Junior Achievement 2012 Student Award Winners Announced

Today's Achievers are tomorrow's leaders

TORONTO, May 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Junior Achievement of Canada is pleased to announce the 2012 youth scholarship award winners.  In addition to the in-class business education programs, Junior Achievement awards numerous scholarships to deserving students from across Canada each year. The awards will be given at the Canadian Business Hall of Fame Gala Dinner tonight in Toronto.

"Junior Achievement helps young Canadians prepare for the future, achieve their dreams and create lives that enrich us all," says Mr. Stephen Ashworth, President and CEO (Acting), Junior Achievement of Canada. "By awarding their success today, we are helping to play an integral part in preparing them for tomorrow.  The 2012 award winners are amazing young Canadians who are tomorrow's leaders."

Deloitte & Touche Inspiration Awards
Deloitte & Touche has been a long-time supporter of the Junior Achievement awards and scholarships program.  The Inspiration Awards are awarded to students who have demonstrated thoughtful perspectives and the attributes required to succeed in the workforce.

The 2012 Inspiration Award recipients are:

• Bethany Dickey
• Jairo Pinto
• Djavan Habel-Thurton
• Sunjita Kapoor

Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award and Youth Leadership
Each year, Peter Mansbridge awards two of the largest youth scholarships in Canada to deserving young Canadians.  The Peter Mansbridge Positive Change scholarship is awarded to a student who promotes a vision of prosperity for our nation and is committed to making a positive change. The Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award is given to a student who personifies the values and attributes of a successful business or community leader.  The 2012 award recipient for the Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award is Judy Ou from St. John's, NL.  The 2012 award recipient for the Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award is Jairo Pinto from Regina, Saskatchewan.

For more information on the 2012 winners, please see the enclosed media backgrounder.

About Junior Achievement of Canada
For more than 55 years, as the largest business education organization in Canada, Junior Achievement has inspired and prepared more than 3.9 million youth to succeed.  Junior Achievement offers education programs in the areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, which are delivered to youth in elementary, middle and high schools by business mentors.  Last year alone, more than 216,000 young Canadians experienced a Junior Achievement program from 13,029 committed business mentors.

Backgrounder

Take a closer look at Junior Achievement's 2012 scholarship winners

Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award
The Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award highlights a student's achievement and commitment toward utilizing his/her voice to make a positive change to better their community, the world, their future and that of generations to come.

The 2012 Award Recipient for the Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award is Judy Ou.

Judy Ou is from St. John's, NL, and is currently in her third year of high school. Judy first joined the Junior Achievement Company Program in 2009, after watching a presentation held at her school.

"I like to take on new challenges, in order to reach new limits," said Judy.  "That's why I was drawn to the Company Program. Through Junior Achievement, I was able to expand my horizons and discover new interests."

Judy also enjoys volunteering at her school and with the Janeway Childrens Hospital. She plans to further her education in hopes of becoming a medical doctor.

"I aspire to become a doctor because I believe it will help our community prosper. I take an interest in financial matters, as I come from a family of entrepreneurs. I've enjoyed my time with the Company Program, as I strongly believe it has helped me grow as both a leader and a person."

Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award
The Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award recognizes personal accomplishments and involvement of an Achiever in school or in their community that has made demonstrable impact locally and exemplified the values and attributes of a successful business and community leader.

The 2012 Award Recipient for the Peter Mansbridge Youth Leadership Award is Jairo Pinto.

Jairo Pinto was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1994. At the age of six, his family immigrated to the United States, and eight years later, Jairo, together with his parents and six brothers, moved to Canada to seek new opportunities.

"I believe that this constant uphill struggle shaped me into the person I am today," said Jairo. "I have learned to be optimistic and rather confident when obstacles arise. I uphold my strong work ethic, as I believe that education is the pathway to success."

Jairo is currently in grade 12 attending Regina Mundi Catholic College. He participated in the Junior Achievement Company Program to help expand his entrepreneurial horizon.

"My experience with Junior Achievement has further fostered within me an identity as a leader, and stimulated future business aspirations. I am truly grateful for the learning experiences that JA has provided me with."

Jairo plans to attend Western University in the field of Business. He has a particular interest in the field of accounting and will pursue a CA or CMA designation. He also aspires to be accepted into the HBA program offered at the Richard Ivey School of Business.

"Hardships and obstacles became the sharpening tools for aspirations and success. I have learned to be grateful for little, yet I aspire for much."

Jairo is also the recipient of the 2012 Deloitte Inspiration Award.

Deloitte Inspiration Awards
The Inspiration Awards are awarded to students who have demonstrated thoughtful perspectives and the attributes required to succeed in the workforce.

Bethany Dickey
Bethany is an honours student currently in grade 12 from Dartmouth Nova Scotia.  She has been involved with the Junior Achievement Company Program since grade 10.  This year Bethany also took on the role of Student Ambassador for JA. Nova Scotia to promote the value of the Company Program to local businesses and corporate sponsors.  Bethany attended the Next Generation Leaders Forum at Queens University in the summer of 2011. Bethany has taken on several roles with the Nova Scotia Secondary Schools Students' Association.  Her involvement with the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter has helped to shape her interest in the promotion of environmentally responsible businesses.  Bethany also volunteers in her school and community and was recently named the Provincial Youth Volunteer of the Year.  Next year, Bethany will be attending Acadia University in the Bachelor of Business Administration program.

Djavan Havel-Thurton
Djavan was born in 1995 in Montreal where he currently attends Collège Jean-de-Brébeuf in grade 11. He is socially active and is involved in a variety of fields ranging from scholastic, cultural, athletics and extracurricular activities. For the past seven years, Djavan has represented the two institutions he attended in the Génies en herbe movement, where he won the provincial title multiple times. Furthermore, his passion for history has earned him the Vimy-Beaverbrook award for 2012. Last year, Djavan was awarded his first provincial oratory title as a result of a contest organized by the Cercle Entreprendre du Québec. This year, he fully devoted himself as the president of his company from the Junior Achievement program. This extremely enriching experience has developed his love of business and helped mature his leadership skills. Passionate about politics, rhetoric and communication, he envisions studying law and finance.

Sunjita Kapoor
Sunjita is a grade 12 student from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Since she was three years old, Sunjita has been involved in dancing and even teaches her own dance group. She enjoys volunteering for various organizations and helping people however she can. She has been a member of her school's Student Council for the past four years as well as part of the Environmental Club. Along with that she helps out with Saskatoon Crime Stoppers and was awarded the Crime Stoppers Student Citizenship Award for 2011. Sunjita is cannot wait to continue on her journey with Junior Achievement, as well as in the business community as she attends her first year of Commerce in the fall.

Victoria Ollers, [email protected] or 416-822-2288, Paul Tyler, [email protected], 416-254-0698