Heba Shahaed, an Aurora resident, was Meridian’s 2017 scholarship recipient.  A community and youth advocate, Heba played a pivotal role in bridging the divide between youth and seniors in her community.  Working in partnership with the Aurora Historical Society, Shahaed led an oral history project called Let’s Talk Aurora which focused on collecting and preserving Aurora’s intangible heritage by having local high school students interview local seniors. Heba’s demonstrated passion for youth empowerment continues through her community involvement and studies at McMaster University with the goal of becoming a pediatrician.

Burlington resident Kevin Han was Meridian’s 2016 scholarship recipient. As a high school student, he initiated change in his school and neighbourhood, where he applied his skills in relationship-building, tutoring and design to make his community a better place. Kevin led a series of school bike-a-thon fundraisers for the Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation which raised $50,000 to benefit pediatric cancer hospitals, and he mentored local youth through the Chill Zone after-school program. Kevin demonstrated a passion and eye for environmental innovation by designing a blue box lid solution being piloted by a Burlington city councillor. Kevin’s scholarship is supporting his studies in Engineering at the University of Toronto. He hopes to apply his skills to tackle developing world challenges through Engineers Without Borders, and domestic issues here in Canada.

Oakville resident Julia Mogus was the inaugural recipient of Meridian’s Commitment to Communities Sean Jackson Scholarship. Since the age of ten, Julia has volunteered more than 3,000 volunteer hours advocating for youth literacy.  A self-proclaimed “bookworm aficionado,” her passion for literacy led her to co-create Books With No Bounds which provides indigenous children and teens living in remote communities throughout Canada and around the world with books donated by publishers, authors, schools, individuals and organizations.