Polina Bogdanova, Weston Loran scholar William Lyon Mackenzie CI, North York, ON

Polina is the executive director of a student organization devoted to sustainable energy. She co-edits a creative writing publication, is captain of the tennis team and has her grade 10 in piano. She also sits on a city-wide youth environmental council, for which she helped organize a youth symposium.

Stephen Brophy, Loran scholarHoly Spirit High School, Conception Bay South, NL

As youth representative for a local community group, Stephen has helped to initiate the trans-formation of an abandoned green space into a nature park, organizing clean-up and mainte-nance activities. At school, he revived the defunct student newspaper, taking over editorial du-ties and recruiting writers and artists. He has also fostered student involvement in charities as president of the Interact club.

Benjamin Carr, Loran scholarCitadel High School, Halifax, NS

This year, Ben founded a group in his school to increase student engagement in the community. He has already succeeded in building partnerships with other organizations, obtained a funding grant, and recruited 50-plus members. Ben is co-captain of the football team and editor of the newspaper.

Zamyla Chan, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholarYork House School, Vancouver, BC

Zamyla has founded a peer mentorship group and, as head girl, created a new orientation pro-gram to handle the largest intake of new students in her school’s history. A Shad Valley alumna, she is on the soccer team and plays violin and saxophone. Zamyla also represents youth on ad-visory committees for the city’s police department and the RCMP.

Jonah Clifford, Weston Loran scholarPeterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Peterborough, ON

Jonah currently serves as a development and relief worker for an organization in Thailand; among other things, he’s developing a program to help displaced Burmese children register for schools. He edited a school magazine and served as a volunteer camp counsellor.

Patrick Colangelo, Weston Loran scholarSt. Michael’s College School, Etobicoke, ON

Patrick is the editor in chief of his school newspaper, and the founder of his school’s historical and classics societies. He is an elite soccer player and student council president. Patrick cre-ated and planned a walk-a-thon which raised some $17,000 for a cancer research organization.

2010 Loran scholars

Dylan Collins, Loran scholarPeterborough Collegiate Vocational School, Peterborough, ONDylan owns and runs Collins Care, a business he founded to make use of his alpaca, llama, and goat husbandry skills. He also applies his expertise in this field as a member of the marketing committee for a national alpaca association. He coaches soccer and is a certified equine mas-sage therapist.

Daniela Corsetti, Weston Loran scholarLoretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School, Thornhill, ON

Daniela served as chair of her school’s athletic association. She plays basketball, soccer and helps coach a hockey league. In March 2009, she was part of a team that travelled to India to work with street children, providing education and activities. She is president of the student council.

Sarah Ens, Loran scholarLandmark Collegiate, Landmark, MB

Sarah was president of the environmental club and student council. She is editor of the year-book, plays oboe and is a member of the softball team. Sarah has played an active role in an anti-bullying program, developing and giving presentations to foster tolerance among her fellow students.

Jenna Gall, Weston Loran scholarMontmartre School, Montmartre, SKLast year, Jenna took part in an educational research expedition to the Arctic. Inspired by her experience, she subsequently started an environmental group and newspaper at her school. Jenna is also coordinator of an after-school sports program for young children, organizes a run-ning club, and coaches and referees soccer. She is the yearbook editor.

Ryan Harley, Ryan Family Fund Loran scholarHampton High School, Upper Golden Grove, NB

Ryan helped develop and implement an annual orientation day at his school that connects grade nine students and upper-year students. He also served as student council treasurer and as editor of the newspaper. Ryan has performed in Macbeth and stage managed an award-winning theatre production.

Alexander Harmsen, Weston Loran scholarCobourg District Collegiate Institute East, Baltimore, ON

Having earned his own pilot license, Alexander now helps others working toward theirs as a volunteer pilot ground school teacher. He is also a coordinator and squadron commander in his Air Cadets group. He also passes on his knowledge to younger students as a volunteer tutor and member of a mentoring program at school.

2010 Loran scholars

Adam Hasham, Loran scholarMarc Garneau Collegiate, Scarborough, ON

Last summer, Adam participated in a six-week placement developing software for a nuclear technology company. Adam, who is also a youth lay minister, has shared his technical knowl-edge as an after-school robotics instructor. He also served as a volunteer tutor, heads the de-bating team and plays hockey.

Emma Herrington, Loran scholarOrillia, ONIn Grade 9, Emma initiated a science project to reduce harmful C02 emissions from vehicles. She has since gone on to advocate cleaner living as her school’s eco team secretary and stu-dent representative on her city’s environment advisory council. She sits on the local Rotary chapter, plays soccer and is captain of the wrestling team.

Michael Jacobs, Weston Loran scholarFredericton High School, Fredericton, NBMichael has represented his peers on district and provincial student education councils, as well as being student president at his school. In the latter capacity, he helped create a program to link unsettled students with mentors. Michael has competed in international track and field events and captained his province at the Canada Summer Games.

Nazampal Jaswal, BMO Loran scholarByrne Creek Secondary School, Burnaby, BC

The chair of an Amnesty International club at her school, Nazampal played a leading role in a campaign to prevent the deportation of a fellow student, organizing rallies and generating media publicity to promote the cause. She is a peer mentor, chairs the grad council and is president of the student council. She also plays field hockey.

