2015 Building our Future: Limitless Heights Scholarship Program Awards Presentation and Dinner - Toronto ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
2015
Building our Future:
Limitless Heights Scholarship Program
Awards Presentation and Dinner
September 24, 2015
Columbus Event Centre, Toronto
1
2
Howard Cohen Howard Sokolowski
President, Context President, Metropia
3
It is my great honour to congratulate the 2015 recipients of the Building our Future:
Limitless Heights Scholarship Program.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate with this year’s recipients
and their families in recognition of their academic achievements and positive
contributions to the Lawrence Heights and Neptune communities and this great
city.
I look forward to continuing to work with members of the Lawrence-Allen
community and to share in all the future successes as revitalization unfolds.
Congratulations to each of the twenty-one exceptional people who are being recognized at this
evening’s scholarship dinner. You have our full support as you pursue your goals for the future.
Josh Colle
City of Toronto Councillor,
Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence
4
Thank you
from the scholarship organizing committee
This year, twenty residents will be able to study at different postsecondary institutions across Ontario thanks to the
Building our Future: Limitless Heights Scholarship Program.
Thanks to Heights Development Inc. for donating the funds for the scholarship program and helping to create a
platform to recognize the achievement of residents. Your investment in the revitalization of Lawrence Heights will
help lead this community into a stable and remarkable future.
Thanks to the scholarship selection panel members from Toronto Community Housing, Heights Development Inc.,
St. Stephens, and the City of Toronto. Your objective, yet compassionate review of scholarship applications yielded a
fantastic group of recipients for the 2015-16 school year.
Thanks also to the families and friends who have helped recipients to grow in their leadership roles in the
community and inspired them to pursue their dreams. To the scholarship recipients, your commitment and
dedication to achieving more in spite of all the odds are inspiration to us all.
Scholarship organizing committee members:
Adela Dushaj Jamal Beckles Rayon Reid-Brown
Amena Ahmed Jason Chen Vanessa Solorzano
Amanda Simpson Laurie Payne Yemi Ifegbuyi
5
Agenda
Reception and registration
Song performance by Rashida Clarke
Welcoming remarks
Vanessa Solorzano, Rayon Reid-Brown and Jay Peterson, Community Liaison Officer, Heights Development Inc.
Rap poetry by Trevaun Douglas
Councillor Josh Colle, Ward 15 Eglinton-Lawrence
Song and rap performances by Kim and Yomi
Alumni remarks
Millie Dyer, Social Service Work student, Seneca College
Video presentation by Tristen West
Reggae performance by BIG S-Do The Right Thing
Awards presentation
Greg Spearn, President and CEO (Interim), Toronto Community Housing, representatives of Heights Development Inc.
and Councillor Josh Colle
Dance performance by Dirty Dancers
Remarks on behalf of the community
Rodrigo Moreno, Denise Bishop Earle and Kisa Ehigiator (community animators)
Paulos Gebreyesus, Senior Director, Community and Health Promotion Services, Unison Health and Community Services
Closing remarks
Amena Ahmed and Jamal Beckles
Reggae performance by Little Super G and live music by Fullasound
6
2015 scholarship recipients
Aishat Abiodun believes that education is the key to success. She is currently in her second
year at Humber College studying community and justice services. Afterward, she plans to
pursue a criminal justice degree at the University of Guelph-Humber. Aishat is grateful for the
Building our Future: Limitless Heights Scholarship. She believes that the scholarship will take
her one step closer to achieving her educational goal and will help her to secure a good job.
Anisa Mohamed is a long-time resident of Lawrence Heights. She is very involved in programs
and workshops at the community centre. Starting this fall, she will be studying nursing at
Seneca College and York University, a collaborative program leading to a Bachelor of Science
in Nursing. She is expected to graduate in 2019. Anisa also aspires to work in Somalia to help
improve the country’s health system.
Anwar Sufi has lived in Lawrence Heights for 11 years. He graduated from John Polanyi
Collegiate Institute where he was part of an Ivy group. Through this group, he helped raised
$40,000 and travelled to Nicaragua to build a school for children from low-income families.
