Rotary Annual Great Student Awards 2026
Recipient Bios
Abigail Harris - F.J. McElligott Secondary School
Abby exemplifies the Service Above Self award with her many commitments both inside and outside the school. Abby is a dedicated member of both Student Council and the Wellness Crew. Through these clubs, she shows leadership and a deep care about her fellow students. She dedicates a lot of personal time to better the school community.
In class, Abby is always willing to collaborate with any students, whether it is a classmate who needs support or someone she has never worked with before. She consistently assists with class discussion and is always willing to jump in and help. Abby treats all students with kindness and respect and brings her positive attitude to any task she completes.
Outside of school, Abby enjoys helping her community through the volunteer led organization, Calvin Connects. This initiative focuses on bringing the community of Calvin together through fun events, such as game nights. At these events, Abby helps with setting up, selling snacks and cleaning up. Abby is a student who cares deeply about helping her community, both in and outside of school.
Adelle Moon - École secondaire catholique Élisabeth-Bruyère
Adelle Moon, a Grade 12 student at École secondaire catholique Élisabeth-Bruyère, consistently demonstrates excellence both academically and through her exceptional commitment to school and community life. She has maintained a high academic average throughout her secondary studies and has been recognized as an honour student each year. She is a dedicated and motivated learner who sets clear goals and applies effective strategies to achieve them.
This year, she served as Prime Minister of the Student Council and as a student representative for the Conseil scolaire Franco-Nord, roles through which she demonstrated outstanding leadership, collaboration, and autonomy. Her contributions to the cultural life of the school were recognized with the Cultural Leader Award, honouring her sustained involvement, teamwork, and leadership.
In addition, Adelle has completed over 130 volunteer hours and is consistently among the first to volunteer for school events such as fundraisers, open houses, and graduation activities. She also served as a student mentor at the Camp de construction identitaire for Grade 6 students, where she positively supported younger students in activities promoting faith, language, and culture.
Through her sustained involvement, leadership, and academic excellence, Adelle stands as a true role model of excellence for her peers.
Anne Parkin - West Ferris Secondary School
Anne is an exceptional student who excels academically in both the French Immersion and STEAM programs, and she is consistently regarded as a top academic achiever by her teachers and school community. However, Anne is not being recognized today for her academic accomplishments.
She is being honoured for her generous spirit, quiet leadership, and genuine commitment to others, qualities she shares humbly and without expectation of recognition. Anne has made a significant contribution to the Best Buddies Program at West Ferris Secondary School. This program pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities, promoting inclusion, friendship, and an anti‑bullying culture within the school community.
Anne is a dedicated and compassionate member of Best Buddies, demonstrating leadership through her actions rather than words. She readily uses her considerable talents and academic strengths to support and uplift others. Her kindness, humility, and willingness to help wherever needed make her an outstanding role model among her peers.
Blake Daigle - Laurentian Learning Center
Blake Daigle is a student who exhibits and embodies the characteristics of a student leader. Blake is a quiet and confident individual who is willing to take initiative to support the development of a school community and support his peers with understanding the significance of compassion and belonging. Blake has already surpassed the graduation component for volunteer hours by giving his time to partners out in the community as well as adding to his school community. Blake came to the Laurentian Learning Centre with an open heart and mind and a willingness to give back. Blake created community activities to include his classmates, made up of new people, many of whom, had never met. Blake lead the Remembrance Day commemoration activities, engaging many other students in art, music and displays. Blake adds passion and interest to his classes with enthusiasm and his natural ability to engage others. We are proud to recognize and celebrate Blake for his humble yet significant additions to the LLC community. Congratulations, Blake.
Corbin Reed - École secondaire publique Odyssée
Corbin has completed over 80 hours working at different jobs with the Dreamcoat theatre organization. Despite being a science and math guy, he worked tirelessly constructing the sets and doing stage dressing for the practices and representations. He helped clean up the stage and spaces used during practices and also kept an eye and helping younger actors during practices and rehearsals.
Emmie Johnston - Almaguin Highlands Secondary School
Emmie is a strong and positive leader within our school community who consistently demonstrates warmth, responsibility, and genuine care for others. She willingly gives her time to support school initiatives, including volunteering with the school yearbook, where she works behind the scenes to ensure all students are represented and celebrated.
Emmie also volunteers as a soccer coach, sharing her time and skills to support and encourage younger students. In addition, she volunteers during Grade 8 Parent Night, confidently giving tours to prospective students and families and serving as a welcoming and knowledgeable ambassador for our school. Her involvement as a member of the A‑TEAM further highlights her commitment to leadership, school spirit, and service.
As a student in the Extended French program, Emmie demonstrates dedication and perseverance in her academic studies while remaining approachable and willing to assist her peers. She works collaboratively, supports others without seeking recognition, and leads quietly by example.
Emmie’s reliability, kindness, and consistent commitment to service reflect the true spirit of Service Above Self, making her a highly deserving candidate for this Rotary recognition.
Eve Beaudry - École secondaire catholique Algonquin
Eve Beaudry is a student who consistently puts others first. One of the most meaningful ways she demonstrates this is through her involvement with Special Olympics athletes. Eve approaches this work with patience, empathy, and genuine care. She takes the time to connect with each athlete, offering encouragement, respect, and support. Her presence creates a safe and positive environment where everyone feels valued and included.
