Ottawa Catholic School Launches Inaugural Be Community Award
The OCSB, Be Community Award, is granted to deserving graduating high school students who have shown perseverance, dedication to their academic achievement, community and parish involvement, and positively impacted the lives of their fellow students, school community and beyond with their kindness and generosity.
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This award recognizes graduating students from all 15 Ottawa Catholic High Schools with a certificate of recognition and a $100 prize for outstanding community service. Then one student is chosen as the official OCSB Be Community Award recipient. They receive a $1,000 bursary certificate, plus an additional $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice.
Board-wide Recipient
This year’s first-ever recipient is St. Francis Xavier High School graduating student Elizabeth Benhin. She became the initial OCSB “Be Community Award” winner.
Who is Elizabeth?
Elizabeth is a leader in definition and deed. She demonstrated incredible school leadership by helping others who were struggling academically by being a Peer Helper. She also volunteers within her Parish community as a Sunday School Teacher. Through her community work linked to the curriculum in her Grade 12 Religion class, Elizabeth assisted with the organization of “Care Kits” for vulnerable women in Ottawa. This was a class initiative facilitated by her teacher Maria Oliviero. Elizabeth, and her clas, collected almost 10,000 individual items, creating over 260 Care Kits delivered to various women’s organizations in Ottawa. In addition, she has raised over $1,000 in monetary donations.
Elizabeth’s Chosen Charity
Elizabeth chose to recognize Bethany Hope Centre. The centre is committed to improving the well-being of young pregnant women and their families. Bethany Hope Centre provides resources ranging from employment programming to parental support and health programs.
Congratulations Elizabeth! The best is yet to come.
