SEPHIA MOSHOOD - CENTRAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL

Sephia‘s family immigrated to Canada in 2021 to escape persecution in Nigeria. Moving to Canada was sudden and challenging. Not only did Sephia have to adjust to a completely different culture, environment and climate but also to a new educational system. During this time she made friends and kept on top of her school work with an average of over 90%. As one of her advisers said “She handled it with her typical grit and determination”. Sephia is incredibly engaged in her school community being a member of numerous clubs. Outside of school, her work at a shelter is especially important and personal to her. Sephia is passionate about making a difference in the lives of the people that she works with. Her desire is to pursue a career in international business with the hope to provide economic opportunities for those in need.

NADIHA HUMAYERA - DANFORTH COLLEGIATE AND TECHNICAL INSTITUTE

Nadiha has proven to be a most hard-working and conscientious student in everything she pursues. In her STEM program she is averaging in the high 90s. She also placed a remarkable second in the regional Toronto Science Fair. Alongside being a high academic achiever she’s a very active student extracurricularly. Nadiha has a deep passion for gender equity. She has led conferences during Women’s History Month and organized fundraisers for various women’s programs in Toronto. Outside of school she is as committed as inside. She volunteers regularly at the Fort York Food Bank to cook meals for the local community and she mentors young girls at her mosque. Her dream is to build a company incorporating her level of science and her passion for gender equity providing young girls with resources and opportunities to pursue careers in fields where women are historically underrepresented.

MARTHA MENGESHA - CENTRAL TORONTO ACADEMY

Martha is known at CTA for her generous disposition, fantastic academic achievement, her extensive community volunteerism and her leadership. Martha has continued to receive an A+ average in the Enriched Advanced Placement Program. She took so many Grade 12 courses in Grade 11 that the computer program identified her as a top Grade 12 scholar. She is passionate about computer science and about raising the voices of black women in the computer science field. She recently presented to over 1000 students and families interested in attending Central Toronto Academy next year about the underrepresentation of young women, especially Black women, in post-secondary fields and careers.

Martha wants to continue her work through Student Associations at university in creating, highlighting and strengthening supportive communities for young Black women in STEM professions.

KELLY HONG - HARBORD COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

As Kelly’s reference said,” She is one of the most accomplished inspiring students with whom I have had the pleasure of working with over the past 20 years.” Not only does Kelly excel academically but her added strength appears to be in all of the extracurricular activities that she takes on both inside and outside of school. Spurred on by taking an indigenous studies course, Kelly and her sister responded by entering the 2022 Intuit Social Innovation Challenge and placed second, receiving an $8000 grant to launch their Kanata Connects project.

Kelly also stretched her interests beyond science to lead a school group who won the contest of redesigning the co-op garden at St. James Town. She is a leader in an international peer-tutoring program and has created educational material to be sent to Tanzania, Uganda and Ghana. She wants to pursue a degree in medicine. Although Kelly describes herself as an introvert with a quiet voice, her actions and passions ring loudly.

BILQIS FAZEL - PARKDALE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

Bilqis was born in Kabul, Afghanistan and the eldest in a family of six. Bilqis is a model student and has successfully completed her International Baccalaureate. At school she tutors, is a peer leader and was President of the Model UN club. She is also a team player on volleyball, basketball and ultimate frisbee.

Besides being academically and extracurricularly sound, she is busy helping family, volunteering more than 150 hours at UHN creating a STEM Pathways Program, contributing to the Healthy Foods Program and as a Girls Only Program boxing coach. Bilqis was awarded the Ontario Volunteer Service Award. She is a cashier, summer camp counsellor, tutor and boxes competitively.

Bilqis is committed to studying neuroscience to learn more about disabilities to support those with disabilities in the community and their families.

SAFFRON SEBHATU - RUNNYMEDE COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

Saffron is one of our newest Canadians. A year and a few months ago she and her family emigrated from Eritrea.

Having just arrived here, Saffron immersed herself in the school culture and in extracurricular activities through the Black Students Alliance, Celebration Club and the University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health Outreach. The DLSPH program meets weekly and Saffron is engaged in group discussions, teaching public health concepts and attending graduate lectures. It’s nothing short of inspiring. As a result of her passion and leadership, Saffron was selected to represent Runnymede at the University of Windsor’s International African Diaspora Youth Conference this year. Outside of the school, she is a Bible study teacher for young children at the Eritrean Orthodox school. She will be studying community healthcare.

 PALOMA STEWART-RAMOS - ROSEDALE HEIGHTS SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

In grade 10, Paloma made the decision to move, by herself, from Spain to Canada in order to pursue her life goal of combining a degree in theater arts with one in psychology to promote wellbeing in society.

Although Paloma was only at Rosedale for two years, she made a deep impression. She excelled academically but also extra-curricularly. She was a member of the student council, yearbook club and assistant director of two school plays. This spring she played the leading role of Sophie in Mamma Mia.

Even with her school work, babysitting and receptionist jobs, Paloma managed to give back to the community by completing over 300 hours of service as a performance teacher and camp counsellor.

She has been accepted into the prestigious Performance Acting Program at TMU (Toronto Metropolitan University) with a minor in psychology.

SOWARIMA ISLAM - WESTERN TECHNICAL AND COMMERCIAL SCHOOL

Sowarima excels in the academic field and was chosen by her peers to be the valedictorian. Her extra-curricular interests range from basketball, volleyball, frisbee and weight lifting to WISE Program (Women in Science and Engineering),YRA (Youth Rising Above) and Be You Women’s Programs.

On her application, Sowarima began her personal statement with this quote from Ghandi. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” She lives this quote through her volunteering at the UHN cancer centers, local church dinners, the ROM, the Danforth Community Fundraiser and the children’s art program- to name a few. All this, on top of many home commitments.

Her goals are to enter Nursing Science and apply to the Canadian Armed Forces, in order to become a female inspiration in a male dominated field.

ASHANTAE SMITH - YORK MEMORIAL COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE

Ashantae has participated in an extensive list of extracurricular activities including Black History Club, as Co president the East Asian Student Association, York Memorial Dance team, the varsity and co-ed volleyball teams, flag football and varsity track and field. While being involved in all these extracurricular activities, Ashantae has been able to maintain honor roll status for the past four years. She also participated in the Waterloo Math Competition.

Ashantae gives back to her community. She volunteers by spending countless hours at the Chris Tonks Arena helping at-risk youths learn to skate and play hockey. She has also participated in a community event called Unity and was hosted on Breakfast Television by Kym Niles and Stephanie Henry. Ashantae welcomed this opportunity to build a bridge from the community to York Memorial.

Ashantae will be beginning her university education in life sciences as she continues to give back to her community.