Beyond this, Eve is the kind of person who naturally looks out for others. She notices who might need a kind word, a listening ear, or quiet encouragement. She asks how. people are doing—and truly listens to the answer. These small, thoughtful actions often go unnoticed, but they are powerful examples of service in its purest form.
Eve also participates in school activities and team settings, where she continues to demonstrate the same values. While she is involved in athletics, what stands out is not competition, but the way she supports her teammates and brings people together. She leads through calmness, understanding, and empathy, ensuring that everyone feels included and supported.
In leadership settings, Eve has shown courage and integrity. She has spoken in front of large audiences, not to draw attention to herself, but to represent and uplift others. She leads not with volume, but with sincerity.
What makes Eve especially deserving of this recognition is her humility. She gives without expecting recognition, helps without being asked, and serves simply because it is the right thing to do. As one of her teachers once said, “Every team needs someone like Eve—and honestly, the world needs more people like her.”
Eve may not yet realize how much of a difference she makes, but she is already a role model. She reminds us that true leadership is rooted in kindness, and that service does not need to be loud to be powerful.
Jacie Martel - Nbisiing Secondary School
Since joining our Nbisiing Redhawks Family in grade nine last year, she has repeatedly shown a strong dedication to herself, peers and her community. Jacie has led our school each and every morning with announcements in our Ojibwe language, plays on our Nbisiing Emiigaazwaad Hockey Team, as well as she is a part of the Nbisiing Redhawks Drum & Dance Team. Last year, she was also selected as our Head Youth Dancer for our Nipissing First Nation Annual Pow Wow. She is a strong role model who always encourages and takes the time to help and teach others about Nishnaabe Culture, and she is a valued team member by also welcoming female hockey players to join in the sport of hockey.
Jacob Bigras - École secondaire Nipissing Ouest
Jacob is a remarkable Grade 11 student whose quiet leadership and genuine compassion truly embody the spirit of the Above Self award. Thoughtful and caring, he consistently treats others with dignity and kindness, never speaking ill of anyone. He communicates with humour and ease, engaging daily with adults from both school boards, always with respect and sincerity.
As a friend, he is dependable and supportive; as a student, he approaches learning with responsibility and integrity. What sets him apart is the way he gives his time and energy to help others—whether offering encouragement to a peer, assisting someone who is struggling, or simply being present for those who need a caring voice.
His actions reflect a deep sense of empathy and community-mindedness. Although he does not seek recognition, his daily choices consistently demonstrate warmth, humility, and a commitment to making our school and community a better place.
Kloey Ayotte - École secondaire catholique Franco-Cité
Kloey is an extraordinary Grade 10 student whose kindness and generosity truly set her apart. She is endlessly patient, gentle in spirit, and deeply caring toward everyone around her. Always willing to help, Kloey consistently puts the needs of others before her own. As a devoted member of the student council, she spends countless hours organizing school activities and supporting her peers so that everyone can thrive. She never turns down an opportunity to help and does so with genuine humility and compassion.
Kloey does not seek recognition or praise; her motivation comes from a sincere desire to make her school and community kinder, more respectful places. She is a reliable and selfless student who dedicates much of her time to the well-being of others. Through fundraising initiatives and community outreach, she works tirelessly to support those in need. She played an important role in organizing and participating in the school food drive, Une canne, ça dépanne, offering meaningful support to community members facing hardship.
Over the past two years, Kloey has devoted countless hours to helping others and making a positive difference wherever she can. For all these reasons, we are honored to submit Kloey’s name for this award. Her compassion, dedication, and leadership have a lasting impact not only within our school, but throughout the community as well.
Mataya Cronier - Northern Secondary School
Mataya is a grade eleven student at Northern Secondary School who is compassionate, kind and always eager to help her peers. During group activities, she is a natural leader who encourages and inspires her group members to succeed. Mataya is passionate about music and shares this passion through the music club she initiated at Northern. She also volunteers at the Bluegrass Park in River Valley. Mataya is eco-conscious and advocates for making the world a better place. She loves to spend time outdoors in nature, where she enjoys foraging and bringing her cat for walks to the river.
Maverick Paul - Chippewa Secondary School
Maverick Paul is this year's Chippewa Secondary School recipient of the Service Above Self Award. Maverick has completed an incredible 384 volunteer hours. A longstanding volunteer with both the North Bay YMCA and the Gateway church, Maverick has served as a children's programmer and swim instructor with Neo Aquatics. He has also devoted time to dog walking with the North Bay Humane Society and as a coach and referee with youth soccer. At Chippewa, Maverick is a student who is respected by his peers and teachers alike for his kind and positive disposition. Maverick represents the best of what it means to be a Chippewa Raven.
Noah Green - St. Joseph-Scollard Hall
Noah Green is a valued member of the St. Joseph - Scollard Hall community who consistently demonstrates compassion, maturity, and integrity through his actions. He actively supports the LAC and Special Olympics programs, offering his time and energy selflessly to ensure others feel included, respected, and supported. Noah shows genuine warmth and empathy toward peers, seniors, and individuals with accessibility needs, often helping quietly without seeking recognition. Through everyday acts of kindness—whether offering encouragement, standing up for others, or lending a hand—he leads by example through service rather than title. His sense of responsibility and strong character extend beyond his years, and his willingness to volunteer within the school reflects a deep commitment to the SJSH community. Noah makes a meaningful, positive impact through his actions and represents his school with confidence, respect, and pride when speaking in front of others.
