The 2011 Orleans Online Outstanding Youth Awards recipients

Rebecca Xu, 16

Rebecca Xu is an IB student at Colonel By Secondary School where she is currently maintaining a 95 per cent average. She is a member of the Cougars senior jazz band and plays both the flute and piano. This past year she completed her Grade 10 RCM exam and is currently working on her ARCT. Rebecca is a member of the school debating club and the Cougars Care Club and she is also a Colonel By Student Ambassador. She is on the band council and has volunteered for the school food hamper program. She is also on the organizing committee for the school’s Relay for Life event. During the past four years, Rebecca has volunteered more than 500 hours of community service. She has received a number of awards and accolades including the Duke of Edinburgh bronze and silver awards and first place honours at the Kiwanis Music Festival. Rebecca is also an avid swimmer and a member of her school's field hockey team. For demonstrating a high proficiency in academics and music, while finding time to give back to her community, Rebecca Xu has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Justin Blake, 18

Justin Blake has been volunteering since he was able to walk. When he was five he helped his parents set up the kids games at the Canada Day event. When he got a little older he started organizing the games in the "kid zone" and the Family Olympics. He did this until he was 12. He started volunteering at the Sandy Hill Community centre at 13. So great is his dedication and commitment to helping others that at age 14, he started organizing fundraising events and generating awareness about the humanitarian disaster in Darfur. He has since put in countless hours researching, following stories and pursuing different avenues in an effort to shine a light on the plight of the people of Darfur. His determination and dedication resulted in the establishment of he "Do More Canada" organization which is a student-run initiative with the sole purpose of raising human rights awareness through artistic and community events. It is difficult to measure one’s time when they give it so willingly, unselfishly and without any expectations. Justin is not only an excellent role model for young people he can teach us adults a thing or too as well. It is for this reason and his unwavering dedication to human rights that Justin has been named as a recipient of this year's Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Kellie Ring, 17

Kellie Ring is an exceptional student athlete at École secondaire Louis-Riel. Having never spoken French at home, Kellie faced a difficult challenge at Louis-Riel despite the fact that she took French immersion in the English school system. To say the least, Kellie took on the challenge the same way she has approached the sport of basketball – with determination, hard work and perseverance. What she has accomplished in the classroom and on the basketball court at Louis-Riel has been nothing short of amazing. During the past four years she emerged as a true leader earning the respect of her teammates who made her team captain on both the school basketball team and the girls hockey team. As team captain, Kellie led the Rebelles to two consecutive provincial championships in basketball and a trip to the OFSAA provincial championships in hockey. She has also immersed herself in school life having taking on a lead position on the school graduation committee. Kellie also recently led the Ottawa Nationals to the Ontario Junior Girls Championship and she was a member of the national U17 and U8 teams last summer. Despite the demands of competition, Kellie managed to find time to volunteer at the Canadian Wheelchair Rugby Championships and the Gloucester Emergency Food Cupboard, while maintaining an 85 per cent average at school. For her success both on the basketball court and in the classroom, Kellie Ring has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

David Nsabua , 17

David Nsabua is one of the top up and coming horizontal jumpers in the country. Last summer he finished first in his specialty the triple jump at the National Youth Track and Field Championships in Ottawa and he recently won two gold medals in the long jump and triple jump at the OFSAA provincial championships in Sudbury. David’s accomplishments in track and field has attracted the attention of several universities south of the border including the University of Virginia and Rutgers University. David is also an exceptional defensive back having earned first team all-Canadian status playing for the province of Ontario at the last two Canada Cups. But as much as David loves breaking up passes and intercepting the football, track and field remains his first love. When he's not competing, David can be found passing on his knowledge of the sport to younger athletes as a student coach at Louis-Riel high school. Despite the demands of training, David has been able to maintain a 73 per cent average in Grade 12. For his outstanding accomplishments in track and field and his willingness to pass along his knowledge and passion of the sport to others, David Nsabua has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Outstanding Youth Awards..

