Seven Langley youth striving to make a difference in their community are $1,000 richer and have been publicly celebrated for their outstanding contributions and leadership at a local or global level.
They are the latest winners of the SASSY awards, presented annually by the four Rotary Clubs in Langley.
SASSY (Service Above Self – Student and Youth) exists to celebrate exceptional youth, said Rick Davis, president of the Rotary Club of Langley Central. And since the award’s inception nine years ago, Rotary has awarded more than $100,000 in scholarships to young Langley leaders.
“The Rotary Clubs of Langley believe in supporting our local youth as a cornerstone of our service to the community,” Davis said.
This year’s seven SASSY winners were announced at a Juno-like event held on May 9 at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort Langley.
• Sports leadership award was given to Saje Keller
D.W. Poppy Secondary Grade 12 student Saje is a coach for the Langley United Soccer Association and member of the club’s Soccer for Life.
After a severe injury ended her own active soccer career as captain of her soccer team, Saje got even more involved with athletic leadership and running practices, coaching young girls, and promoting the importance of female athletes.
When coaching at her club or tutoring at junior PE classes at her school, Saje, 18, strives towards creating genuine supportive connections with people and an inclusive environment.
“This award is a fantastic recognition of the community service I have been involved in, and has allowed me to make connections within the Langley Rotary Club,” she said.
“Winning this award has encouraged me to continue my involvement in the Langley community and motivated me to prioritize ‘service above self’,” Keller added, noting she plans to use the prize money towards her post-secondary education.
She plans to pursue a bachelor of science at the University of the Fraser Valley, with a vision of becoming a physiotherapist.
Reflecting back on the SASSY selection process, she said that was her first ever professional interview.
“The panel of Rotarians conducting the interview were extremely welcoming, encouraging, and made the process enjoyable, despite the nerves applicants [herself included] were feeling.”
• Environmental leadership award was presented to Ainsley MacDonald
Ainsley, a Grade 12 Walnut Grove Secondary (WGSS) honour roll student, is the leader of the WGSS Eco Team.
The 17-year-old is the team’s social media manager and event planner, and as such reaches out beyond WGSS to the whole community.
She is her school’s liaison with Langley Environmental Partners Society (LEPS) in preparing for the annual Langley Earth Day event.
Ainsley has campaigned for environmental education and worked on strategies to reduce vehicle emissions around neighbouring schools.
Her volunteer efforts include maintaining her school’s aquaponics gardening system, tree planting with Trinity Western University, ravine clean-ups, and counting and protecting salmon spawn in local creeks.
“I am honoured to receive the SASSY award, and I’m excited to see the next generations of leaders take action,” she said.
“To me, this award is encouragement to continue my environmental journey throughout university and adulthood,” MacDonald shared, noting she’s earmarked her prize money for university.
She plans to also attend the University of the Fraser Valley, for English and education programs.
The highlight of her SASSY experience was – hands down – the people.
“By the time I left the theatre, I had made several connections with the inspiring and accomplished leaders who attended. Everybody I met was super friendly and supportive, which made the awards night very warm and welcoming,” she said.
• Leadership beyond adversity award was given to Toqa Abu Alkas
Toqa, a 17-year-old, Grade 12 student at Aldergrove Community Secondary, is a member of the student council and serves as the school’s representative at the Langley City youth advisory committee.
Having arrived in Canada with her family as a Syrian refugee, Toqa applied herself diligently and received the English excellence award, as well as being chosen to be part of the School’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program.
As a VolunTEEN at Langley Memorial Hospital, Toqa has displayed exceptional leadership skills. As a role model to her younger siblings and young students, Toqa is an excellent mentor.
“Winning the SASSY scholarship award means a lot to me,” she shared.
“It made me stand out from all the hardworking participants and recognized all my hard work and effort as it paid off. The best part was seeing happiness on my supportive parents’ faces, who sacrificed a lot for me.”
She will be using the $1,000 prize towards paying her tuition at Simon Fraser University, where she intends to major in health sciences before entering the medical field.
“Being a top winner in the youth beyond adversity category and receiving a trophy with my name on it made me forget about all the hardship I went through as I saw my parents proud of me. Being in the event with wonderful and hardworking young people was a privilege to me,” she concluded.
• Arts and culture leadership award went to Filip Budd
Filip, a student at British Columbia’s Institute of Technology’s Computer Technology program, graduated from Brookswood Secondary School (BSS).
In high school, Filip found his passion for coding and became an ardent game developer.
While honing and expanding his own coding skills, Filip has continued to serve as a mentor to his peers, making himself available as a consultant, team pep-talker, and marketer for the teams’ newly developed games.
Filip was part of the theatre group at BSS, working with other actors to create dynamic and engaging scenes, and offering support to others.
• Community service award went to Michaela Garcia
Langley Christian School (LCS) student Michaela is the president of the student council and her soccer team’s representative for the Team Up initiative.
In this role, Michaela organizes fundraising events for a youth soccer team in Malawi, Africa, sponsoring the team and providing educational material.
She also led fundraisers to support the BC Cancer Agency, led a Pajama Drive for BC Children’s Hospital, and encouraged her friends and family to join a Relay for Life walking event she organized.
At LCS, Michaela is part of multiple programs.
• Youth leadership award was given to Regina Cho
R. E. Mountain Secondary student Regina founded the school’s first socio-political advocacy club, BC Youth Club, and has served as its president – organizing presentations on mental health to staff and showcasing members’ research on environmental challenges and political issues.
Regina has been involved in numerous debating clubs, tournaments, and events. She has inspired others by serving as head coach for the Yorkson Creek Debate Club.
She is also a teaching assistant for the Peter Ewart Middle school choir.
•Cultural and diversity leadership award was presented to Amint Kim
Walnut Grove Secondary honour roll student Amint started the Rise Together Club at his school to support the Rise Together Mission Society. Through the clubs efforts, they raise awareness and money to serve students with diverse needs worldwide. She also serves as the club’s president.
Amint has been a Gator quality ambassador and serves as the vice president of her school’s student council and grad council.
She is also president of her church’s Alive Church Teens group, and she plays an active role in her church community.
Amint volunteers at the local hospital to improve patient care and serves as an oral language coach.
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Eligible youth must be between 15 and 21 years old and living or studying in Langley. This year’s contenders went through a screening process that started back in March.
The winners in each of the seven categories receive $1,000 plus a SASSY recognition award, while each of the two runners up in those seven categories receive $500.
The SASSY awards are made possible thanks in large part to the support of community sponsors.
This year’s sponsors included Odlum Brown, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Trinity Western University, Quiring Trucking, JD Farms, Precision Auto Service, CBM Lawyers, First West Credit Union, Reliable Drywall, and the Langley School District Foundation.
The financial awards for SASSY are also made possible through two major fundraisers presented by the four Rotary Clubs of Langley – namely RibFest Langley, which is set for Aug. 16 to 18 this year, plus the Rotary’s 50/50 mega draw, explained public relations director Lilianne Fuller.
“All funds raised from the events go to charities and service projects that benefit the community,” she noted.
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