Haley Kawaja, Loran scholarCorner Brook Regional High School, Corner Brook, NLHaley is a leader in a children’s youth group, supervising a group of 30 kids. She has travelled to Brazil on a humanitarian trip, which inspired her to form a social justice club at school. A long-time soccer player, Haley has coached children for the past few years, as well as captaining several teams.

Priya Koilpillai, Weston Loran scholarHalifax Grammar School, Bedford, NSPriya spearheaded a book drive to collect educational materials for an orphanage in India, as well as volunteering at a local children’s hospital and as a big sister. In partnership with a Nova Scotia food bank, she created an umbrella organization that coordinates volunteer efforts by youth to assist food banks.

2010 Loran scholars

Mimi Liu, Weston Loran scholarStratford Central Secondary School, Stratford, ON

An accomplished violinist, Mimi is the founder of Vivace Student Music, a youth-led outreach program that provides free music lessons to children who cannot afford to pay for lessons. She also started up and coached a string ensemble at her school, heads the student council and the environment club.

Lindsey Li, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholarWalter Murray Collegiate, Saskatoon, SK

Through her work with a local environmental organization advocating public transit use, Lindsey has campaigned for the introduction of a universal discounted bus pass for high school students in Saskatoon. She is also working on a project to support homeless people and has volunteered for a children’s helpline. She plays piano and was a member of the cross-country and track teams.

Sarah Lone, BMO Capital Markets Loran scholarCégep Vanier College, Montréal, QC

Sarah is an avid cross-country skier who has twice completed the Canadian Ski Marathon. She also organized a fundraising bike-a-thon to supply bicycles and bicycle-ambulances to HIV/AIDS support groups. She leads the school’s WUSC and environment committees.

Alexandria Mitchell, Weston Loran scholarAbbotsford Collegiate, Abbotsford, BC

Alexandria helped to initiate the creation of a new district-wide program recycling program in schools. She is now a member of her city’s environmental advisory council, as well as being a director of the youth commission. She is on the basketball and cross-country teams, sits on the local Big Sisters/Big Brothers board and helped to organize a multicultural festival in the com-munity.

Calvin Mitchell, Loran scholarNepean High School, Ottawa, ON

In order to raise money to build a school in Kenya, Calvin founded a humanitarian club at his school. He gives talks at elementary schools to encourage community engagement. Calvin is also director of a school program designed to orient new students and prevent bullying. He has also managed and produced several theatre productions.

Brady Olsen, Weston Loran scholarÉcole Lacombe Composite School, Lacombe, AB

Brady is captain and MVP of his school’s basketball team, he started and coached a Grade 7 team and set up a basketball camp to meet the needs of local youth. Brady is a long-time Boy Scout and has received the organization’s highest honor, the Queen’s Venturer Award. He started his own lawn care business last summer.

2010 Loran scholars

Zia Saleh, Weston Loran scholarOld Scona Academic High School, Edmonton, AB

Zia founded a program called Sports For Hope, which provides opportunities for children in three inner-city elementary schools to play sports and develop teamwork and communication skills. He has also organized a hockey tournament and coaches ball hockey. A Shad Valley alumnus, Zia is also a leader with an Ismaili youth organization.

Leah Secord, Loran scholarSt. Malachys High School, Saint John, NB

Leah has directed a play and served as violin section leader for a string orchestra. The founder and president of Saints in Action, she works to raise money to support education. She is also secretary of the school's Key Club is a member of the school choir.

Gaurav Sharma, Weston Loran scholarChingocuasy Secondary School, Brampton, ON

Gaurav is the founding president of a student-run organization that provides free sports pro-grams for younger children. He has also worked with kids as a volunteer mentor at a learning disabilities association summer camp and as a tutor in a credit recovery program. At school, Gaurav helped organize an anti-bullying week and is the goalie on his hockey team.

Alexane St-Amant Ringuette, Weston Loran scholarCollège François-Xavier-Garneau, Québec, QCAfter ten years as a member of her local Girl Scouts chapter, Alexane is now giving back to the organization as a group leader. She plays soccer, basketball, rubgy and is on the cross-country team. She wrote and helped to produce a school play and leads the outdoors club.

Evelyn Wainewright, Weston Loran scholarOakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville, ON

Evelyn has been captain of her robotics team for several years, leading them to compete in a world championship. She planned a two-day robotics retreat in order to foster collaboration with other local teams. To share her knowledge and enthusiasm with younger students, she co-founded a program aimed at stimulating interest in science and technology. She is a Shad Valley alumna and practices Taekwondo.

Zachary Young, Loran scholarOrchard Park Secondary School, Stoney Creek, ON

A member of his school’s robotics club since its inception, Zac has led his team to multiple Ca-nadian championships and several appearances at international tournaments. In addition, he mentors others through a robotics program for elementary school students. He is a section leader in two school bands and teaches percussion. Zac also backstopped his hockey team to a provincial championship.

2010 Loran scholars