Melissa Wong, 18

Melissa Wong is a model student at St. Peter High School where last year she achieved an average of 89 per cent. She is a member of the Arts Anonymous Club which creates artwork for the school, as well as the Arts Council which helps raise money for the arts program and other activities. Away from school, Melissa has been studying both Madarin and Catonese while taking piano lessons every Saturday. She has completed her Level 8 piano and Grade 2 Musical Theory exams. Melissa is also very passionate about saving our planet. She joined the Eco-Green Team in Grade 9 and participated in activities to help raise awareness about the environment. She is also a very talented artist. Seven of her pen and ink drawings were selected for MP Royal Galipeau’s 2010 Calendar and her drawings and ideas have made it onto high school t-shirts, the St. Peter High School agenda, posters, panels, school props, and much more. Melissa continues to show great passion for the visual arts and has become a leader among her peers. For exemplifying the definition of a well-rounded student, Melissa Wong has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Jacob Séguin, 14

Jacob Seguin is a student at École secondaire publique Giséle Lalonde where he is about to graduate with an 81 per cent average in Grade 9. He is also a member of the Orleans Bengals peewee football team which won the NCAFA A-Cup championship last fall. Off the field, Jacob is a peer mentor for the “Be A Bengal Not A Bully” program which teaches players to avoid bullying. The program was built on Jacob’s own personal experience with bullying and his journey from victim to advocate. The program has been funded through the Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health. Jacob was involved in writing the proposal, developing a budget and putting together the final reports. This past winter Jacob was nominated for a 2011 Inspiration Award offered through the Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health for his efforts to promote bullying awareness. Although Jacob did not win this year, at 14, he was one of the youngest nominees ever put forward for the award. For his commitment and dedication to stamping out bullying and for his willingness to use his own experience to help others, Jacob Séguin has been selected as recipient of this year's Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Chloé Houlton, 17

Chloé Houlton is a Grade 12 student at École secondaire publique Louis-Riel where she will be graduating this month with Honours. She is a model student and an outstanding role model for her peers. She strives to do her best, and brings the best out in others. Earlier this month, she helped her team gain re-instatement in the OFSAA provincial soccer championships by testifying at a court hearing in which an injunction was granted allowing the the team to play. After travelling all night to Hamilton, the Rebelles went undefeated during the tournament and earned the school’s second provincial championship in the past three years. Chloé is also a member of her school’s grad dance committee and helps organize school pep rallies, field trips and various noon hour activities. She also volunteers for a number of activities including the Blackburn Hamlet pre-school summer camp and Home Sweet Home Confections which organizes activities around the holidays for families in financial hardship. Last but not least, she helped organize the “True Sport Community Give-Back Challenge” which took place last autumn in Blackburn Hamlet. For her tremendous leadership qualities and for her willingness to support her peers, Chloé Houlton has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Louisa Cardenas, 17

Louisa Cardenas is an Honour Roll student at St. Peter High School having maintained an average above 85 per cent. She’s managed to do this while being a member of the senior girls basketball team, the varsity girls touch football team and the co-ed ultimate frisbee team. She is also a member of the student council, the SPK TV production crew, and a student mentor. She helped organize the open house and Back to School BBQ in September; participated in the school’s Christmas food hamper program and Canley Cup food drive; and took an active role in organizing school pep rallies. Away from St. Pete’s, Louisa has volunteered at the Portobello Manor seniors residence where she can often be found entertaining the residents on the piano or organizing events in the recreation room.She was a volunteer reporter for Roger’s High School Sports Zone and has served as a referee in the D.A.D.S. over 40 basketball league. If all that wasn’t enough, she was also the top scorer on Cumberland Cobras U18 soccer team and team captain of the Hoopstars All-Star girls basketball team. For exemplifying the definition of a well-rounded student, Louisa Cardenas has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards..

Rosey Li, 16

Rosey Li is a student in the demanding Internatioanl Baccalaureate program at Colonel By Secondary School where she has managed to maintain an average of 90.5%. During the past eight months, Rosey has been able to balance her studies with a busy schedule outside of the classroom. She was elected student council vice-president and took on the additional responsibility of Spirit Coordinator. She is also the co-leader of Colonel By’s environmental club and the school Dance Club which she founded. Outside of Colonel By, Rosey is involved as a youth host at the Catholic Immigration Center and tutors two high school students in math and many other subjects. Rosey also organized a fashion show for her class last year in Saturday school for their annual Chinese New Year festival and she is a member of the Cumbrae School of Dance where she studies ballet, hip hop, jazz, lyrical, and theatre dance classes. Last but by no means least, she is also an amazing artist having won several juried awards. For her various endeavours, Rosey Li has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Cameron MacNeill, 16

Cameron MacNeil is currently enrolled in Grade 10 at Gloucester High School. While playing for the Orleans Bengals Football Club in the fall of 2009, he suffered an injury that led doctors to discover a medical condition that forced him to quite the sport he loves so much. Rather than dwell on the incredible disappointment he initially felt, Cameron decided to stay involved with the sport and contribute in any way he could. As such, he volunteered to help coach the Bengals tyke team last fall gaining a tremendous amount of admiration and respect from the players, parents and fellow coaches. He enjoyed the experience so much, that he plans to return to the sidelines next fall. For turning a negative into a positive and using the opportunity to help others, Cameron MacNeil has been selected as a recipient of one of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards..