Anwar plans to study business management at Ryerson University and the Limitless Heights
scholarship will help him pay for the tuition. Anwar’s goals are to graduate, find a career in his
field of study and continue to support his community.
7
Ashna Parbatie has lived in Lawrence Heights for 14 years. She volunteered as a youth leader
with various Pathways to Education programs. Ashna is interested in scientific research and
plans to study biochemistry at the University of Toronto. Ashna loves body building and to
illustrate, read and travel to new places. Ashna’s goal in life is to be happy with her loved ones.
Balqisa Mohamed is a first-year student at Seneca College and York University’s Bachelor of
Science in Nursing degree program. Growing up, Balqisa dreamt of pursuing a fulfilling career
and having an impact in this world. With determination, Balqisa graduated high school with
an average of 84 per cent. She plans to continue to contribute to the development of her
community through volunteer work.
Berhane M. Abraha has lived in Lawrence Heights for 13 years. He is an active community
leader and currently doing his doctorate degree in counselling and psychotherapy at the
Canada Christian College and School of Graduate Theological Studies. Berhane was awarded
a certificate by the Lawrence Heights International Network Foundation to recognize his
outstanding community leadership and volunteer work. He plans to graduate in about two years
and become a psychotherapist.
8
Fadomo Mohamed Heneke has lived in Lawrence Heights for nine years. She has always
wanted to be a role model and has participated in various community leadership programs,
including YOUCAN, YouthWorx, Art Start, Pedal Pushers Club, and Knitting In Motion. This
fall, she will attend York University to major in health studies. Fadomo’s career goal is to help
young people with special needs as a youth counsellor.
Hamza Ahmed lives in the Lawrence Heights community. He is passionate about giving back to
his community. Hamza co-founded a youth leadership group called the Better Student Program
which helps high school students make better career choices. He plans to develop a website in
2016 called Education Redefined to help create awareness in and around Lawrence Heights.
Hamza will be studying civic engineering at Ryerson University this fall.
Idil Bashi Ali is in her fifth year at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute. She has lived in Lawrence
Heights for 10 years. She has contributed to the development of her community and has
taken leadership roles in various programs at her school. This includes Free the Children,
Future Aces, African Canadian Leadership Committee and Ambassadors. Idil’s experience and
exposure has made her realize that she enjoys community work. She will be taking health
studies at York University.
9
Leansa Mohamed is a long-time resident of Lawrence Heights. Over the years, she participated
in various community and local leadership initiatives, including Brickworks Ambassador
Leadership, Knitting in Motion, Pedal Pushers Club, and Because I Am A Girl. This fall, she will
be studying criminology at York University. Leansa plans to work in the criminal justice system
and to support her community.
Mohamed Nur is passionate about his community and has volunteered with several
community organizations, including the North York Harvest Food Bank and the Lawrence
Heights Community Centre. This fall, he will be studying accounting at Ryerson University.
Mohammed’s future goals are to finish his undergraduate degree, obtain the Chartered
Professional Accountant (CPA) designation and work as a chartered accountant.
Muathe Mahdi is proud to have grown up in a diverse city like Toronto. As a kid, he loved
playing soccer and other sports to stay active. He is a loving, caring person and many of
his friends think he is funny. He likes to engage people around him and look after them.
He also enjoys conversation about politics and religion. Muathe would like to become a
successful entrepreneur. He is currently in his second year at the University of Toronto studying
Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT). He plans to specialize in digital
enterprise management.
10Norma Gomez is a community animator in Lawrence Heights. She has participated in various
community engagement training sessions and helped to organized major local events,
including the seniors gardening event in Lawrence Heights. Norma also helps youth in the
community with after-school homework and French-language tutoring. Norma’s goals are to
complete her degree in business administrative and management studies at York University
and to be fluent in French and English. She also aspires to give back to her community.
