positive Difference in Schools, Communities

NOTE: The list of award recipients follows this release.

A Grade 12 student promoting African-Canadian achievement, a Grade 4 student who tackles social issues with her musical talent, and a Grade 6 student who raised funds for flood stricken areas of Pakistan are among this year's winners of Nova Scotia's Power of Positive Change Awards.

Education Minister Ramona Jennex and Ministerial Assistant for Youth Mat Whynott will honour 10 Nova Scotia students, from Grade 3 to Grade 12, at a ceremony at Province House on June 14.

"We received many worthy nominations from young people around Nova Scotia," said Ms. Jennex. "It is heartwarming to see so many young people making a difference in their schools, their communities and around the world."

The Power of Positive Change Awards recognize public school students who demonstrate leadership organizing a school or community activity or show exemplary behaviour promoting positive attitudes.

The recipients for the 2011 awards were selected from about 70 nominations. The recipients will receive a certificate of recognition and a $2,000 bursary toward post-secondary education or training.

"Our young people are our greatest asset to affect positive change," said Mr. Whynott. "I am pleased to celebrate the leadership they have shown and wish them every success as they continue with their work and studies."

Recipients of the 2011 Power of Positive Change Award:

• Janessa Tynes, Grade 12, Auburn Drive High School, Cole Harbour, Halifax Regional Municipality. Janessa is a very respectful and compassionate contributor to both her school and her community. She is a senior member of the student council and co-chair of the Auburn Drive Youth of Today group where she actively promotes African-Canadian achievement. Janessa is involved with the Boys and Girls Club in her community where she is a positive role model to the younger children.

• Bria Miller, Grade 12, Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. Bria is involved with several local and global initiatives including raising money for Haiti's earthquake relief fund. This year, Bria took on the role of student caseworker for the Bringing Restorative Justice into Schools project at Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School. She promoted the program by speaking on the radio and at the local Nova Scotia Community College. She has been invited to speak at the International Institute for Restorative Practices World Conference in Halifax.

• Maxwell Bauer, Grade 3, O'Connel Drive Elementary, Porters Lake, Halifax Regional Municipality. Max is a gifted violinist who uses his talent to raise money for the IWK Health Centre Foundation. He raised money for Prostate Cancer during Movember, including sporting a moustache. He also raised money for the Childrens' Wish Foundation. When he heard that several dentists in his community were looking for some lightly used sporting equipment to send to underprivileged children in Africa he packed up his old soccer gear and purchased 10 new soccer balls with his own money to donate to the children.

• Ariel Gough, Grade 11, Charles P. Allen High School, Bedford. Ariel is engaged in several community and school initiatives including her church youth group where she participates as leader of Word in Motion dance group and the S.W.A.G.G. Steppers, step team. She is actively engaged in planning events for the annual Upper Hammonds Plains Canada Day CANJAM celebrations. At school she is engaged in the African Heritage Club, serves on the Halifax Regional School Board planning committee, and is a reporter for the CPA Cheetah News.

• Charcy Britten-Boudreau, Grade 12, Richmond Academy, Louisdale, Richmond Co. When Charcy's class took part in a project called 'the story box' to look into issues that were present in her high school, she soon found there was a need for action. Charcy helped coordinate a breakfast and lunch program and was instrumental in developing a clothing boutique in her school called GivR. She participates on several committees and teams at Richmond Academy and in her community.

• Erin Brown, Grade 9, Caledonia Jr. High School, Dartmouth. Erin is president of the Caledonia Junior High School Student Council and was actively involved in organizing the most attended Caledonia Winter Carnival in recent years. She volunteers her time at the YWCA of Halifax coordinating youth activities and teen empowerment workshops. Erin is a huge advocate for Free the Children's GoLocal program and has lead the students of her school in raising money for supplies to renovate their school hallways with student artwork.

• Jonathon Barkhouse, Grade 11, Avon View High School, Windsor. Jonny is very active in his school and community as a teen member of Skate Windsor trying to promote the sport and the importance of active living. He is an advocate of Mental Health and takes it upon himself to make sure that other teens in his area have access and transportation to mental health appointments. He is a member of the Canadian Army reserve and uses the money he makes from this employment to support all of his endeavors.

• Makayla Parry, Grade 4 Elmsdale District Elementary, Elmsdale, Hants Co. Makayla tackles social issues with the use of her amazing singing-songwriting-musical talent. She has written and sings songs about environmental issues, local and national concerns, and most recently, bullying. Her video The Jokes on You about a student being bullied has received local, national and international recognition as a great inspiration to others who have been bullied and felt alone.

• Behraam Raja, Grade 6 Basinview Drive Community, Bedford. When Behraam heard of the devastating floods in Pakistan he took it upon himself to research what could be done to help. He made a plan and rallied his community to help raise funds for the flood stricken areas of Pakistan knowing that the money he raised would be going to help families in dire need.

• Mitch Redden, Grade 12 Avon View High School, Windsor. Mitch had an idea to motivate his classmates to take social action. With Mitch at the lead they created realfriends, a face-to-face social network group that started with just 30 members and then quickly grew to over 240 participants and has inspired other students and schools across Canada to take action. Mitch's idea is featured on the Canadian Teacher's Federation Imagineaction website, a book, and two documentaries have been created to highlight and support this fantastic social movement.