Petra Hohenstein, 15

Petra Hohenstein is a 15-year-old Grade 9 student at St. Peter High School where she achieved an 86 per cent average in her first semester. Besides her regular schooling, Petra also attends language school every Saturday. She received her Grade 8 diploma in German two years ago and is currently studying Japanese. Petra’s other passion is performing arts. She has performed in more than half a dozen plays as a member of the Orléans Young Players Theatre School including OYP’s Christmas play and the school’s recent “On Radio” production. She is also a talented artist having drawn the cover for the “On Radio” program. Petra has volunteered her time at the Japanese Embassy’s annual Spring Festival in Major’s Hill Park, the Canadian Ski Marathon and the Haunted Trail at Proulx Farm. Last but not least, Petra is also a Chief Scout with the 4th Orléans Venture Company which performs a number of community activities throughout the year. For balancing academics with her passion for the theatre, Petra Hohenstein has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards..

Jesse Munro, 18

Jesse Munro is one of those unique individuals who is able to balance academics with athletics at an extremely high level. An Honour Roll student at Colonel By Secondary School, Jesse is also a national and world champion in his chosen sport of karate. A member of the Elite Martial Arts and Fitness School, Jesse can often be found passing on his knowledge and passion for the sport to younger members. In 2010, he earned his Black Belt which allows him to work as an instructor at the dojo. During his gruelling six day training schedule, he includes time to teach all ages and belt levels. Jesse is an amazing leader and a role model for many of the young children in the dojo. He is always encouraging them to strive to do their best and to never give up. For his tremendous dedication to his sport, and his amazing ability to balance his training with school work, Jesse Munro has been selected as a recipient for the year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

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Emma Bohn , 13

Last year, Emma Bohn accomplished something very few people have ever accomplished before her – she won two national dance titles in the same year, doing so at the tender age of 12. She became only the second Canadian to win a Junior Dancer of the Year title at the American Dance Awards National Championships in Florida and the first person to ever hold an ADA National title and a Candance National title simultaneously. Emma has been a member of Leeming Danceworks for nearly eight years. Although she is the youngest dancer in her group, she is an excellent role model for the other students. Emma may be small in stature but she has a personality that can fill a stage and gets her noticed by even the people sitting in the back rows of the theatre. Emma is also committed to inspiring the younger dancers at the studio, a role she takes very seriously. She is always backstage to encourage her peers before they go on stage and she began assisting this year in anticipation of eventually teaching the next generation of dancers as a young instructor and choreographer. As it turns out Emma is also an outstanding student having earned a 90 per cent average in Grade 7 at St. Peter High School. For her tireless dedication to her craft and the tremendous success she has achieved thus far, Emma Bohn has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Outstanding Youth Awards..

David Currie , 16

David Currie is a student-athlete at École secondaire Gisele Lalonde where he has maintained an 80 per cent average while participating in both jiu-jitsu and football at a high level. David has been training in martial arts for more than seven years. He currently holds a blue belt and has won several gold and silver medals at various regional tournaments. David is also a member of the Orleans Bengals Football Club and has been selected to the league all-star team on two separate occasions. During the past two summers David has also been a member of the Cumberland Panther’s elite OVFL squad and was named to the OVFL All-Star team as a defensive back in 2009. As a result of his abilities on the football field, David has participated in several football camps south of the border, including the elite Nike Football Training Camp. David is an intelligent, personable and committed young man who has shown a maturity level beyond his years. For maintaining a high academic standing while competing in both jiu-jitsu and football, David Currie has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

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Rebecca Modler, 15

Rebecca Modler is a Grade 10 Honour Roll student at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School with an average above 90 per cent. She has been able to accomplish her academic standing while pursuing her passion for a variety of sports including skiing, badminton and soccer. She is a member of the school’s junior badminton team and plays soccer with the Cumberland United Soccer Club. She is also plays alto sax in the Sir Wil concert band. In addition to her musical and sporting pursuits, Rebecca regularly volunteers her time in a variety of different capacities. For the past four years, she has assisted with the “Out of the Cold” supper program at Southminster United Church and she has referred soccer games up to the U15 level. Rebecca also volunteered for three weeks as a leader-in-training at Capital Camps, teaching tennis and other sports. A life-long Girl Guide, Rebecca volunteered with the Lost Children’s Services at Winterlude last year and helped bake more than 2,000 cookies and squares for the Union Mission at Christmas. ‘Outstanding’ is a word that epitomizes Rebecca, in all areas of her life. She is an ambitious and dedicated young lady who will succeed in all of her endeavours through a combination of passion and perseverance. It is for those reasons that Rebecca Modler has been selected as a recipient on this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards..