Nurta Mahdi has lived in the Neptune community for 19 years. She has participated in
different leadership activities, including Take BAC, Neptune Youth Lounge, Art Starts and
Super Nova Kids. Nurta plans to study life sciences at the University of Toronto, Scarborough.
After completing her bachelor degree, Nurta plans to attend a medical school to become a
psychiatrist and help end the stigma on mental health.
Raesa Fida is an active member of the community and volunteers with programs such as
YOUCAN, John Polanyi Collegiate Institute community gardening program and North York
Harvest Food Bank. Raesa will be attending York University to study global health, which
explores health policies and practices in communities or countries with high risk of diseases.
Raesa’s academic goal is to complete her undergraduate degree and to pursue postgraduate
studies.
11Rashida Clarke is a passionate young artist and a youth leader in Lawrence Heights. She was
actively involved in community programs such as Lady Bugz, Investing in Families and the
Pathways to Education program where she mentored youth to make positive changes. She also
mentored youth using music and cultural activities to build strong self-identity. Rashida will be
studying community and justice service at Humber College. Her goal is to complete the college
diploma and start her career as a correctional officer.
Saida Mohamed is a long-time resident of Lawrence Heights. When Saida’s parents came to
Canada in 1991, they joined the school council committee, coached youth in basketball and
helped out with different local events. Her parents’ commitment to helping others motivated
her to get involved in the community. She is excited to continue her postsecondary education
by studying nursing at Centennial College and Ryerson University. She also plans to continue
perfecting her volunteering skills.
Sayara Rajab Khan was born in Kabul, Afghanistan. She immigrated to Canada with her
family when she was eight years old. She graduated from York Memorial Collegiate Institute.
Sayara discovered her passion for taking care of the environment while volunteering for the
John Polanyi Collegiate Institute community gardening program. She is studying chemical
engineering at Ryerson University.
12Temitope Akinyimide, also known as Tope, is a Grade 12 student at Marshall McLuhan
Catholic Secondary School. She is a bright, enthusiastic and caring young woman. She
volunteered at the Lawrence Heights Community Centre for two years and eventually got a
job at the community centre. She also volunteered at the Good Shepherd Centre where she
served food to the homeless. Tope plans to study child and youth care at Ryerson University.
This scholarship will help her reach her goal of becoming a teacher.
Yasmin Ali Mohamed has lived in Lawrence Heights for a little over a decade. Yasmin
participated in various programs held at Lawrence Heights Community Centre and Flemington
Public School. She is currently studying healthcare management at York University and
plans to pursue postgraduate studies after her undergraduate degree. In the future, Yasmin
plans to use her education and experience to support healthcare programs in low-income
communities.
13Recognition award recipient
Hindia Basha has lived in Lawrence Heights for 12 years. She graduated from John Polanyi
Collegiate Institute (JPCI) and was an active member of the Because I Am a Girl club and the
Free the Children club. Both clubs provide support and relief for young women and children in
developing nations. Hindia is also a member of JPCI City, a group of passionate young leaders
who create innovative projects, such as community gardens, to support families. Hindia plans
to study international business management at York University.
Hindia voluntarily withdrew her acceptance of the Building our Future: Limitless Heights Scholarship
after receiving other scholarships that are substantial enough to cover her tuition fees for the first year of
school. This allows another resident to benefit from the program. Hindia is therefore being recognized for
her good citizenship and leadership qualities.
14Throwback to the awards ceremony in 2014
15Thank you!
Public Interest R. Avis Surveying Inc. Bud Purves
Art Starts Dillon Consulting Limited Mike Colle, MPP
Gowlings Pathways to Education Councillor Josh Colle
Heights Development Inc. Columbus Event Centre Carmen Smith
32 Division, Toronto Police Service Unison Health and Community Services William Mendes
Toronto Community Housing Twitter: @TOHousing
931 Yonge Street Facebook: TorontoCommunityHousing
Toronto, Ontario M4W 2H2 Instagram: TorontoHousing
torontohousing.ca YouTube: TOCommunityHousing
Copyright © 2015 Toronto Community HousingYou can also read
