The Difference-Maker Scholarship is awarded to high-school students that have been identified by their high school counsellors to be activists advocating to make a difference. Whether it be within their school, their community or in the life of others, we commend these youth.
We thought you’d like to know what caught the attention of their counsellors and why we chose these individuals to award scholarships to. In the words of a counsellor, here are the nominations:
Student: Nayha Gill, Grade 12
Nominating Counsellor: Karyn Walmark, Mentor College, Mississauga, ON
Nayha began making a difference as early as Grade 9. First, she joined Newman Global, a non-profit organization that raises awareness for mental health and addiction. Since then, her initiatives have helped to fund a variety of recovery programs, particularly those for athletes. She has also partnered with Caritas School of Life, a therapeutic group, and Inspira, which builds supportive housing for families in Peru who must travel to Lima for specialized medical care.
Nayha’s commitment to both mental and physical health extends to our school and local community as well. For example, she teaches swimming lessons to children with special needs, and she volunteers weekly at a seniors’ retirement home. In addition, after successfully applying for a $2,000 grant from the Public Health Agency of Canada, she used the funds to create and print mandala art colouring books, which our school guidance office now shares as a free mindfulness resource.
Finally, Nayha has even founded her own non-profit! Skills Sphere seeks to provide educational resources to underserved communities. For one of her most impactful projects, Books Over Borders, Nayha collaborated with an education superintendent to implement a district-wide book drive. Ultimately, over 100 donations were made to Books For Africa, an international group devoted to improving literacy across the continent.
Nayha’s confidence in public speaking—which has won her many awards, including an awe-inspiring 3rd-place finish at DECA Internationals—makes her a natural leader. Even more valuable, however, is her honest, compassionate desire to uplift, empower and connect with others. She is a true role model for her peers!
Student: Sierra Newman, Grade 12
Nominating Counsellor: Jen Kozma, Gus Wetter School, Castor, AB
Sierra is a difference maker! While maintaining an impressive GPA throughout her academic career thus far, she has also been consistently praised by her teachers for her strong work ethic, integrity, hard work and dedication. She takes pride in guiding and supporting others as a positive role model in our school hallways. Sierra significantly contributes to our positive school environment which demonstrates her maturity, leadership, and a genuine care for the people around her, showing the difference she makes in the school and greater community.
Sierra gives her time generously by volunteering her time mentoring the elementary students in our K-12 school, was an integral part of Leading With Hope which is a suicide prevention program, and she was voted this year’s student council president with ambitious plans of fundraising and school wide initiatives that focus on community and wellness. She is the first to step up and lend and hand and is very in tune with where support is needed. Her actions have a lasting impact on our school community and set an inspiring example for those around her. She truly makes a differnce in our community through her leadership, kindness and dedication.
Student: Rohan Poddar, Grade 12
Nominating Counsellor: Karyn Walmark, Mentor College, Mississauga, ON
Rohan has been a steadfast contributor to our school and community through his high school career. As a Grade 9 student, he joined our Outreach Club, which co-ordinates a wide a variety of volunteer opportunities, including partnerships with The Compass Food Bank. To date, Rohan has helped to cook and serve Thanksgiving and Easter dinners for hundreds of clients-he has even made and donated over 300 bread rolls! In fact, his efforts have been so valued that he was offered a position to work at the centre.
When he reached Grade 10, Rohan added the Yearbook Committee to his priorities. He was so dedicated in his efforts to record both small and large-scale events that over half of the published photos were his own. He has also expanded his services to videography for our annual Celebration of Culture. And in Grade 11, he was instrumental in the growth of our Notes at Noon program, a monthly coffee-house-style concert that showcases our student talent-regardless of age and skill level, and free of pressure and judgement.
Rohan has been at the heart of so many initiatives here at Mentor. Food-and the arts-are truly his love language. He ran a Christmas food drive, he facilitated an art & bake sale with our Pride Club to fundraise for struggling LGBTQ+ youth, and he even catered The Sunnies, our annual arts banquet, with a selection of over 200 homemade treats!
We are lucky-and grateful-for Rohan’s devotion to service!