Zach St. Pierre, 15

Zach St. Pierre’s community service and volunteer efforts revolve mostly around sports and baseball in particular. He has volunteered with Orleans Little League for the past five years, assisting with registration events and serving as the uniform coordinator. This past year he volunteered his time to help out during the league's pre-season evaluation process. During the past two years he has volunteered at the Bell Capital Cup hockey tournament which takes place over the holiday season and he helped coach the Grade 7-8 Gaelic Football team at St. Peter High School. If all that wasn’t enough, Zach also volunteered with the University of Ottawa women’s softball team and was recently selected as a leader for the 2011 Evolve Leadership Camp. He is also a starting pitcher with the Orleans Red Sox Junior Little League team which made it to the finals of the Canadian Little League championships last year before losing in the final in extra innings. For his accomplishments on the baseball diamond and his selfless volunteerism, Zach St. Pierre has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Erinn Carroll, 12

Erinn Carroll is an Honour Roll student at Lester B. Pearson Catholic High School where she ranked second out of the seven Grade 7 classes. Her leadership skills and willingness to help her fellow students has earned a place in the school's peer mentoring program. Erinn has just entered her 10th year of dance and fifth year on the competitive dance team at the Canadian Dance Factory. She dances approximately 15 hours per week in ballet, acro, jazz, tap, hip-hop and musical theatre. She has won over 20 awards in the past three years including Outstanding Achievement in Ballet and an award for the Highest Overall Novice Soloist aged 11-12 at competition. Even with her busy schedule she has managed to take piano lessons for the past four years. She also spends a great deal of time helping her mother with her younger sister, making her mother's life a little simpler. For achieving a high academic standing while pursuing her passion for dance, Erinn Carroll has been selected as a recipient of this year's Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Ryan MacPherson, 15

Ryan MacPherson is a Grade 9 student at Cairine Wilson Secondary School and a member of the Orleans Bengals Football Club. Over the past winter, Ryan has participated in the Bengals “Dare to Dream” program acting as a peer mentor. In this capacity, he works with the coaches providing an environment of exercise and learning for those children who might not otherwise have an opportunity to be involved with team sports. Besides being a mentor to younger players, Ryan is also pursuing his own dream to earn a football scholarship south of the border. He has participated in several football camps in the U.S. and has attracted some early attention from a number of recruiters. When he's not busy honing his own skills, Ryan can often be found helping out with the Bengals' peewee and tyke teams. He has also been active in the community as a member of 14th Gloucester Scouts, volunteering at the Food Bank and working with community awareness in their annual Apple Day fundraisers. For his tireless efforts in promoting youth initiatives in Orléans, Dylan Armstrong has been selected as a recipient of one of this year’s Outstanding Youth Awards. For his tireless dedication to his sport and his willingness to pass along his knowledge and passion to others, Ryan MacPherson has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Emily Leahy, 16

Emily Leahy has greatly contributed to the success of a number of school projects at École secondaire publique Gisèle-Lalonde where she is currently in Grade 10. She can best be described as a young girl who displays initiative, leadership, maturity, autonomy and a creative spirit. She is always well-informed on current international affairs and her opinions are clear and to the point. She is head of the school’s Club Enviro and an active member of Projet Karyne. Emily has also distinguished herself as a member of the UN debating society. She took part in an international debate organized by McGill University this past year and was awarded a prestigious participation prize as an exceptional delegate. Moreover, she has a keen interest for all issues related to social causes and sustainable develop.m.ent. For balancing school, home, work, and volunteering with remarkable aplomb, Emily Leahy has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Michael Gorley, 12

