May 27, 2009 Eight exemplary Alberta students receive citizenship award Calgary... In recognition of their dedication and passion to community and education, eight Albertans have been awarded the 2008 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal. The medal recipients are: Sean Barron Piper Bernbaum Matthew Conley Katrina Genuis Liisa Kleemola Tommy Lieu Nikolas Sereditch Jane Wu “On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, I am honoured to recognize these outstanding young Albertans for their contributions to our province,” said Lieutenant Governor Norman Kwong. “They are all model citizens who have set a high standard for others to strive for.” Each of the recipients graduated from high school in 2008, and are honoured for their outstanding contribution to their community through good citizenship, leadership, community service and volunteerism. Medal recipients were selected from a group of more than 160 winners of the Premier’s Citizenship Award. Every Alberta high school may nominate one student each year to receive the Premier’s Award. Each recipient receives a medal as well as $5,000 for their personal development and general education. “The future of our province and country will be in the hands of men and women like this year’s recipients,” said Lindsay Blackett, Minister of Culture and Community Spirit. “Each recipient has made their families, teachers, mentors and friends proud, and I want to congratulate each one of them for their accomplishment.” The Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal is part of a recognition program created in 2002 to honour the 50th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. The Premier’s Citizenship Award and the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal are administered by Culture and Community Spirit and Advanced Education and Technology. A joint selection committee chooses the medal recipients. For more information, call the Alberta Scholarship Program Office at 780-427-8640 (dial 310-0000 for toll-free access within Alberta) or visit www.culture.alberta.ca/humanrights and click on Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal. -30- Backgrounder: Biographies of medal recipients Media inquiries may be directed to: Shawna Cass Communications Culture and Community Spirit 780-427-6530 To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. May 27, 2009 Recipients of 2008 Queen’s Golden Jubilee Citizenship Medal Sean Barron (William Aberhart High School, Calgary) - Due to his outstanding leadership, Sean won top leadership awards three years in a row, along with awards for academic excellence and community involvement. He finished fourth at the World School Debating Championship, and won silver at the Northern American Debate Championship. Sean was captain and executive member of the Model UN team, youth representative on the Canadian Unitarian Council board of trustees and a member of the Canadian Adult Youth advisory committee for youth programming. He founded and organized the school’s Social Action Committee and was a lead organizer of his school’s Terry Fox Run. Piper Bernbaum (Western Canada High School, Calgary) - From the students’ union to the Alumni Association, Piper was very involved in school activities, and was respected and admired by both peers and adults alike. She was the creative director of the Amnesty International Club; spirit co-director of Pie-The-Teachers where she helped to raise money for student support in Calgary; and a student ambassador for the Kids Help Phone. She was also the director of a partnership program for parenting and pregnant teens, volunteered with the Food Bank, was a volunteer coordinator for Celebrate Western and coordinated her school’s Terry Fox Run. Matthew Conley (Lethbridge Collegiate Institute, Lethbridge) - Matthew was an exemplary role model at school and in the community. He participated in numerous events that helped to assist students in school and people in the community, throughout the country and worldwide. He was the driving force in having a Peace Pole permanently raised at the school. Matthew volunteered with Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp, created a website for Lethbridge Meals on Wheels and tutored elementary students at a local French immersion school. His public speech on Make a Sensation for Education inspired 173 students to become advocates for education in Alberta. In addition to numerous other school committees, he was chair of the World Vision 30-Hour Famine. Katrina Genuis (Old Scona Academic High School, Edmonton) - Katrina worked tirelessly to make her school and community a better place. She was a respected member of the school Speech and Debate Club where she mentored other students to develop fundamental communication skills. A debater herself, she won the 2007 National Speech Championship, gold medal in the Interpretative Reading Category and was invited to take part in the World Speech Competition in South Africa. As a youth ambassador for Canada, Katrina was selected as one of only three high school students from across Canada to attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Indonesia. She served as president of the Students’ Union and co-founded a youth-created charitable organization to raise funds for Darfur. Outside of school, she volunteered with numerous organizations such as the Robin Hood Association for the Handicapped and the Northern Alberta Brain Injury Society. Liisa Kleemola (Fort McMurray Composite High School, Fort McMurray) - Through her involvement with her school’s student council, as president of Students Against Drinking and Driving, and as a member of Students Helping Around the Globe, Communities in Bloom and the Wood Buffalo Safe Community Program, Liisa has made a lasting impact on her school. She was accepted into the Student Exchange Program where she represented her school in She was accepted into the Student Exchange Program where she represented her school in Germany. Liisa was a member of jazz band, choir and a representative for the Parent Advisory Committee. Outside of school, Liisa volunteered with the local hospital, was an active member of Student Advisory Team, Youth Connections and was very involved in the Stepping Stones Youth Home Initiative to help at-risk youth. She also was an advocate on behalf of students concerned about racism. Tommy Lieu (James Fowler Senior High School, Calgary) - Tommy was a recognized leader in both his school and the community. He served as vice president of the Students’ Council and was an outstanding member of the Volunteer Club at school. Tommy was involved in Student Leaders Acting Against Poverty, volunteered at Spruce Lodge Seniors Center, Calgary Interfaith Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Heritage Park After Dark and Global Youth Service Day. He was instrumental in environment clubs, the science fair club and the graduation and yearbook committees. He directed the multicultural club, was a member of Model United Nations and helped raise money for Masi Mari in Kenya. Nikolas Sereditch (Archbishop MacDonald High School, Edmonton) - Demonstrating the qualities of a model citizen, Nikolas was the founder and president of the Getting Involved! Program which provides youth volunteer opportunities to junior and high schools across Edmonton. He was an executive member of Speaker’s Forum, International Baccalaureate Student Coordinator, peer tutor and the lead alto saxophone player in the school jazz band. Nikolas was involved in the Hope Mission Project with the City of Edmonton Youth Council, Executive Committee and General Assembly. He is an executive member of Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, a member of the Youth Advisory Council for the Breast Cancer Foundation and a youth director and co-founder of the Ukrainian Canadian Association Nova Hvylia. Jane Wu (J.G. Diefenbaker High School, Calgary) - Committed to the betterment of the community and school, Jane was the founding director of the Beauty and Brains Conference. She co-chaired the Mayor’s Youth Council, chaired the Calgary Youth Foundation, was the lead on a Youth Driver Safety Project and was on the steering committee of the John G. Diefenbaker High School Youth Volunteer Corps in Schools club. She volunteered with the United Way Youth Traxx Committee, Junior Achievement and was a student representative on the Calgary Chinese Painting Association Board of Directors. At school she participated in the Speech Club, worked as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, played on the girls’ field hockey team and tutored math. -30- Media inquiries may be directed to: Shawna Cass Communications Culture and Community Spirit 780-427-6530 To call toll free within Alberta dial 310-0000. Alberta Government | Newsroom | Ministries Listing | Culture and Community Spirit Home Page | News Releases | Top of Page | Send us your comments or questions Copyright(©) 2009 Government of Alberta .