Dozens of outstanding local youths were recognized last week with awards from Delta’s three Rotary clubs.
Co-presented by the North Delta, Ladner and Tsawwassen clubs on Monday, June 12, the 12th annual Delta Rotary Youth Awards honoured young people who have contributed to their community by reaching out to others or by showing remarkable courage and strength, who have combated adversity and hardship, or who have demonstrated global citizenship by helping those in other parts of the world.
“It was an amazing evening listening to what each person did to earn that award and how they made life better for people. The world is a little better for these young people who go the extra mile,” retired local educator Patricia Rogers in a Rotary press release.
Awards were handed out in a number of categories, including Compassion and Empathy (for those demonstrating individual acts of caring and kindness to others), Inner Strength (for youth who made something good out of a bad situation or overcame adversity), Helping Hand (for that all-round young person who helps others without seeking personal rewards or praise) and The Global Award (for projects undertaken by “youth that are international in nature”).
Alex Pryce, a Grade 12 student at Delta Secondary, was among those honoured, receiving both a Helping Hand Award and this year’s Service Above Self Award for having demonstrated exceptional leadership, selflessness and service without expecting anything in return.
“Alex is a member of the Ojibwe First Nation and will make a difference as he assumes leadership in the community. When something needs to be done, Alex is your man! He cajoles and convinces his peers to help and then gets the work gloves on and works harder than everyone else,” wrote DSS teacher Graham Harkley in his nomination of Pryce.
In all, 56 youths were presented with awards during the ceremony at Ladner’s Genesis Theatre, marking the first Delta Rotary Youth Awards after a four-year hiatus due to he COVID-19 pandemic. Guests and award recipients were entertained by MC Jill Bennett — a Delta Secondary alumna and host of the Jill Bennett Show on 980 CKNW — as well as vocalist Sierra MacDougall and pianist Joshua Elliott.
“The common thread tonight in all of these stories was kindness, and these young people exemplified the power and change that comes from showing kindness to others,” Mike McEwan,president of the Kindness Foundation of Canada, said in a press release.
Leslie Abramson, one of the event’s organizers, said Rotarians often work with young people in the community and are always impressed by how capable and thoughtful they are.
“Today’s youth are making a big difference in the lives of others and tonight we were reminded that the future is in good hands,” Abramson said in a press release.
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editor@northdeltareporter.com
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