Michael Gorley is a Grade 6 student at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School in Fallingbrook where he is a natural leader among his peers. He takes on his school work with enthusiasm and can often be found helping his classmates with their lessons. Outside of the school, Michael enjoys playing the piano, and can often be found on the basketball court where he is both a player and an assistant-in-training volunteer coach with the Queenswood Heights Basketball Association. He is a volunteer helper at the Orleans United Church summer camp "Camp Awesome" and is a member of the 8th Orleans Scout Troop. If all that wasn't enough, Michael recently took on a project to raise money for Ryan’s Well, an organization that builds wells in Africa.He organized his own speaking engagements with potential donors, and opened and managed a special bank account. In no time at all he reached his goal. Rather than rest on his laurels, Michael has decided to pursue a new goal... to raise $25,000 to purchase the equip.m.ent necessary to dig the much needed wells in Africa. For epitomizing the definition of a well-rounded individual and for his dedication in raising money and awareness for Ryan's Well, Michael Gorley has been selected as a recipient of this year's Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Rachelle Beanlands, 18

Rachelle Beanlands is the epitome of a student athlete. First, consider the fact that she is one of the top goalkeepers in the country, having represented Canada at the U17 World Cup in Trinidad and Tobago last September. In December, she was invited to participate in the U20 Women’s National Team camp in Sao Paolo, Brazil after backstopping the U17 Ottawa Fury to a gold medal at the USL North American Soccer Championships in Florida. Earlier this year, she was named Soccer Player of the Year at the Ottawa Sports Awards and she would be here tonight if not for the fact that she is with the National Women’s Team in Rome. All of which is rather impressive, but it is even more so when you consider the fact that she is also enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program at Colonel By Secondary School where she has been able to maintain a 90 per cent average despite the demands of soccer. Not surprisingly, her success both on the soccer pitch and in the classroom has attracted the attention of a number of universities on both sides of the border including the University of Maryland where she will be studying physiology and neurobiology next year, while on an athletic scholarship. For exemplifying the definition of a student athlete, Rachel Beanlands has been selected as a recipient of one of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

James Steenbergen , 17

James Steenbergen is a model cadet and a model citizen. When James was 14 he volunteered to assist the Cadet Corps team in serving breakfast at the Royal Canadian Legion in Orléans. By all accounts he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and ended up volunteering for the next 19 Saturdays in a row. This past September, James approached the commanding officer of the 3018 Army Cadet Corps and asked if he could coordinate the breakfast program. It was major commitment both in terms of time and responsibility and he was able to pull it off with flying colours. This is not the only volunteer work James did in the past year. He participated in a number of community service initiatives in Orléans, totalling more than 150 hours. During all of this, James also competed on the Cadet Corps’ Marksmanship team. Since joining the Cadets, James’ grades at have improved dramatically. For going above and beyond the call of duty and for his commitment to both the Cadet program and the community at large, James Steenbergen has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.

Emma Portner, 15

Emma Portner is a gifted dancer and award-winning choreographer at Leeming Danceworks in Orléans. Whether in class, at a convention or on stage, she lights up when she is dancing and you can't help but notice her, even in a large crowd. In this past year she has won scholarships at both the JUMP and Coastal Dance Rage conventions. She also performed and choreographed the highest scoring adjudicated routine this past spring at the Candance, Dance Canada and American Dance Awards competitions and ranked among the top five choreographers at the national finals of both the American Dance Awards and Candance last summer, all outstanding accomplishments. However, Emma's achievements are not only determined by her awards. It is her unwillingness to settle or plateau that most inspires her mentor and Leeming Danceworks owner Sharon Leeming. Emma understands that to keep growing you need to take chances, feel vulnerable and challenge yourself, a lesson that is often never fully realized by many dancers She is unique and her movement is honest and truly comes from within. This year, she started teaching and doing her own choreography and her creativity is astounding. She experiments with movement and is constantly pushing herself to move beyond her boundaries. Emma is artistic in every sense of the word, she writes a blog that is read by more than 12,000 people, loves to draw and has recently taken up photography. Emma is truly an arts ambassador within the Ottawa community. In 2009, she helped establish a monthly improv night at our studio, a safe place that encourages musical appreciation and the exploration of movement. She has also been integral to the develop.m.ent of a choreography class and mentorship program for students hoping to pursue a career in teaching, performance or choreography. Emma is a true advocate for the arts community, attending and teaching classes throughout the city and never failing to give it her all and inspire those around her through her unique movement, intricate choreography, dance photography or motivating personality. For her tireless dedication to her craft and for constantly challenging her own artistic boundaries, Emma Portner has been selected as a recipient of this year’s Orléans Outstanding Youth Awards.