While they said the decision was a tough one, Prince George City Council narrowed it down to four outstanding people from the community to receive Youth of the Year Awards.
The awards are given to high achievers between the ages of 13 and 18 who are attending school in the city and have demonstrated a high level of school involvement and significant contributions in the community through volunteering.
At their meeting this evening (Monday), Mayor Lyn Hall and Councillor Murry Krause presented the awards to Qais Khan, Ashlee Hick, Sylvia Masich and Juri Sudo-Rustad.
Khan was admitted to a College Heights Leadership class a year early due to his outstanding record of volunteering at school functions. Soon after, he joined the Rotary Interact Program and made significant contribution to Smiles, a pediatric Pen Pal program and other Rotary initiatives.
Hick was recognized for her impressive list of volunteer achievements both in and out of school and is the valedictorian of her graduating class at College Heights Secondary. She was also asked to speak at We Day Vancouver about the Independent Anti-bullying and Positive Mental Health (ARK), which she co-founded at CHSS.
Masich has been a dedicated athlete, volunteer, and coach for the Prince George Track and Field Club for the past eight years, particularly committed to the Special Olympics. She has worked to have special Olympians included in the regular track and field training program. Because of her efforts, three Special Olympic athletes qualify for the high school track provincial championships.
At 17, Sudo-Rustad was the youngest person ever elected to the board of the Prince George Community Arts Council and is its first-ever youth advocate. She is an active advocate for youth and arts in the community and has won numerous awards for her own art. She is currently studying in Japan.
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