Seven young 91原创 residents showed they鈥檙e pretty sassy but in this case, that鈥檚 a good thing.

The went to the seven out of a worthy field.

The winner were Setare Maleki, Ye On Choi, Eli Hacker, William Taylor, Anneke Cairnie, Anoki Amaradasa, and Praveen Wickramaarachshi.

鈥淛udges, as with every year, were blown away with the quality of applicants we had,鈥� said Andria Popovici, who chaired the SASSY Award 91原创 and is a member of the Rotary Club of 91原创 Sunrise. 鈥淭he feedback we received from judges resembled the same regardless of who I asked: sheer awe. To see and hear what these youth have been up to over the past year or so in our communities is powerful and inspiring.鈥�

This year came with the added burden of COVID-19 but that didn鈥檛 stop these young people from helping others.

鈥淭o know that there are people in our community who don鈥檛 stop contributing no matter what life is throwing at them, is humbling and it fills our hearts with so much gratitude,鈥� she added.

Popovici said there was no doubt the SASSY Awards would take place this year, despite the pandemic.

鈥淲e knew it needed to happen and that these youth deserved the opportunity to be recognized,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always our honour to be able to facilitate this program, provide the acknowledgement and awards the way that we do. Last year we were weeks away from our interview day when the world went into lockdown and we shifted gears as fast as we possibly could to host the interview day via Zoom; so we already knew we could do it and this year we were more well-equipped to manage it with efficiency thanks to a powerhouse committee of dedicated people.鈥�

The awards are open to local youth ages 16 to 25. The winners got to decide on a charity that would receive a donation.

鈥淲e鈥檒l be sending off checks totalling $2,000,鈥� Popovici noted.

A donation of $1,000 will go to the 91原创 Youth Hub. There鈥檚 $500 for the Starfish program, and the Community Justice Institute will receive $500 for the local youth restorative action program.

鈥� The Sports award went to Anneke Cairnie, a Grade 12 student at Walnut Grove Secondary.

Last year she worked with Special Olympics. The 17-year-old received a grant and was able to host a basketball clinic for about 40 secondary school students

鈥淚t was really awesome to create that inclusive culture,鈥� she said.

鈥� The International Service award went to Ye On (Ellen) Choi.

The 19-year-old graduate of R.E. Mountain Secondary went to Turkey to help Syrian refugees two years ago and four years ago.

鈥淚t was such a valuable experience which made me want to go again,鈥� she said.

鈥� The Leadership through Adversity award was given to William Taylor, an 18-year-old R.E. Mountain Secondary.

鈥淪omething that鈥檚 really lit me up is my volunteering at the pool,鈥� he said.

At Walnut Grove Community Centre pool, he teaches children that they can have fun at the pool but also how to be safe around water.

鈥淚 love seeing their faces light up when we play,鈥� he said.

鈥� The SASSY Arts and Culture award went to Walnut Grove Secondary student Praveen Wichramaarchshi, a 17-year-old who takes part in many arts-related extracurricular activities.

While he plans to purse an engineering degree, he hopes to maintain his hobbies including music and tutoring.

鈥淚t鈥檚 something that has helped me to keep myself sane,鈥� he chuckled.

鈥� The Youth Leadership award winner was Setare Maleki. The 18-year-old is an R.E. Mountain Secondary International Baccalaureate program who founded two mentorship programs.

鈥淥ne is related to innovation for a little bit older kids,鈥� she said. 鈥淥ne is related to social justice for like teaching anti-racism to younger kids.鈥�

鈥� The Environmental Leadership honours went to Eli Hacker.

The Grade 11 student in Walnut Grove Secondary had the opportunity to create a bilingual environment and climate based education curriculum for youth.

鈥淲hat got me really excited was I was able to collaborate with community stakeholders at Trinity Western University, with LEPS, with Simon Fraser and with my school,鈥� he said.

In addition the project features a leadership component for students so they can take action on what鈥檚 important to them.

He鈥檚 looking to a career in government so he can help people.

鈥� Winning the Community Service award was Anoki Amaradasa

The 17-year-old Murrayville resident goes to R.E. Mountain Secondary who is in the International Baccalaureate program.

She volunteers at 91原创 Memorial Hospital.

鈥淓very Saturday we run a tea part for the residents at the long-term care halls there,鈥� she said.

She plans to become a pediatrician.

The awards are sponsored by various groups and businesses in the community, including Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

鈥淭hank you for your commitment and dedication to your local community and our global family. The good work you do is inspiring an impactful,鈥� said Kwantlen Polytechnic University president Alan Davis.

The Rotary clubs work with the 91原创 School District and others to determine the SASSY Award winners.

鈥淥ur kids that have still despite the circumstances, role modelling, leaders still in terms of helping families. I鈥檝e seen so many youth step up around anti-racism. You know they鈥檙e leading the way,鈥� Gordon Stewart, 91原创 School District superintendent.

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