Five up-and-coming top south Etobicoke students have been awarded scholarships to continue their studies next semester.
The students were selected as 2020 Penny Bethke Scholarship recipients, which is part of the of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) Diversity Scholarship Program that was founded in 2004. Some 30 students are selected for scholarships providing they live in CHFT member co-ops.
Congratulations to the five high-achieving students from the Lakeshore community.
Madhumitha Ramamurthy, (in photo) of Mimico Co-operative Homes, volunteered at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in the summers and at Lakeshore Lodge on weekends. At the hospital, she welcomed and directed visitors. At Lakeshore Lodge, she planned and assisted in recreation activities in arts and music for the residents. She is starting a second year of a life sciences program at the University of Toronto this fall.
Alia Omar-Bujak is graduating from Richview Collegiate Institute. She is a First Aider with MedVents Canada and a youth leader and mentor at her church, who has helped with a teen drop-in night. She plans to attend the University of Toronto to study paramedicine.
Raquelle Johnson is graduating from Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, where helped with fundraisers and events at the school’s Antilleans Culture Club. She was a Healthy Schools representative at Wexford, promoting good nutrition. She will be starting a forensic science program at the University of Toronto.
Makeda Kafele-Green is graduating this year from Oakwood Collegiate Institute. She has been active at Oakwood as an Ambassador. As a member of Afro-Can, she started the Black Youth Book Club, aiming to break stereotypes about black students and literacy. She will attend Wilfrid Laurier University to study Community Music.
Taylor Seichter is graduating this year from Winston Churchill Collegiate Institute, where she has been involved in a range of social justice activities. She has provided 400-hours of service over two years to Rosalie Hall, an agency that assists young parents and children. She will enter Centennial College this fall to study child and youth care.
The scholarships are for students who are graduating from high school, or are currently enrolled in a post-secondary program or are returning to school after a break to complete an undergraduate program. It has awarded over 380 scholarships equalling more than $2 million to students in nine areas of Canada.
The scholarships are $5,000 distributed over four years.
Alterna Savings, in partnership CHFT, has awarded five Penny Bethke Scholarships to young community leaders who help strengthen cooperatives and their communities.